Most Electric Backfields Across WI

Wisconsin HS football has been built on, and continues to thrive on the run game. Year after year we see teams with dominant run games make deep playoff runs, and individual athletes put up video game numbers. We also see teams that seem to have a stable of talent that they get to throw at defenses to wear them out and eventually overpower. Those groups are who we focus on today. The teams that are going to utilize multiple RBs, and see it pay off in big ways. Let's get right into it!   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Marshfield</h2>   We start off with a bit of a different spin on the idea of a dominant backfield. Instead of a one-two punch, RB [player_tooltip player_id='933472' first='Mason' last='Seidl'] and FB [player_tooltip player_id='634709' first='Braden' last='Anderson'] are going to wear down defenses simultaneously. The 6'2" 220 lbs FB [player_tooltip player_id='634709' first='Braden' last='Anderson'] will be leading the way and delivering devastating blocks in the front seven. The Mankato commit has proven he has the power to de-cleat LBs and remove DL from the hole. He also will handle the ball some too. In 2022 he finished with 22-105-2.   [player_tooltip player_id='933472' first='Mason' last='Seidl'] will be the one who will be capitalizing on the blocks made by Braden. The 5'10" 200 lbs RB is a well put together back who is ready to step into the bellcow role. In 2022 he finished with 56-419-3. Expect that to take a big jump this fall. ON tape, Mason is a decisive runner with solid vision. His wrestling background comes in handy too as he seems to have a low center of gravity and good balance/body control. Marshfield is going to be very physical in the run game this fall.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Beaver Dam</h2>   This will be the most interesting backfield to watch this fall. Both Mendoza and Klatt saw a season where they put up monster individual performances. In 2021 it was Klatt with 253-1830-18. In 2022 it was Mendoza with 263-1,278-11. In 2023 we will hopefully see more of how they are used together.   Mendoza checks in at an imposing 6'3" 210 lbs. The big man knows how to play low and get behind his shoulder pads though. He also has shown breakaway speed when he gets out in space. Klatt stands at 6' 205 lbs and is a tone setter on the ground. He has a low center of gravity and does a great job of running his feet through contact so he can break free. Gabe excels at piling up the yards after contact. A rotation of theses two this fall will leave defenses finding out how bad they really want to play tackle football.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Middleton</h2>   The Middleton offense is going to be an explosive, well rounded unit. On the ground their are two incoming seniors that will take the lead. First up is [player_tooltip player_id='405493' first='Bryce' last='Falk']. Bryce was the workhorse back in 2022, and we should see more of that in 2023. He finished with 168-1,313-17. The 6' 180 lbs athlete has really good acceleration through the line of scrimmage and the long speed to turn those seams into big plays. Bryce has good vision and doesn't hesitate with the ball in his hands. He also does a really good job of setting up defenders downfield and using his blocks.   The other back in the tandem is 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='405593' first='Trey' last='Suttle']. Suttle is a big back, standing 6' 220 lbs. Suttle was the second RB in 2022 as well where he finished with 27-136-1. Trey is a hard running, north-south RB. He creates yards after contact, and has a little wiggle to him when he needs it. He could serve as a solid change of pace, short yardage back.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Brodhead</h2>   Brodhead is set up for a monster year on offense. A big part of their success relies on their run game, and they return multiple top performers from 2022, and have up and coming athletes who could start their breakout in 2023. The two mainstays are RBs [player_tooltip player_id='245953' first='Blake' last='Matthys'] and [player_tooltip player_id='245961' first='Isaac' last='Saunders']. FB [player_tooltip player_id='245953' first='Blake' last='Matthys'] led the way on the ground with 132-870-14. The 6'1" 215 lbs athlete was also the DPOY for his conference, and he played FB with the same physicality as he plays LB. Blake attacks downhill, but he also has the athleticism needed to excel at RB. He has good balance on top of it all. Saunders pairs perfectly to form a thunder-lightning duo. He finished with 92-497-5 in 2022. The 5'7" 160 lbs RB wins with burst and speed. He thrives in space, either as a receiver out of the backfield or while taking hand offs off tackle. As for names that could cut out a role for themselves, I'll be watching for '25 Felix Paffel and '24 Marcus McIntyre.