Heights picked for fourth

Editor’s Note: This preview of the Big Eight Conference was compiled by Wissports.net. Check out previews from across the state at their website.   2023 Recap:  The Ridge & Valley-8 Conference is made up of six members of the former Ridge & Valley-West 8-player league as well as Highland, who moves from 11-player, and Monticello, who leaves a longtime 11-player co-op with New Glarus and will field its first-ever standalone program.   Predicted Order  of Finish 1) North Crawford 2) Highland 3) Belmont 4) Wisconsin Heights 5) De Soto 6) Wonewoc/Weston 7) Kickapoo/La Farge 8) Monticello   Players to Watch: Cody Blicharz, RB, Wisconsin Heights: Blicharz is one of the top players in the conference, rushing for 1,141 yards with 13 touchdowns last year while catching 20 passes for 297 yards and another score. He shared Player of the Year honors in the Ridge & Valley-West last season. Andrew Munson, QB, North Crawford: Munson was a first-team all-conference quarterback last year, accounting for more than 1,400 yards of offense and 22 touchdowns. Gavin Optiz, QB, Belmont: Optiz led the Braves with 720 rushing yards last season, and also threw for 239 yards and three scores as a second-team all-conference selection. Bryce Schultz, TE/LB, De Soto: Schultz caught 20 passes for 380 yards and seven touchdowns last year as a two-way all-conference player. Bennett Smith, QB, Highland: Smith is a returning first-team all-conference quarterback in 11-player football, throwing for 1,811 yard and 18 touchdowns last season.   1) North  Crawford  The Trojans posted their best season since moving to 8-player football, going undefeated through the regular season with five shutouts along the way. After taking down Abundant Life/St. Ambrose, 28-10, in the first game of the year, the tables were turned in the playoffs, as North Crawford fell, 50-32, for an early postseason exit.  North Crawford will be one of the most experienced teams in the state this fall, with seven starters returning on offense and six on defense. Andrew Munson drives the bus on offense amongst a talented skill group, accounting for more than 1,400 yards of total offense and 22 touchdowns a year ago.  Landen Blaha, Cullen Jacobus, and Carter Emler are other returning skill standouts, while Conner Durst and Gavin Tamling anchor the offensive line. The reformed Ridge & Valley-8 should be even better this year, especially with the addition of a solid Highland squad from 11-player.   2) Highland  The Cardinals won the conference title in what was the last season of the Ridge & Valley as an 11-player football conference. Highland began the year and ended the year in the same way, however, losing to River Ridge, once in a non-conference game and once in the Level 1 playoffs.  The Cardinals move to 8-Player this year, joining the Ridge & Valley-8. They should be an immediate contender in the conference, returning first-team all-conference quarterback Bennett Smith, who threw for 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns. His top three targets from last year, John Dreischmeier, West Kraisinger, and Michael Esser, all return this season as well.   3) Belmont  The Braves were one of several Ridge & Valley-West 8-player teams that just missed out on the postseason, as they finished 5-3 overall last year, with all three losses by 12 points or less.  Belmont loses some talented players up front, including Logan Hardyman and Bradley Riechers, but quarterback Gavin Optiz plus fellow second-team all-conference running back Chance Reuter do return for the Braves.   4) Wisconsin Heights  The Vanguards dropped three straight games to begin the 2023 season, but improved later in the year, winning four of five, with the only loss during that stretch a 16-12 decision to Belmont.  Heights moves to the new Ridge & Valley-8 with one of the strongest groups of skill players in the league, led by first-team all-conference running back Cody Blicharz.  Starting quarterback Quinn Payne and leading receiver Reed Adler are also back, as the trio accounted for the majority of the yards and touchdowns on offense for the Vanguards.   5) De Soto  The Pirates narrowly missed out on the playoffs last year, going 5-3 during the regular season, adding a 50-12 win over Athens in an extra game.  Veteran head coach Ev Wick brings back five starters on both sides of the ball this year.  “We’ll have an increased roster size with a dedicated group that worked hard in the weight room,” said Wick, who has a 152-64 record in more than 20 years leading the program. “We have a lot of coachable kids, with many players that have varsity experience returning.”  Bryce Schultz is a standout at tight end and linebacker, earning All-Region honors on defense last year. Finn Wrobel returns at quarterback while Justin Obert is a three-year starter at center.   6) Wonewoc/Weston  The SilverWolves defeated Menominee Indian, 74-0, to open the 2023 season, but a 26-20 victory over rival Kickapoo/La Farge was the only other win they could manage.  They’ll have to find a way to replace quarterback Danny Roehling, versatile Brock Sprotte, and top receiver Corben Champlin. Trevor Westphal is a talented player up front coming back after a solid sophomore campaign.   7) Kickapoo/La Farge  The Predators opened the season with a 36-16 win over Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah, but didn’t win again and finished 1-7.  Kickapoo/La Farge says goodbye to quarterback Hayden Fowell, but does return versatile offensive playmaker Abe Clements, who led the team in both rushing and receiving last year.   8) Monticello  The Ponies break away from longtime co-op partner New Glarus and will move to 8-player football this season.  “As a first-ever Monticello only football program, and most of the current players have not played ever or not since youth football, we are not sure what to expect,” said head coach Tyler Smith. “However, we know we have a group of athletes that are dedicated and very excited to start this new tradition at Monticello. We will have six seniors and 11 total upperclassmen this season, but only three of those have played high school football and one of those three did not play last season.”