Welcome to Inside Preps

WIAA QUARTERFINALS

DIVISION 4

WAUTOMA (10-1) AT WEST SALEM (10-1)

WHEN: Saturday, 2 p.m.

UP NEXT: A state semifinal game against either Brodhead/Juda (9-2) or Evansville (9-2) on Nov. 9 or 10

FAST FACTS: Wautoma�The Hornets have won two straight South Central Wisconsin Conference championships after a 24-year title drought. ... Wautoma tied Wisconsin Dells for this year’s title. ... The Hornets have scored 89 points in two playoff games. ... Their only loss was a 49-34 defeat at the hands of Nekoosa in Week 8. ... RB Joe Gruber has rushed for more than 1,200 yards and scored 19 TDs, but QB Jarred Abbrederis carried the load in Saturday’s 54-37 victory over Platteville with 264 yards on 14 carries; West Salem�The Panthers have won nine games in a row and are trying to advance to the state semifinals for a third straight year. ... RB Hunter Burke (198 carries-1,622 yards, 20 TDs), QB Dan Schneider (97-for-176-1,614 yards, 22 TDs-6 INTs) and WR Jacob Welch (45 catches-901 yards, 15 TDs) are the offensive leaders on a team that averages 37.5 points per game. ... The Panthers have allowed 12 points in two playoff games and 26 points in their last three games.

DIVISION 5

AQUINAS (9-2) AT LANCASTER (7-4)

WHEN: Saturday, 3 p.m.

UP NEXT: A state semifinal game against either Brillion (11-0) or Racine St. Catherine’s (10-1) on Nov. 9 or 10

FAST FACTS: Aquinas�The Blugolds’ two losses came to teams (Stevens Point Pacelli and Tomah) with a combined record of 20-2. ... RB Sam Pederson (204-1,311, 21) has scored four times in two playoff wins, which have come by a combined score of 70-6. ... QB Kevin Schams (84-178-1,316, 14-5) has gone six games without throwing an INT. ... The Aquinas defense forced four turnovers in Saturday’s 35-0 win over Weyauwega-Fremont; Lancaster�The Flying Arrows eliminated the Blugolds from last year’s playoffs in the first round on their way to a state championship. ... There are three main offensive weapons in in the wishbone with RBs Tyler Landon (261-1,474, 19) and Troy Miles (87-724, 4) and QB Jordon Rolland (110-647, 7). Lancaster started the season 1-3 and has now won five games in a row.

DIVISION 7

HILLSBORO (10-1) AT POTOSI (9-2)

WHEN: Saturday, 7 p.m.

UP NEXT: A state semifinal game against either Black Hawk (11-0) or Southwestern (7-4) on Nov. 9 or 10

FAST FACTS: Hillsboro�The Tigers have won two playoff games for the first time in team history. ... RB Jason Hotek (187-1,461, 19) scored three TDs in Saturday’s 48-27 victory over Alma. ... Hotek has rushed for 432 yards in his last three games. ... K Rodrigo Villalobos has kicked seven field goals this season, connecting from 49 yards last week. ... The Tigers allow 11.6 points per game; Potosi�The Chieftains are led by RB Myles Reinecke (89-595), who has scored a team-high 14 TDs. ... RB Andrew Chapman (111-715, 8) and Noah Gibson (97-613, 6) are other offensive options. ... Reinecke also leads the defense that has 26 takeaways by averaging 13.3 tackles per game.

ELEVA-STRUM (11-0)

AT INDEPENDENCE/GILMANTON (7-4)

WHEN: Saturday, 1 p.m.

UP NEXT: A state semifinal game against either Shell Lake (10-1) or Gilman (9-2) on Nov. 9 or 10

FAST FACTS: E-S�The Cardinals, last year’s state runners-up, have options all over the place on offense. ... RBs Nick Zander (101-805, 17) and Nick Rogness (66-760, 7) and QB Lance Rongstad (62-508, 14) have all taken turns leading the team. ... The Cardinals won the Dairyland this season and beat the Indees 27-0 along the way. ... Eleva-Strum has allowed 49 points this season, holding 10 if its opponents to six points or less; I/G�The unseeded Indees have knocked off two seeded and previously once-beaten opponents. ... RB Andy Curtis (167-896, 18) is looking for a 1,000-yard season, and backfield mates Marty Guza (124-641, 8) and Adam Guza (64-461, 4) are also capable of big games. ... QB Ryan Guza (65-125-824, 10-8) has also been a big defensive contributor with four recovered fumbles.