Expect a big crowd for this Friday’s showdown between Prescott and Baldwin-Woodville. Both teams are ranked in the most recent Wisconsin Sports Network poll. On paper it appears to be an even match up. Both high powered offenses score well over 40 points and both defenses allow below 20 points to their opponents. Baldwin-Woodville features a senior running back Taden Holldorf who has rushed for over 1,000 yards and scored 17 touchdowns. Prescott’s high powered offense features both a marquee running and passing game. Senior Barrett Temmers ran for over 200 yards against Amery on Saturday and has rushed for over 700 yards this season. Cardinal quarterback Teddy Bernick has thrown for over 1,200 yards and 17 touchdowns with senior wideout Will Packard catching eight touchdown passes. 

The last time a Prescott football team started the season 7-0 was in 2000 when the Cardinals advanced to the WIAA State Finals at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. Prescott finished the season with an overall record 13-1, losing to Lancaster in the championship game by a score of 14-7. 

Congratulations to Head Coach Chad Salay and the Prescott girls golf team on winning the Middle Border Conference last week. The Cardinals followed with a whopping 33-strike victory in the WIAA Division 1 Sectional in Hudson on Monday. Senior Gabbi Matzek finished atop the podium with a round of 80 and sophomore Macy Reiter finished second with a round of 81. Senior Jeanne Rohl and sophomore Layla Salay also finished in the top 10 as the Cardinals won going away. This week it's on to Sectionals at the Hiawatha Golf Club in Tomah.

Brava to sophomore cross country runner Kyra Dix on taking home top honors in the Spring Valley Invitational last Thursday. The talented 10th grader has medaled in every race this season for Head Coach Tim Phillips’ harriers. Amber Van Loon finished sixth and Addyson Allsop 10th as the Cardinals finished second behind Boyceville, who is ranked 13th in Division 3. For the boys, Nolan Leask led the Cardinals with a seventh place finish, and Jack Kreager and Quinn Justen finished ninth and 10th respectively. The boys also finished second behind Glenwood City. 

From the WIAA: This October has been designated National High School Activities Month across the United States. This week is “National Officials Appreciation Week.” Some fans should try it. 

Hats off to High School Principal Josh Fiege, Athletic Director Matt Smith, and Assistant Principal Rick Montreal on a tremendous job organizing homecoming activities for both the students and community. Friday evening’s student led parade featured the high school band, students, and athletes. Hundreds of people gathered at Laney Field to participate in a myriad of activities including games, a dunk tank, and a chili tasting contest. The evening culminated with the crowning of homecoming King Teddy Benick and Queen Katie Huppert. It took an exorbitant amount of planning and work by the aforementioned trio to make homecoming memorable for the students. Well done Mr. Fiege, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Montreal. 

Junior linebacker Jack Olson tied for the team lead in tackles and garnered the only team quarterback sack as the #6 ranked UW-River Falls walloped UW-Eau Claire by a score of 71-14 Saturday. Senior offensive lineman Austin Fox helped the Falcons pummel their WIAC opponents with the second largest point total in Falcon history. UW-River Falls will travel to Platteville next Saturday to take on the Pioneers.

Minnesota State (Mankato) cross country runner Madison Matzek finished fourth and the Mavericks finished third overall at the Running of the Cows event Saturday morning at Bill Huyck Championship Course in Northfield. Carleton College hosted the 6K race as the Mavericks (77 points) finished behind only the Knights (56 points) and Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (77 points). St. Olaf (90 points) and St. Scholastica (198 points) rounded out the top 5. Matzek, a 2022 Prescott graduate crossed the line with a time of 22:15.20

Hats off to members of the Prescott CAB Company who spent the last Saturday in September completing end of the year projects at Firehall Field. Hats off to all the volunteers for donating several hours of work putting the varsity baseball field to bed. 

Headshaker of the week: The state of Wisconsin held the annual Youth Deer Hunt last weekend. This special hunt is intended to give youth hunters an opportunity to hunt deer and gain valuable hunting experience under the watchful eye of experienced hunters. Hunters 15 years of age and under, with or without hunter education certification, are eligible to participate in the hunt with a mentor. Sadly, it appears some experienced hunters are doing more than “mentoring.” Circulating on social media, are countless photographs of youngsters harvesting their first white tail buck. Bravo to those youngsters. On the other hand, a few photographs making the rounds show youth hunters who appear to have everything but a pacifier in their mouth next to their harvested deer alongside their “adult hunting mentor.” Some of these youth hunters appearing in these photographs look like members of the graduating class of 2038. In other words New Adventures Day Care enrollees. The Youth Hunt is a great opportunity for the kids. But just like Halloween, it’s for the kids and not the adults. It’s a headshaker.