As the football season approaches, the excitement is palpable, especially in Wisconsin's Division 3, where the competition is fierce and the talent is abundant. Among the teams vying for the top spot, Catholic Memorial stands out as a powerhouse, having consistently made it to the state semifinals for the past five years. This year, with a stellar senior group that includes Wisconsin commit Dustin Roach, they are the favorites to claim the title. But the road to the championship is never easy, and Catholic Memorial will face stiff competition from the likes of Whitefish Bay, Pewaukee, and Waterford, among others.
What makes Catholic Memorial so formidable is their depth and versatility. On offense, quarterback Dalton Steinke had an impressive sophomore season, and he's backed by a talented group of pass-catchers, including the explosive Badgers commit Dustin Roach, who also plays as an All-State caliber safety. The running game is equally strong, with 1000-yard rusher Devon Williams, Jr. and second-leading rusher Camden Shumpert. The defense may even be more impressive, with Badger commit Isaac Miller at defensive end, talented linebackers Naverion Flowers and Will Schmitzer, and defensive backs Dustin Roach and Zy'aire Smith.
Whitefish Bay, meanwhile, had a rollercoaster season last year, but they managed to secure an eight seed in the playoffs thanks to the new Matrix system. They went on to beat the top seed New Berlin West and advance to the state semifinals, where they fell to Reedsburg. With five starters back on both sides of the ball, including quarterback Chase Wolter, leading rushers Lateef Love and Kaden Kelly, and explosive receiver Mace Miskel, Whitefish Bay is poised to make a run at the title this year.
Pewaukee, another team that has struggled in the past, managed to secure a playoff spot thanks to non-league wins over Port Washington and Greendale. With a pair of Big Ten linemen, Cade Reikowski (Northwestern) and Jack Tabbert (Wisconsin), and a returning quarterback duo of Brooks Dobberstein and Benji Weis, Pewaukee is ready to make a splash in the Parkland Conference.
Waterford, led by head coach Brent Thoen, is another team to watch. With four of five linemen returning, including Wake Forest Peyton Schuster, and 1000-yard rusher Jax Pesch, they are poised to make some noise. The defense features some big-time players, including D1 prospect John Cramer and Mason and Carter Thoen.
Mount Horeb/Barneveld, which finished 9-3 overall last year, is also a team to watch. With a talented senior class moving on, especially at the skill positions, they return six starters on offense and five on defense. Head coach Bret St. Arnauld is confident in his team's strength, particularly on the offensive line, where they bring back four starters who have gotten bigger, faster, and stronger.
Plymouth, which rolled through the regular season undefeated and captured the East Central Conference title, is making the change to the Glacier Trails this year. With second-year coach Mark Vollbrecht returning six starters on offense and four of the five offensive linemen, they are poised to make a run at the title.
Port Washington, which qualified for the playoffs for a fifth straight season and won a postseason game for the fifth consecutive year, is also a team to watch. With Jack Bunyan, the son of head coach John Bunyan, returning for his junior year, and leading receiver Kade Kintop among the returning standouts, they are ready to make a run at the title.
New Berlin West, which won seven of the first eight games last year but fell to rival New Berlin Eisenhower, is another team to watch. With nine starters returning on the offensive side of the ball, including leading rusher Aidan Devine and top receiving option Zachary Hewitt, they are poised to make a run at the title.
Winneconne, which won the Division 4 state championship last year, is also a team to watch. With a senior-laden team led by Brody Schaffer, a two-way star who accounted for more than 3000 yards of offense and 43 offensive touchdowns, they are poised to make a run at the title.
Fox Valley Lutheran, which was third in the Bay Conference last year, is another team to watch. With five starters back on offense and another Heiges taking over at quarterback, they are poised to make a run at the title.
La Crosse Logan, which finished fourth in the Mississippi Valley Conference last year, is also a team to watch. With junior quarterback Thomas Check, who threw for nearly 800 yards and added 1,018 yards on the ground, they are poised to make a run at the title.
Wisconsin Lutheran, which finished third behind Grafton and Whitnall last year, is another team to watch. With six starters back on both sides of the ball and 23 letterwinners, they are poised to make a run at the title.
Baldwin-Woodville, which made it to the state semifinals for a third straight year, is also a team to watch. With 29 letterwinners back and five starters returning on offense, led by standout quarterback Joe Jensen, they are poised to make a run at the title.
Luxemburg-Casco, which won the first seven games of 2025 but hit a wall late in the year, is another team to watch. With quarterback Eli Derenne, who threw for 1,598 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior, and second-leading receiver Katem Klaubauf among the returning standouts, they are poised to make a run at the title.
Onalaska, which qualified for the playoffs for a 16th straight season, is also a team to watch. With just 11 seniors and only five starters back, they are poised to make a run at the title. Head coach Tom Yashinsky is confident in his team's depth and potential.
In conclusion, the Wisconsin Division 3 football season promises to be an exciting and competitive affair, with several teams vying for the top spot. From the favorites like Catholic Memorial to the dark horses like Onalaska, the competition is sure to be fierce. As the season unfolds, we can expect to see some surprising upsets and some teams rising to the occasion. So, get ready for an exciting season of football in Wisconsin's Division 3!
