High School football is back as Week 1 in Wisconsin gets started on Thursday, Aug. 20.
With a new season comes chances for teams to make memories, history and that all starts in Week 1.
This story provides a preview of three games to watch featuring Oshkosh, Fond du Lac teams and a look at the full Week 1 slate.
Games to Watch
Laconia at Ripon, Thursday, 7 p.m.
It’s a matchup of two new head coaches. Chris Morgan is in his first season as the Laconia head coach, taking over for Joe Leadley while Justin Stigler takes over for Andrew Selgrad at Ripon. Despite being a non-conference game, the two schools are separated by just over eight miles.
Being that it’s Week 1, it will be the first look at Ripon after the graduation of Eric Cumber, who was the state’s leading rusher in the regular season with 2,599 yards and 33 touchdowns. Laconia graduated its leading passer, rusher, receiver and the area’s top tackler in Flynn O’Laire.
Laconia has won the two previous two matchups, winning last year’s by a score of 21-0.
Cedar Grove-Belgium at Mayville, Friday, 7 p.m.
Mayville will play its first game since winning the Division 5 state championship and has its hands full with a Cedar Grove-Belgium team that went 9-5 in 2025 with two forfeit wins.
In last season’s matchup, also in Week 1, Mayville defeated Cedar Grove-Belgium 33-20.
Hartford at Fond du Lac, Friday, 7 p.m.
In 2025, Fond du Lac defeated Hartford 24-20 to open the season. Hartford will be looking for revenge and to start its season with a win.
Fond du Lac graduated 32 seniors and will have to replace 16 starting positions, but second-team Fox Valley Association quarterback Eli Michalkiewicz is back for his junior season.
It will be an early test to see what type of teams Hartford and Fond du Lac will be as they each look to make it back to the playoffs.
Week 1 Schedule
Thursday, Aug. 20
Friday, Aug. 21
Saturday, Aug. 22
Contact or send game stats/info to Ben Schultz at BSchultz@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @benschultz52.
This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Champions return, rivals renew | Week 1 high school football games to watch
Reporting by Ben Schultz, Oshkosh Northwestern / Oshkosh Northwestern
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ben Schultz, Oshkosh Northwestern | USA TODAY Network
