Level 2 Playoff Preview: Monona Grove Hosts Dangerous Marshfield Team With Trip to Level 3 on the Line
No. 5 Marshfield Tigers (7–3) at No. 1 Monona Grove Silver Eagles (9–1)
Friday, October 30, 2026 — 7:00 p.m.
John Klement Stadium — Monona Grove High School
Twenty-two years ago, Monona Grove and Marshfield shared the field at Camp Randall Stadium without ever playing each other.
On November 19, 2004, Monona Grove's remarkable 13–1 season ended with a 24–7 loss to Waukesha West in the Division 2 state championship game. Just 23 minutes after that game ended, Marshfield took the same field to face Mukwonago for the Division 1 title. The Tigers also came up short, falling 17–6.
Both programs have won three WIAA state championships and finished as runners-up twice. Yet despite decades of playoff success, their paths have never crossed.
That changes Friday night at John Klement Stadium, when the Silver Eagles and Tigers meet for the first time with a trip to the Division 2 quarterfinals on the line.
Monona Grove enters the matchup at 9–1 after an impressive 35–6 opening-round victory over Milton. The Silver Eagles scored all 35 points in the first half, building a commanding 35–0 halftime lead before advancing comfortably into Level 2.
Marshfield arrives at 7–3 with momentum of its own. The Tigers traveled to Wausau East and rolled to a 44–14 victory, powered by senior running back Josh Taylor's 240 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
The Silver Eagles have the better record, higher seed and home-field advantage. But Marshfield is not a typical No. 5 seed. The Tigers have the offensive production, experienced personnel and ability to generate explosive plays to challenge strong opponents.
Now, two programs with rich championship histories finally get their opportunity to face each other, with only one moving on to Level 3.
By the Numbers: Monona Grove vs. Marshfield
Category | Monona Grove | Marshfield |
Overall Record | 9–1 | 7–3 |
Points Scored | 392 | 334 |
Points Allowed | 74 | 171 |
Points Per Game | 39.2 | 33.4 |
Points Allowed/Game | 7.4 | 17.1 |
Average Scoring Margin | +31.8 | +16.3 |
Home-field advantage meets road-tested opponent: Monona Grove is 6–0 at John Klement Stadium this season, outscoring visiting teams 253–34 and averaging more than 42 points per game. But Marshfield has been particularly successful away from home, posting a 4–1 road record and outscoring opponents 192–71.
The Tigers' only road loss came against Wisconsin Valley Conference champion Stevens Point. Playing away from Marshfield has done little to slow their offense.
Monona Grove's Road to Level 2
Monona Grove has been one of Wisconsin's most consistently dominant football teams throughout the fall.
The Silver Eagles opened the season with seven consecutive victories, scoring at least 42 points in every game. Their offense routinely overwhelmed opponents early, frequently building comfortable leads before halftime and allowing younger players to gain valuable varsity experience in the second half.
Junior quarterback Jaxon Zukowski has directed a balanced offense featuring Carson Schoenherr, Deangelo "D-Lo" Clay and Jay Ramsey in the running game. Hunter Meyer, Nic Busalacchi and a deep group of receivers have provided additional options through the air.
Zukowski's ability to produce in his second season as the varsity starter and serving as a junior captain, he has helped the Silver Eagles consistently put pressure on opposing defenses.
Defensively, Monona Grove has been equally impressive, allowing just 74 points through 10 games, an average of 7.4 per contest. Seven opponents have scored seven points or fewer. D-Lo leads an MG defensive front that consistently controls the line of scrimmage, generates pressure and limits opponents' ability to sustain drives. That success has been supported by strong play throughout the secondary and contributions from several first-year varsity starters.
Perhaps the most remarkable statistic is that all nine Monona Grove victories have come by at least 29 points. The Silver Eagles haven't merely been winning; they've consistently controlled games on both sides of the football.
Their lone defeat came October 9 at Waunakee, where MG fell 7–3 in a physical defensive battle between two of Wisconsin's top programs. The Silver Eagles responded with consecutive convincing victories, shutting out DeForest 36–0 to close the regular season before defeating Milton 35–6 in Level 1.
Now MG faces a Marshfield offense with considerably more production than many of its previous opponents, setting up an intriguing matchup between the Tigers' ability to create big plays and a Silver Eagles defense that has rarely allowed them.
