GAME OF THE WEEK (Aug. 17–23)
PREP FOOTBALL: Cuba City (0–0) at Platteville (0–0), at UW–Platteville, Friday, 7 p.m. (WPVL 107.1 FM)
Platteville High School football is under new management. First-year head coach Ryley Bailey makes his debut Friday night when his Hillmen host Cuba City in a non-conference season opener at UW–Platteville’s Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.
Bailey, a first-team All-WIAC wide receiver during his playing days at UW–Platteville, brings with him four years of collegiate playing experience and three years of coaching experience at his alma mater. He also brings the Pioneers’ spread offense. Bailey inherits a team filled with talent that went 8–3 a year ago and shared the Southwest Wisconsin Conference title.
The Hillmen return senior quarter Ethan Bernhardt, who completed 108 of 186 passes for 1,536 yards and 19 TDs as a junior, as well as seniors Donovan Blevins (12 receptions, 145 yards, 1 TD), who missed five games last year with an ankle injury, and Zach White (20–259–4), as well as seniors Ian Carter (LT, first-team All-SWC) and Caleb Lueder (LG, honorable mention All-SWC) and junior center Isaiah Altfillisch return along the offensive line.
Senior running back/linebacker Kordell Stillmunkes returns to lead the Cubans after rushing for 1,555 yards and 23 touchdowns as a junior. Coach Guy Kopp’s team must replace a number of starters on defense from last year’s team that went 4–6 overall and 3–3 in the Southwestern Wisconsin Activities League.
The Hillmen defeated the Cubans 21–13 at Cuba City in the 2016 season opener.
Other Week 1 area games of interest
Benton/Scales Mound (0–0) at Potosi/Cassville (0–0), Friday 7 p.m. (KIYX 106.1 FM) — Potosi/Cassville is the preseason favorite to dominate the Six Rivers Conference. With an influx of 14 Cassville players in the first year of the co-op, and already strong Potosi program grows even stronger. The Chieftains return junior quarterback Will Bierman (1,302 yards, 12 TDs passing), senior running back/linebacker Dylan Pluemer (112–638–12 rushing, 100 tackles), junior running back Brady Curtis (567–5 rushing), senior wide receiver Alex Udelhofen (25–381–5 receiving) and junior linebacker/tight end Cyrus Siegert (116 tackles) from last year’s Potosi squad that went 5–6. Cassville senior linemen Ben Wheeler (6-3, 280) and Brandon Kinyon (6-4, 295) size and strength up front, while senior Mason Infield (QB/DB) and junior Ty Bausch (RB/DB) add more play-maker potential. Cassville forfeited it 2016 varsity season due to a lack of players.
Benton/Scales Mound returns leading rushers in senior Ethan Shetler and Brendan Carlborg, as well as junior quarterback Wyatt Bastian, but will most likely have its hands full Friday night at Potosi.
River Ridge (0–0) vs. Shullsburg (0–0), at UW–Platteville, Saturday, 5 p.m. (WPVL 107.1 FM) — River Ridge returns 20 of 22 starters from last year’s 3–6 team that missed the playoffs by one win, including sophomore quarterback Cole Crubel (758 yards, 7 TDs) and junior halfback Brett Moralist (418 rushing yards, 5 TDs).
Shullsburg must replace 13 players, 12 all-conference picks, and its head coach after Scott Matye stepped down after leading the Miners to the WIAA Division 7 state championship game a year ago.
Other Week 1 area games:
Six Rivers Conference
Highland (0–0) at Pecatonica/Argyle (0–0), Friday 7 p.m.
Non-Conference
Orfordville Parkview (0–0) at Dodgeville, Friday, 7 p.m.
Fennimore (0–0) at Lancaster (0–0), Friday, 7 p.m. (WFLR 97.7 FM)
Onalaska Luther (0–0) at River Valley (0–0), Friday 7 p.m.
Richland Center (0–0) at Iowa–Grant (0–0), Friday, 7 p.m.
Lake Country Lutheran (0–0) at Mineral Point (0–0), Friday, 7 p.m.
Seneca/Wauzeka–Steuben (0–0) at Boscobel (0–0), Friday, 7 p.m.
Westby (0–0) at Darlington (0–0), Friday, 7 p.m.
Southwestern (0–0) at Rio (0–0), Friday, 7 p.m.
Belmont (0–0) vs. North Crawford (0–0), at UW–Platteville, Saturday, noon (WPVL 1590 AM)
Owen–Withee (0–0) vs. Black Hawk (0–0), at UW–Platteville, Saturday, 2:30 p.m. (KIYX 106.1 FM)
PREP VOLLEYBALL:
Prep volleyball teams across the state opened practice Monday. Now area teams will get their first competition against other schools at this weekend’s scrimmages. Here is a schedule of area scrimmages.
Saturday, Aug. 18
Benton, Black Hawk, Argyle and New Glarus at Shullsburg, 8 a.m.
Fennimore, River Ridge, Viroqua, MFL-Mar Mac at Prairie du Chien, 8:30 a.m.
Belmont, Southwestern and Barneveld at Platteville, 9 a.m.
Boscobel, Mineral Point, Potosi and Wisconsin Heights at Lancaster, 9 a.m.
Iowa–Grant, Cuba City, Dodgeville, River Valley and 18 other teams at Waunakee scrimmage, 9 a.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 22
Cassville, Highland, Riverdale, Cashton, North Crawford, Royall and Seneca at Richland Center scrimmage, 3 p.m.
