Honestly, if you weren't at Camp Randall in late November, you missed one of the most chaotic finishes in Wisconsin high school sports history. It wasn't just about the trophies. It was about a kid returning a kickoff with 35 seconds left to dethrone a titan. It was about a kicker from Grafton hitting a 35-yarder with 6 seconds on the clock to keep a perfect season alive.
The wiaa football scores 2025 reflect a season where the "underdog" label didn't mean much once the lights came on. We saw powerhouses like Bay Port fall in the final seconds and small-town teams like Winneconne pull off fourth-quarter heists that people will be talking about at the local diner for the next decade.
Division 1: The Kickoff Return That Changed Everything
Everyone expected Bay Port to repeat. They were ranked No. 1 for a reason. But Arrowhead (13-1) had other plans. For most of the game, it was a defensive grind. Bay Port’s Matt Stevens was doing everything, rushing for 128 yards and keeping the Pirates in control. When Bay Port took a 15-12 lead with just 46 seconds left in the game, the Pirates fans were already celebrating.
Then Ryan Heiman happened.
Heiman fielded the ensuing kickoff and found a seam. 76 yards later, he was in the end zone. The Warhawks won 18-15. It was a stunning reversal. Arrowhead was actually outgained 347 to 198 in total yardage, but they forced four turnovers. Sometimes, the scoreboard doesn't care about your stat sheet.
Division 1 Championship Summary
- Final Score: Arrowhead 18, Bay Port 15
- The Hero: Ryan Heiman (76-yard KR TD)
- The Stat: Bay Port's Matt Stevens (133 passing yards, 128 rushing yards)
Division 2 and 3: Battles of the Unbeaten
The Division 2 game was billed as the "Battle of Brown County." You had West De Pere and Notre Dame Academy, two undefeated neighbors, clashing for the crown. It lived up to the hype, at least in the first half. They traded scores like heavyweight boxers. Patrick Greisen, the West De Pere QB headed to San Diego State, was surgical. He threw for 304 yards—a D2 title game record.
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While Notre Dame’s Kingston Allen put the team on his back with a record-setting 43 carries for 231 yards, it wasn't enough to stop the Phantoms' air raid. West De Pere took it 28-14.
Then you have Division 3. Grafton vs. Reedsburg. Grafton entered at 13-0, while Reedsburg was the "Cinderella" at 10-3. Reedsburg’s Will Mikonowicz was a man possessed, rushing for 255 yards. Reedsburg took a 15-14 lead with just over a minute left. Grafton’s perfect season was on life support. But they marched 49 yards in 91 seconds, setting up Graysen Bollech for a 35-yard field goal.
Clutch. Grafton won 17-15.
The Thursday Night Lights: Div 4 through 7
Thursday at the State Championships is usually a blur of small-town pride and gritty running games. 2025 didn't disappoint.
Division 4: Winneconne’s Comeback
Winneconne stayed perfect at 14-0, but they had to sweat. Little Chute led for a good chunk of the game. However, a special teams blunder by the Mustangs gave Winneconne a short field late in the fourth. Mason Mathe punched in an 8-yard run with 1:20 left to seal the 28-22 victory.
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Division 5: Special Teams Mayhem
Mayville (14-0) beat Northwestern 42-32 in a game that felt more like a track meet. Get this: Mayville scored two touchdowns on blocked punts. Northwestern countered with a 90-yard kickoff return by Anthony Calore. It was the highest-scoring game of the weekend and easily the most unpredictable.
Division 6: Darlington Dominance
If you like old-school football, this was your game. Darlington (14-0) and Edgar (13-1) combined for only 15 pass attempts. Darlington's Zeke Zuberbuhler was unstoppable, racking up 133 yards and three scores on the ground. The Redbirds cruised 42-18.
Division 7: The Rizzo Show
Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic finished their 14-0 season by dismantling Cochrane-Fountain City 35-19. Quarterback Zach Rizzo threw for 226 yards, with Dominic Rinaldi catching 10 of those passes for 177 yards. Both of those marks set new D7 championship records.
Why These wiaa football scores 2025 Matter
We tend to focus on the big college programs, but the 2025 WIAA season proved that the heart of football is in these Wisconsin towns. We saw records fall in nearly every division.
- Patrick Greisen (D2 Passing Record: 304 yards)
- Kingston Allen (D2 Rushing Attempts Record: 43)
- Dominic Rinaldi (D7 Receiving Records: 10 catches, 177 yards)
People often think the private schools dominate, but 2025 showed a healthy mix. You had Kenosha St. Joseph and Notre Dame in the mix, sure, but you also had public school powerhouses like West De Pere and Darlington showing exactly how deep the talent pool is in the Badger State.
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Final 2025 Champions at a Glance
| Division | Champion | Runner-Up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| D1 | Arrowhead | Bay Port | 18-15 |
| D2 | West De Pere | Notre Dame | 28-14 |
| D3 | Grafton | Reedsburg | 17-15 |
| D4 | Winneconne | Little Chute | 28-22 |
| D5 | Mayville | Northwestern | 42-32 |
| D6 | Darlington | Edgar | 42-18 |
| D7 | Kenosha St. Joseph | Cochrane-Fountain City | 35-19 |
Looking Ahead to 2026
If you’re a fan, the work for next year starts now. Many of these stars, like Darlington's Zuberbuhler and Notre Dame's Kingston Allen, were juniors in 2025. That means the 2026 season is going to be loaded with returning talent.
If you want to keep track of your local team, start following the conference realignments. The WIAA is always tweaking things based on enrollment and "Tournament Performance Factor" points. This means a team like Darlington or Mayville might find themselves in a higher division next year if they keep winning.
To stay ahead of the curve:
- Check the WIAA website in early spring for the updated division placements.
- Follow local reporters on social media—they often get the scoop on transfers and coaching changes before anyone else.
- Watch the 8-player scores, as that format is growing faster than almost any other in the state.
The 2025 season was one for the history books. Between the last-second kicks and the miracle returns, it reminded us why we stand in the freezing cold in November just to watch a high school game.
Actionable Insight: If you're a coach or a parent of an aspiring player, the 2025 scores highlight the massive impact of special teams. Arrowhead and Mayville won championships because of kick returns and blocked punts, not just offensive yardage. Prioritizing special teams drills in the off-season is often the difference between a Level 3 exit and a trip to Madison.