Week three of the high school football season brought a whirlwind of action across Illinois and Wisconsin, with teams from the Southland, Aurora, Elgin, Naperville, Lake County, Oshkosh, and Fond du Lac regions battling for early momentum. As conference play kicked off for many squads, fans were treated to a mix of blowouts, nail-biters, and standout individual performances that set the stage for a dramatic autumn on the gridiron.
In Wisconsin, Berlin made a resounding statement by crushing Nekoosa 44-14. The Indians wasted no time, racking up 22 points in both the first and second quarters to build a commanding 44-0 halftime lead. Quarterback Carter Hess was nearly flawless, completing all six of his passes for 155 yards and a touchdown. He also gashed Nekoosa’s defense for 145 rushing yards and added two more scores on the ground. Berlin’s offensive explosion didn’t stop there—Ben Green contributed 83 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, while Hayden Redington delivered a dual-threat performance with five receptions for 151 yards and a touchdown, plus a rushing score. The win marks Berlin’s second straight and sets up a pivotal week four matchup at Mauston on Friday, September 12.
Meanwhile, Lomira flexed its muscle in a 35-8 victory over Campbellsport, dominating their conference rival from start to finish. Keegan Kell led the charge with 85 rushing yards and three touchdowns, sharing the backfield spotlight with Hunter Schaumberg, who matched him with 85 yards. Kolton Wagoner and Elijah James each added a rushing touchdown, and Wagoner was a force on defense with six solo tackles and nine total. Campbellsport’s Jackson Straub managed the team’s lone touchdown, while Trenton Schladweiler led all receivers with 39 yards. Defensive stalwart Blake Heltemes recorded 10 solo tackles, and Carter Gellings snagged an interception, but it wasn’t enough to slow Lomira’s march. Both teams look to regroup with Friday night games—Campbellsport hosts Winnebago Lutheran, while Lomira faces a stern test at St. Mary’s Springs.
Fond du Lac suffered its first defeat of the season in a defensive slugfest against Appleton North, falling 15-8 in their conference opener. Mason Henschel was a bright spot for the Cardinals, rushing for 107 yards, while quarterback De’Andre Williamson completed six of 21 passes for 93 yards and a touchdown. Despite the setback, Fond du Lac will try to rebound on the road against Kimberly on September 12.
St. Mary’s Springs eked out a 10-0 win over Laconia in a game defined by stout defense and timely plays. Zander Lenz completed seven of 12 passes for 47 yards and a touchdown, while William Stellmacher carried the ball 31 times for 118 yards. Jaxon Sabel hauled in three catches for 36 yards and a score. On defense, Christian Flores notched 2.5 sacks, Seth Huempfner recovered a fumble, and Joey Coon added an interception. Laconia’s Jack Rens led his squad with 35 rushing yards, while Flynn O’Laire was a tackling machine with 13 solo stops and two forced fumbles. St. Mary’s Springs will now brace for Lomira in a much-anticipated showdown.
The action in Illinois was just as fierce, with a packed slate of games scheduled across the Chicagoland area for Friday, September 12. Notable matchups include Aurora Christian at St. Edward, Geneva at St. Charles North, and Glenbard North at Batavia, among many others. The Southland, Aurora, Elgin, Naperville, and Lake County regions are buzzing as teams vie for early-season supremacy. The Friday night lights will also shine on local college football, with Lake Forest College visiting Illinois College and Aurora University traveling to Mount St. Joseph (Ohio) on Saturday, September 13.
Monday’s high school boys soccer and girls volleyball results also grabbed attention. In soccer, Stagg dominated Bremen 6-0, while Argo thrashed Evergreen Park 9-0. Deerfield’s boys cruised past Antioch 4-0, with goals from Jace Londo, Jonah Goodman, Nico Echeverri Campo, and Tian Krone. Hinckley-Big Rock put up six goals in a win over Sandwich, with Sawyer Smith netting two and Austin Roop adding a goal and an assist. Lincoln-Way East blanked Shepard 5-0, and Mendota toppled Yorkville 4-1, with Wyatt Panczuk scoring the lone goal for Yorkville. Plainfield Central edged Oswego 1-0, and Round Lake outlasted Mundelein 5-3 in a high-scoring affair.
On the volleyball courts, Amboy squeaked past Somonauk in three sets, with Ady Werner leading the way with nine kills. Deerfield, Evergreen Park, Johnsburg, Nazareth, Newark, Oswego, Stevenson, Waukegan, Westmont, and Yorkville all picked up wins in competitive matches. Stevenson’s Abby Inman was a standout, tallying eight kills, 16 digs, and two aces in a straight-sets win over Buffalo Grove. Newark’s Heather Buhle packed the stat sheet with 11 kills and five digs, while teammate Zoey Carlson chipped in six kills and five digs. Oswego’s Sara Gilio and Maya Norlin combined for 13 kills in a sweep of Batavia, and Yorkville’s Rylei Warren and Lili Casbarian each posted five kills in a hard-fought victory over Kaneland.
Back in Wisconsin, a slew of teams made headlines with dominant performances. Lourdes Academy moved to 3-0 after trouncing Randolph 49-14, powered by Brady Bauer’s 144 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Brady Ridenour added 123 yards and two scores, while Lucas Neuens broke free for an 88-yard touchdown run. Mayville eked out a 14-7 win over Winnebago Lutheran, with Landen Baker rushing for 101 yards and both of his team’s touchdowns. Omro blanked North Fond du Lac 35-0, thanks to Keagan Miller’s three rushing touchdowns and 177 yards. Oakfield overwhelmed Wayland Academy 58-14, with Austin Harmsen tossing three touchdowns and James Kautzer running for two more. Oshkosh North kept its unbeaten streak alive with a 32-14 win over Manitowoc Lincoln, led by Jamond Thompson-Schrek’s 138 rushing yards and a touchdown. Kimberly delivered a 44-0 shutout against Oshkosh West, while Waupun improved to 3-0 by beating Ripon 40-23 behind Chase Beahm’s 240 passing yards and Grahm Gopalan’s three rushing touchdowns.
Looking ahead, the schedule is packed with more marquee matchups for week four. Berlin will travel to Mauston, Lomira will square off against St. Mary’s Springs, Fond du Lac will try to bounce back at Kimberly, and St. Mary’s Springs will host Lomira. Illinois fans can expect another thrilling round of high school football and college showdowns as the region’s top teams continue their quests for glory.
With conference play heating up and early-season trends emerging, every snap and every play is magnified. Will the unbeaten squads keep rolling, or will underdogs rise to the occasion? One thing’s for sure: the action isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