Marshfield's Season: Fast Start, Adversity and a Playoff Rebound
Marshfield entered 2026 with high expectations under veteran head coach Dennis Goettl.
The Tigers returned reigning conference Offensive Player of the Year Haiden Carlson, first-team all-conference fullback Josh Taylor and promising sophomore quarterback Ethan Foemmel.
They wasted little time establishing themselves as an offensive threat.
Marshfield opened with a 44–6 victory at Rice Lake, followed by wins over River Falls (37–19) and Eau Claire Memorial (56–0). Through three games, the Tigers were 3–0 and had outscored opponents 137–25.
Their first setback came in Week 4 against D.C. Everest. Playing without an injured Carlson, Marshfield struggled to finish scoring drives, committed costly turnovers and lost 10–9 after a late extra-point attempt was blocked.
The Tigers rebounded with three consecutive victories, defeating Wisconsin Rapids, Wausau West and Eau Claire North to improve to 6–1.
But the final two regular-season games proved difficult.
Marshfield lost 30–22 at Stevens Point after surrendering the winning touchdown with just 42 seconds remaining. The following week, undefeated New Richmond defeated the Tigers 49–28 behind a dominant rushing performance from senior Austyn Wittek.
Despite those losses, Marshfield's passing offense continued producing. Foemmel threw seven touchdowns across the two games, including four against New Richmond.
The Tigers finished the regular season 6–3 before delivering an impressive response in their playoff opener.
Marshfield's 2026 Results
Date | Opponent | Result |
Aug. 21 | Rice Lake | W 44–6 |
Aug. 28 | River Falls | W 37–19 |
Sept. 4 | Eau Claire Memorial | W 56–0 |
Sept. 11 | D.C. Everest | L 9–10 |
Sept. 18 | Wisconsin Rapids | W 39–0 |
Sept. 25 | Wausau West | W 26–21 |
Oct. 2 | Eau Claire North | W 29–22 |
Oct. 9 | Stevens Point | L 22–30 |
Oct. 16 | New Richmond | L 28–49 |
Oct. 23 | Wausau East — Level 1 | W 44–14 |
Marshfield's Level 1 Breakthrough
Marshfield's 44–14 victory at Wausau East was an encouraging response to its difficult regular-season finish, particularly against a Lumberjacks team that entered the playoffs 7–2.
After Haiden Carlson suffered another injury in the first quarter, Josh Taylor took over, rushing for 240 yards and four touchdowns on just 15 carries.
Taylor scored on runs of 50, 25, 41 and 2 yards as Marshfield built a 22–7 halftime advantage before breaking the game open with 22 unanswered points in the third quarter.
What made the performance particularly interesting was how efficiently Marshfield scored.
The Tigers produced 44 points despite recording only 11 first downs, compared with 15 for Wausau East. Marshfield generated 395 yards of offense, averaging 9.6 yards per rushing attempt.
The Tigers didn't need to sustain long drives to produce touchdowns. Taylor's explosive runs, two touchdown passes from Foemmel and favorable field position helped Marshfield repeatedly turn opportunities into points.
Defensively, the Tigers held Wausau East to 197 total yards, including only 54 rushing yards.
The victory was Marshfield's first postseason win since 2022 and kept alive the program's hopes of its deepest playoff run since reaching Level 4 in 2018.
It also demonstrated that Marshfield is capable of winning games in different ways, whether through Foemmel's passing or a powerful rushing performance from Taylor.
Marshfield's Offensive Players to Watch
Ethan Foemmel — Quarterback
No. 5 | Sophomore | 6'3" | 176 lbs
Foemmel has thrown for 1,772 yards, 30 touchdowns and just two interceptions in 10 games. His 28 regular-season touchdown passes broke Marshfield's previous single-season record of 25, established by Ben King during the Tigers' 2001 Division 1 state championship season. Despite his youth, Foemmel leads Marshfield's hurry-up offense with confidence, making decisions at the line and distributing the ball among several productive receivers.
Josh Taylor — Fullback / Running Back
No. 2 | Senior | 5'11" | 216 lbs
Taylor has emerged as Marshfield's top rushing threat, gaining 829 yards and seven touchdowns on just 83 carries, averaging nearly 10 yards per attempt. The 216-pound fullback exploded for 240 yards and four touchdowns against Wausau East. A 2025 first-team all-conference selection, Taylor also has 18 receptions and two receiving touchdowns.
