The Cloverbelt Football Conference is gearing up for another compelling season, a seven‑team league that pairs its members with Marawood for crossover matchups and sees Osseo‑Fairchild shift to the Dunn‑St. Croix circuit.
Defending champions Regis entered 2025 with a flawless 9‑0 record, only to see their dominance tested by a gritty Mondovi squad that turned the tables in the sectional final.
Defending Champions and Their Rivals
Mondovi finished the year as runners‑up in the league but capped the campaign with a sectional title before falling in the state semifinal, and they return with a potent offense led by quarterback Bode Falkner and running back Cam Gruber.
Falkner was a dual‑threat in 2025, throwing for 2,035 yards and 20 touchdowns while adding 1,270 rushing yards and another 20 scores, while Gruber contributed 926 yards and 11 touchdowns as a Second Team All‑Conference selection.
Fall Creek, which broke a decade‑long playoff drought in 2025, returns with quarterback Bryson Elkins, who amassed over 1,000 passing yards and 16 touchdowns as a sophomore, though the team must replace 1,800‑yard rusher Cullen Kramer and will look to Ethan Westrate as a potential breakout.
Durand‑Arkansaw, after a strong 6‑1 start that saw them finish fourth, leaned on Honorable Mention All‑Conference rusher Ian Havens, who logged 845 yards and 12 touchdowns, and managed a 40‑21 playoff victory over River Valley before bowing to Grantsburg.
Elk Mound, despite a 3‑6 record and a narrow miss at the postseason, brings back 19 starters and will be eager to translate that experience into a playoff berth, while Stanley‑Boyd and Neillsville/Granton hope to rebound from recent playoff absences and injury concerns.
The upcoming season promises intense competition across the league, with each program navigating a mix of returning talent, key departures and fresh faces, setting the stage for a year that could reshape the Cloverbelt landscape.