South Wins WIFA All-Star Games

Large Schools Showdown

The South clinched a 24‑17 victory over the North in the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Large Schools All-Star Game on July 18 at J.J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium in Oshkosh. Vidal Spivey of New Berlin Eisenhower sparked the scoring with a 24‑yard touchdown run, and Brady Melum of Sun Prairie East added the decisive extra point with four seconds left in the third quarter. Joey Passaglia of Middleton paced the offense with a 13‑for‑22 passing performance for 102 yards and one TD, while Jackson BeBow of Burlington and Tyler Deer of Grafton each grabbed five receptions for 38 yards, including BeBow’s 12‑yard touchdown catch from Passaglia.

On the ground, Vinny Inga of Germantown led the North with nine carries for 36 yards. Bryce Ott of Oshkosh North completed 9 of 16 passes for 103 yards, and Tino Massa of River Falls threw for 111 yards, including a 63‑yard TD strike to Will Svendsen of Rice Lake. Zach Shipman of Eau Claire North rounded out the passing attack with four receptions for 38 yards.

Defensively, Aziz Ashour of Nicolet recorded four total tackles for the South, and Amillione Johnson of Marquette University contributed three tackles plus an interception. The North’s Brady Stammer led with five total tackles, while Jonathan Ananiadis of Stevens Point also picked off a pass.

Statistical recap shows the North edged the South in total yards, 307 to 266, but the South’s late‑quarter defense held firm to protect the lead.

Small Schools Battle

In the Small Schools contest, the North rolled to a 41‑0 triumph, spearheaded by Carson Roemhild of Boyceville. Roemhild completed 7 of 8 passes for 108 yards and three touchdowns, and his connecting passes included two to Logan Prall of Waupun, who amassed three receptions for 32 yards and scored on a 6‑yarder and a 16‑yarder.

Brett Paulsen of Kewaunee added a 9‑yard touchdown run and totaled 23 rushing yards on two carries. Justin Bergmann of Pepin/Alma paced the ground game with 39 yards on five carries for the North, while Brady Dosch of Richland Center logged 20 yards on four attempts for the South.

Defensive playmakers included Waylon Hargrove of La Crosse Aquinas with eight tackles, three of them solo, plus a sack. Daniel Buntin of Wrightstown recorded four tackles (three solo), a sack, and a fumble recovery. Connor Kilgore of Kewaunee sealed the win with a 35‑yard interception return for a touchdown early in the second quarter, giving the North a 27‑0 cushion.

Taylor Williams of Lancaster caught three passes for 18 yards as the South’s sole offensive bright spot, but the North’s balanced attack limited the South to just 55 total yards.

8‑Player Clash

The 8‑Player game went down to the wire, with the South holding off the North 22‑18 after trailing 18‑6 entering the fourth quarter. Logan Schuh of Sevastopol scored on a 1‑yard plunge and Bryce Schultz of De Soto supplied the two‑point conversion with 6:19 remaining to flip the contest.

Schuh was the offensive engine, rushing 10 times for 35 yards and adding 2 of 6 completions for 35 yards, including a 15‑yard touchdown pass to Kaden Washa of Highland. Washa capped the receiving corps with two catches for 35 yards. The North’s ground attack shone through Cole Schley of Flambeau (19 carries, 129 yards, 1 TD) and Dawson Moulton of McDonell Central (15 carries, 116 yards, 1 TD).

Defensive diligence was critical. Cullen Jacobus of North Crawford led with 15 total tackles, six of them solo, while his teammate Gavin Tamling added nine tackles, four solo. Elijah Stepp of McDonell Central finished with eight tackles, three solo, anchoring the North’s defensive line.

Despite the North outgaining the South in total yardage, 308 to 158, the South’s late‑game execution and defensive stops secured the narrow victory.