Haiden Carlson — Running Back
No. 26 | Senior | 5'8" | 195 lbs
Carlson rushed for 1,538 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2025 but has been limited by injuries this season, totaling 455 yards and three scores. He returned against Wausau East but was injured again in the first quarter, leaving his status for Friday uncertain. When healthy, he is a dangerous runner and kick returner.
Marshfield's Three Primary Receivers
Few teams rely on three receiving targets as heavily or as successfully as Marshfield.
Together, Kolstad, Larsen and Trubee account for approximately 81% of Marshfield's passing yards and 90% of its touchdown passes.
Kolstad leads the team in receptions and receiving yards, Larsen has a team-high 10 touchdown catches, and Trubee adds nine touchdowns along with two interceptions as a defensive back.
Up front, seniors Grant Allar, Jace Frick, Oliver Martin and Cooper Berry anchor an experienced offensive line that has helped Marshfield produce both explosive passing plays and a productive rushing attack.
Marshfield's Defense: Active Linebackers and Increasing Pressure
While Marshfield's offense attracts much of the attention, its defense has several experienced and productive players.
Through nine regular-season games, the Tigers recorded 70 tackles for loss, 20 sacks and six interceptions.
Senior linebacker Lukas Halan (6'0", 195 lbs) leads the team with 82 tackles and 10 tackles for loss. Sophomore Sean Sleznikow (6'2", 178 lbs) has added 78 tackles, while senior Wes Novitzke (5'10", 170 lbs) brings all-conference experience and has recorded 62 tackles.
Junior Brennan Polzin (6'0", 170 lbs) leads the Tigers with four sacks and has contributed eight tackles for loss.
The numbers reflect an active defensive unit capable of creating negative plays, pressuring quarterbacks and forcing turnovers.
But Marshfield's defensive results tell two very different stories.
A Defense That Has Faced Increasing Pressure
Through five games, Marshfield had allowed just 35 points, an average of seven per contest. The Tigers shut out Eau Claire Memorial and Wisconsin Rapids, while holding D.C. Everest to only 10 points.
The final four regular-season games were considerably different.
Wausau West scored 21 points, Eau Claire North added 22, Stevens Point put up 30 and New Richmond finished with 49.
Marshfield allowed 122 points across those four games, an average of 30.5 points per contest.
Opposing rushing attacks have occasionally been a significant problem. River Falls gained 219 rushing yards against Marshfield, while Eau Claire North finished with 189.
But New Richmond delivered the most difficult night.
The undefeated Tigers rushed for 422 yards and seven touchdowns in their 49–28 victory. Senior Austyn Wittek accounted for 268 yards and five touchdowns on just 26 carries, averaging more than 10 yards per attempt. New Richmond averaged nine yards per carry as a team.
Marshfield's defense remained active, but struggled to contain the physical rushing attack and prevent long gains.
The Tigers responded much better against Wausau East in Level 1, holding the Lumberjacks to just 54 rushing yards and 197 total yards.
That contrast creates one of Friday's most interesting questions: Which Marshfield defense will Monona Grove face?
Will it be the unit that controlled opponents early in the season and dominated Wausau East, or the one that struggled to slow several stronger offenses down the stretch?
Two Teams That Have Responded Differently to Adversity
Monona Grove's nine victories have all come by at least 29 points, but the Silver Eagles haven't been completely untested.
Against Sun Prairie East in Week 6, MG watched an early 14-point advantage disappear as the Cardinals tied the game 21–21 midway through the second quarter.
The Silver Eagles answered by scoring the final 35 unanswered points to win 56–21.
Two weeks later at Waunakee, MG found itself in a defensive battle it couldn't finish, falling 7–3 despite generating several of the game's longest offensive plays.
The Silver Eagles responded by outscoring DeForest and Milton 71–6 over their next two games.
Marshfield has experienced considerably more close finishes.
Against Wausau West, the Tigers were protecting a 26–21 lead when the Warriors reached the Marshfield 5-yard line in the final minute. A sack by Wes Novitzke and an end-zone pass breakup by Brennan Polzin helped preserve the victory.
