If you’ve spent any time in western Wisconsin lately, you know that Friday nights in this town aren't just about football. They are basically the heartbeat of the community. People around here take the river falls football schedule seriously. It’s the topic of conversation at the coffee shop, the grocery store, and definitely at the Friday morning pre-game breakfasts.
Honestly, the 2025-2026 season was a total whirlwind for both the high school Wildcats and the university Falcons. We aren't just talking about a few local wins; we’re talking about deep playoff runs and even a national championship. If you missed it, you missed a lot.
What Happened With the River Falls High School Schedule
The Wildcats had a year that most programs only dream of. They play in the Big Rivers Conference, which is notoriously tough. You’ve got teams like Rice Lake and Hudson who don't play around, and every week is a physical grind.
Their season kicked off on August 21, 2025, with a massive 45-0 shutout against Wisconsin Rapids. That set the tone. A week later, they traveled to D.C. Everest and put up 54 points. People started whispering then—is this team for real?
The schedule didn't get easier. In September, they took down Superior 48-20 and handled Chippewa Falls on the road. But then, the reality check. They hit a wall against New Richmond on September 19, losing 23-6. It was a wake-up call. Sometimes a loss is exactly what a team needs to find their edge again.
They bounced back fast.
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The Mid-Season Turnaround
After that New Richmond stumble, the Wildcats went on a tear. They took down Hudson 44-21 in late September. October was just a series of victories: a tight 40-28 win at Rice Lake and a 42-14 drubbing of Menomonie. By the time they finished the regular season with a 56-19 win over Wausau West, the stadium was packed every night.
Then came the playoffs. This is where things got intense.
- Level 1: They beat Beaver Dam 48-21.
- Level 2: A 50-24 victory over La Crosse Central.
- Sectional Final: They edged out Oshkosh North 52-38 in a high-scoring shootout.
The dream finally ended in the State Semi-Finals against Notre Dame on November 14. They lost 42-6. It was a tough way to go out, but a 11-2 record is nothing to sneeze at.
The UW-River Falls Falcons Made National History
While the high schoolers were tearing it up, the UW-River Falls Falcons were doing something even more insane. They finished the season 14-1. Read that again. Fourteen and one.
Their schedule was a masterclass in dominance. They started in September with wins over Alma and Coe, but the real test started in October when the WIAC conference play began. The WIAC is widely considered the best Division III conference in the country. If you can survive this schedule, you can survive anything.
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They did have one blemish. On October 4, they lost a heartbreaking 21-17 game at UW-Oshkosh. That could have derailed their season. Instead, it lit a fire. They went on to win every single game after that, including a 52-14 thumping of the powerhouse UW-Whitewater.
The Road to the Stagg Bowl
The post-season schedule for the Falcons was a gauntlet of top-tier talent:
- Second Round: They crushed Chapman 58-7.
- Third Round: A 42-14 win over Saint John’s (MN).
- Quarterfinals: Handled Wheaton 46-21.
- Semifinals: A nail-biter against Johns Hopkins, winning 48-41.
It all culminated on January 4, 2026, in Canton, Ohio. The Falcons faced North Central (IL) for the National Championship. They won 24-14. It was the first time the program had ever reached that height. The town essentially shut down so everyone could watch.
Watching the Games: What You Need to Know
If you’re planning to follow the next river falls football schedule, there are a few things you’ve got to keep in mind. High school games are usually played on Friday nights at 7:00 PM. The Wildcats play their home games at Smith Stadium at Ramer Field—which they actually share with the University.
Tickets for high school games are generally handled at the gate or through the school's "Bound" platform. For the Falcons games, especially after a national championship win, you’re going to want to look at SeatGeek or the official UWRF Athletics site well in advance.
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Ramer Field is located at 818 Cemetery Road. Pro tip: if it’s a big game, get there at least 45 minutes early. The parking lot fills up faster than you’d think, and walking from the far lots in a Wisconsin November is no joke.
Key Players Who Defined the Season
You can't talk about the schedule without the guys who actually played the minutes. For the high school Wildcats, Joseph Tarasewicz was an absolute monster on the ground, rushing for nearly 2,000 yards. Tino Massa, the 6'4" senior quarterback, was the steady hand they needed under pressure.
On the University side, Kaleb Blaha was the name on everyone's lips. He’s a dual-threat quarterback who accounted for over 300 yards of offense in almost every playoff game. When the game was on the line in the Stagg Bowl, he was the one making the plays.
Actionable Steps for the Next Season
If you want to stay on top of the action for the upcoming year, here is what you should actually do:
- Follow the "Bound" App: This is the primary source for the high school Wildcats. It has the most up-to-date schedule changes, rosters, and live scores.
- Check the WIAC Website: For the UWRF Falcons, the WIAC official site is the best place to see how they stack up against conference rivals.
- Book Your Homecoming Hotel Early: River Falls is a small town. When Homecoming hits—usually in early October—every hotel room within 20 miles gets snatched up.
- Dress for the Elements: This sounds simple, but a September game in River Falls is 70 degrees, and a November game can be 20 degrees with a wind chill that cuts through bone. Layers are your best friend.
The river falls football schedule is more than just a list of dates. It's a roadmap of the town's year. Whether it's the high schoolers fighting for a state title or the Falcons defending a national championship, the atmosphere at Ramer Field is something every football fan should experience at least once.