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pepin/Alma</h2>   Another team who I'm expecting to have a great season, in big part due to their running game, is Pepin/Alma. They have a stable of options led by stud RB and Mankato commit [player_tooltip player_id='634995' first='Demetrius' last='Bergmann']. Bergmann piled up 228-1,533-35 in 2022, and that could be just the beginning as he looks to lead Pepin/Alma deep into the playoffs. Bergmann has high end athleticism. His vision, speed, burst, and big play ability are going to be very tough to stop. When it isn't his carry Pepin/Alma has solid options to look to.   The pair of Jackson Riesgraf and Evan Olson are the next ones up. The two combined for 116-1,020-14. Olson is utilized in the pass game even more than he is in the run game, piling up over 1,000 yards receiving to go along with his 500+ rushing yards. This trio is going to put up big numbers, and I expect their season to last well into November.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Badger</h2>   Badger returns nearly their entire run game production from 2022, so expectations should be high in 2023. Leading the way is QB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='270649' first='JP' last='Doyle']. While he is listed at QB, JP makes his mark on the ground. He piled up 173-1,147-17 on the ground. The 6'1" 190 lbs athlete has strong instincts and really good decision making skills. Both of which are huge for a player responsible for running a lot of option football. He also has the speed in the open field and the agility in tight quarters to create yards on his own.   Leading RB Landon Nottestad finished 2022 with 152-944-7, and should build on that in 2023. The '24 does exactly what is needed at the FB position in the Badger offense. He attacks downhill with a head of steam. Runs his feet when he meets contact, moves the pile, and makes defenses earn their tackles. He sets the tone and makes defenses defend between the tackles, which opens up things out wide. We end with '26 RB [player_tooltip player_id='700022' first='Matthew' last='O'Grady']. He looks like the athlete who will step up and be the next option as one of the pitch men for Doyle. As a freshman, Matthew piled up 24-220-3. We should see a big jump with his vision and speed in the open field.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Muskego</h2>   You could instinctively include Muskego in this list every year essentially. However, this year they have some especially talented athletes in the backfield. The team will be looking for a new go-to guy at FB with the graduation of Sam Steuber, but the returning talent looks ready to help pick up the slack.   Leading the way is standout athlete [player_tooltip player_id='933270' first='Ashton' last='Krause']. Krause was a big play waiting to happen in 2022. He piled up a 58-503-12 stat line. It is clear that Ashton has a knack for the big play as 20% of his carries ended in the endzone. The big athlete has the speed to turn the corner and the power to rip through arm tackles. Another key returner is [player_tooltip player_id='127316' first='Max' last='Schneider']. Schneider finished 2022 with 65-541-4. Max thrives when given the ball out in space where he can see the field, set up blocks, and then use his speed to beat pursuit angles. Along with RB, look for Max to continue to be an impact on kick and punt return. I'm excited to see who else breaks out in this offense this fall.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">New Berlin West</h2>   We end with a team that dominated on the ground in 2022, and returns the key pieces of that success in 2023. New Berlin West is going to pound the rock every chance they can. They only threw the ball an average of 4 times a game last season, and don't expect that to change. With standout RB [player_tooltip player_id='933372' first='Jack' last='Wesolowski'] back in action, we are going to see continued success and big numbers on the ground. Jack finished last year with 189-1,115-21. The 6'2" 200+ lbs athlete is a powerful athlete. He wins with his imposing, hard running play style. His strength to run through arm tackles and solid speed once he breaks through the front seven are the key to his success. The workhorse is going to continue to put up big numbers this fall.   When Jack comes out look for Sean Ryan to be the next man up. Sean is a twitchier, quicker option and brings the speed to the backfield to stretch the defense. He put up 88-630-4 in 2022. An athlete to watch for this fall is '25 Brad Zganjar. He put up 15-183-4 last year, and could see the biggest increase in production this fall.

Wisconsin HS football has been built on, and continues to thrive on the run game. Year after year we see teams with dominant run games make deep playoff runs, and individual athletes put up video game numbers. We also see teams that seem to have a stable of talent that they get to throw at defenses to wear them out and eventually overpower. Those groups are who we focus on today. The teams that are going to utilize multiple RBs, and see it pay off in big ways. Let's get right into it!