But Marshfield has also been on the wrong side of late-game moments.
The Tigers lost to D.C. Everest 10–9 after a blocked extra point and fell 30–22 to Stevens Point after surrendering the winning touchdown with 42 seconds remaining.
Those experiences could matter if Friday becomes a close game. MG has demonstrated the ability to respond when challenged, while Marshfield has spent considerably more time playing with the outcome still in doubt.
A Rare Matchup Against the Wisconsin Valley Conference
Although Monona Grove and Marshfield have never met, the Silver Eagles have some history against Marshfield's conference rivals.
MG is 6–0 all-time against three current Wisconsin Valley Conference members, with victories over Stevens Point in 1967 and 1968, Wausau West in 1970, 1971 and 1972, and Eau Claire North in 1983.
The last of those meetings was a 29–0 Monona Grove victory over Eau Claire North, 43 years ago.
Friday will mark MG's first matchup against a current Wisconsin Valley Conference program since that 1983 victory.
Three Keys to Friday's Game
1. Can Marshfield's Passing Game Challenge Monona Grove's Defense?
Marshfield has scored 334 points this season, with Foemmel accounting for 30 touchdown passes and nearly 1,800 passing yards.
Monona Grove, meanwhile, has allowed just 74 points in 10 games, held seven opponents to seven points or fewer and rarely surrendered sustained scoring drives.
This represents a significant test for both units.
The Tigers have repeatedly demonstrated their ability to produce touchdowns through explosive passing plays, but they'll face an MG defense that has consistently pressured quarterbacks, tackled well and limited scoring opportunities.
One of the biggest questions is whether Marshfield can produce the same passing efficiency against the Silver Eagles that it has enjoyed against many of its previous opponents.
2. Which Team Will Control the Ground Game?
Marshfield has a productive defensive front, but several opponents have successfully established their rushing attacks against the Tigers.
That creates an intriguing matchup with Monona Grove's balanced and physical offense, which has multiple players capable of contributing on the ground.
The Silver Eagles have found success throughout the season behind their offensive line, with Schoenherr, Clay, Ramsey and Zukowski providing different rushing styles and capabilities.
Marshfield brings a powerful running game of its own, particularly with Taylor coming off his 240-yard, four-touchdown performance.
The team that controls the line of scrimmage and consistently produces positive rushing plays could gain a significant advantage in sustaining possessions and controlling the game's tempo.
3. What Happens if Friday Becomes a Fourth-Quarter Battle?
Monona Grove has been so dominant in its victories that the Silver Eagles have rarely needed a late scoring drive to secure a win.
Marshfield's season has looked very different.
The Tigers have played several games decided by one possession, including victories over Wausau West and Eau Claire North and losses to D.C. Everest and Stevens Point.
Those games have given Marshfield valuable experience in late-game pressure situations, although the results have been mixed.
For MG, the opportunity is to establish the same consistency that has produced nine convincing victories while being prepared for a game that could remain undecided much longer than most this season.
If Marshfield can keep the score close into the fourth quarter, both teams could face situations they haven't experienced very often in recent weeks.
The Outlook: Another Step Toward Camp Randall
Monona Grove enters Friday as the favorite, and deservedly so.
The Silver Eagles have been more consistent throughout the season, own a considerably stronger scoring margin and have demonstrated an ability to control opponents on both sides of the football.
Their 9–1 record includes nine convincing victories, a defense allowing fewer than eight points per game and an offense averaging nearly 40.
But Marshfield has earned its opportunity.
The Tigers have experienced close games, overcome injuries and shown they can win with either their passing attack or a powerful rushing performance. Their Level 1 victory at Wausau East was a strong response to two difficult losses to close the regular season.
For Monona Grove, a victory would mean a return to the Division 2 quarterfinals for the second consecutive season, another opportunity to build on last year's playoff run that ended four points short against Homestead.
For Marshfield, reaching Level 3 would represent another important step forward for a program looking to return to the level of success it enjoyed during its championship years.
Twenty-two years after the two schools finished their seasons on the same field at Camp Randall Stadium, they'll finally meet with an opportunity to take another step toward playing there again.
Friday night at John Klement Stadium, Monona Grove will look to continue its impressive season and move one step closer to Camp Randall.
Marshfield intends to make the Silver Eagles earn it.
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