WIAA Level 3 football playoffs preview: Xavier heads on the road to play undefeated Lodi in Division 4 quarterfinals
By Paul Lecker
AppletonSportsPage.com
The 2023 WIAA football playoffs continue Friday night with Level 3 matchups across seven divisions.
Winners will move on to Level 4 divisional semifinal contests on Nov. 10 or Nov. 11, and the playoffs will conclude with the 2023 WIAA State Football Championships at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Nov. 16-17.
Xavier remains alive in the postseason chase and will play at undefeated Lodi in a Division 4 Level 3 game on Friday night. Here’s a look at the matchup:
Division 4
No. 2 Xavier Hawks (10-1) at No. 1 Lodi Blue Devils (11-0)
When and where: Friday, Nov. 3, 7 p.m. at Lodi High School.
About Xavier: The Hawks won its 10th-straight game with a 14-3 victory over Bay Conference rival Winneconne in a Level 2 game at home on Oct. 27…The game marked the first time since its season-opening loss to Luxemburg-Casco that Xavier was held under 35 points…Xavier mustered only 203 yards of total offense, 151 on the ground. Quarterback Reid Hieptas led the way with 83 yards rushing and he also threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Brightman…Xavier’s defense continued its strong play as Carter Appl had nine total tackles, including two sacks, in keeping Winneconne out of the end zone. Brightman also had two interceptions in the victory.
About Lodi: The Blue Devils have been dominating all season, winning six games by shutout, including a 49-0 win over West Salem in a Level 2 playoff game last week…Lodi has won every game by at least two touchdowns and has outscored its 11 opponents 449-42…Lodi averaged 10.7 yards per carry (31 for 333) in the win over West Salem, with quarterback Mason Lane totaling 115 yards on nine carries and running back Brady Puls racking up 105 on just seven totes. Lane (811 yards), Kylar Clemens (798) and Puls (710) lead a three-headed rushing attack, but the Blue Devils’ also possess a competent passing game as Lane has thrown for 1,487 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Next up: The winner moves into a Division 4 state semifinal Level 4 game against the winner of No. 6 Somerset (6-5) at No. 4 Baldwin-Woodville (9-2) on Nov. 10.