WEEK 1 RANKINGS
1. West De Pere (1-0)
The defending WIAA Division 2 champion turned a close game at halftime into a 42-20 win at Sun Prairie East.
The Phantoms were elevated to D1 this season and kicked off the year by beating a D1 squad behind what appears to be another standout quarterback in junior Andrew Greisen.
Up next: Appleton North (1-0).
2. Bay Port (1-0)
There have been thoughts the Pirates might have their best overall team in three seasons under Steven Jorgensen. Anybody who believes that didn’t have their mind changed after Week 1.
Bay Port hit the road and crushed Middleton 56-15, leading the Cardinals by 35 points after the first 24 minutes and starting the second half with a running mercy clock.
The Pirates can make another big statement with a win this week.
Up next: Kimberly (0-1).
3. Green Bay Notre Dame (1-0)
The Tritons likely already had their most exciting game of the season in the first week after a crazy 56-53 overtime victory at Neenah.
It was the first time they have allowed 50 or more points since permitting 51 to Bay Port in September 2019, but they still found a way to win behind all-world running back Kingston Allen.
Speaking of winning, Notre Dame extended its regular-season winning streak to 26.
Up next: Kaukauna (1-0).
4. Pulaski (1-0)
Although stuck in a Fox River Classic Conference-North in which everyone is staring up at West De Pere and Bay Port, the Red Raiders have a chance to be a top three team.
They dominated Appleton East 47-7 and led by 40 points at the end of the third quarter.
Pulaski did what it does best. It rushed for 290 yards, averaged 5.9 yards per carry and scored seven TDs on the ground.
Up next: at Hortonville (1-0).
5. De Pere (1-0)
The Redbirds have featured quality defenses in recent seasons, and that could be the case again with the return of standouts such as senior linebackers Cayden Cavanaugh and Andrew Stiles.
De Pere had little trouble in a 47-0 win at Manitowoc. The competition will get much more difficult, but it had three interceptions and returned two for touchdowns against the Ships.
Up next: Fond du Lac (1-0).
6. Luxemburg-Casco (1-0)
The Spartans beat Kewaskum 37-27 to win their opening game for the second straight season after starting the 2025 campaign 7-0.
There will be far more difficult opponents than a Kewaskum team that had one win last season and isn’t expected to be much of a contender in the Glacier Trails, but L-C will be solid again behind the play of quarterback Eli Derenne.
Up next: at Kewaunee (0-1).
7. Seymour (1-0)
Kicked off the Jeff Marsh era in style with a 27-14 win over a Waupun team that made the playoffs last season for the second straight year.
The Thunder mostly has new starters on offense and defense, but it passed its first test.
Up next: at Oconto Falls (1-0).
8. Coleman (1-0)
With defending champion Oconto Falls no longer part of the Northwoods Conference, the Cougars are the undisputed favorite in the seven-team league behind the rushing duo of Kolton Peters and Wyatt Bieber.
Coleman started the season with a 26-0 win at Peshtigo, with Peters and Bieber combining for 195 yards.
A difficult nonconference contest awaits this week.
Up next: Bonduel (1-0).
9. Green Bay Preble (1-0)
The Hornets are seeking their first playoff appearance since 2019 and started the season with a 40-37 win over a West Bend West program that is expected to be one of the top teams in the Glacier Trails.
Preble threw for 351 yards and rushed for 102. It was the second time in seven seasons it has scored 40 or more points.
Up next: at Appleton East (0-1).
10. Kewaunee (0-1)
The defending Packerland champion didn’t have an opener to remember in a 42-0 loss at Fox Valley Lutheran, but the D6 Storm has a difficult nonconference schedule with games against D3 opponents FVL and Luxemburg-Casco.
Kewaunee still will be one of the top teams in the Packerland despite the loss of standout quarterback Brett Paulsen to graduation.
Up next: Luxemburg-Casco (1-0).
Players of the week
Charlie Aichele, Ashwaubenon
The junior defensive lineman had seven total tackles, including two for loss, a sack and a forced fumble in a 28-20 victory against Oshkosh North.
Kingston Allen, Green Bay Notre Dame
This is getting ridiculous.
The senior running back and University of Wisconsin commit put up video game numbers last season and already is doing it again in one game to start 2026.
Allen rushed for 458 yards and seven TDs in Notre Dame’s overtime win at Neenah.
He now has three of the top seven all-time rushing performances in state history after going for 509 yards against Slinger and 477 against Greenfield last season.
Rowan Allen, Green Bay East
The senior defensive back was a bright spot in the Red Devils’ 40-18 loss to Appleton West.
He had eight total tackles and two interceptions.
Eli Derenne, Luxemburg-Casco
The second-year quarterback had a dominant game against Kewaskum.
He completed 14 of 19 passes for 202 yards and rushed 11 times for 232 yards and four scores.
It’s almost as many yards (289) as he rushed for all last season.
Tyler Cleven, Green Bay Preble
Played a key role in the Hornets’ win over West Bend West.
The wide receiver-defensive back had 12 receptions for 137 yards and three TDs to lead the offense, while he had eight tackles and recovered a fumble on defense.
Anthony Ficarri, Pulaski
The senior running back had a huge night in a win over Appleton East, rushing 30 times for 180 yards and five TDs.
It was almost as many scores as he had as a junior in 2025, when he rushed for 468 yards and six TDs while averaging 8.1 yards per carry.
Zack Freeman, Denmark
The senior quarterback was instrumental in a 35-14 win over New London.
He threw for 41 yards and a TD and rushed 23 times for 153 yards and a score.
Freeman is building on a junior campaign in which he threw for 395 yards and one TD and rushed for 265 and two scores.
Andrew Greisen, West De Pere
The junior is now 95 touchdowns away from joining his older brother, Patrick, as the only quarterbacks in state history with 100 or more for a career.
It might be a bit early to start the countdown, but Greisen had a huge debut in leading West De Pere to a road win at Sun Prairie East.
He completed 26 of 38 passes for 385 yards and five TDs while throwing zero interceptions.
Greisen completed passes to six players, with both Parker Diedrich (109 yards) and Darian Acevedo-Ortiz (103 yards) finishing with more than 100 yards.
Joey Massey, Green Bay Notre Dame
The senior defensive end-tight end came up big on both sides of the ball at Neenah.
The Iowa State commit was all over the place in overtime.
His sack of Neenah quarterback Ashton VanBeek held the Rockets to a field goal on their possession, before Massey caught a game-winning 25-yard TD on Notre Dame’s first play.
Massey had nine total tackles, including four for loss.
Luke Rissling, Green Bay West
The senior linebacker had a big start to his final season, helping the Wildcats beat Omro 20-13 by piling up 10 tackles, one sack and one interception.
Rissling had a career-high 92 tackles last season.
Harrison Selk, Green Bay Preble
His third year as a starting quarterback is off to a smashing success.
The senior completed 26 of 33 passes for 351 yards and five TDs against West Bend West, finishing with a passer rating of 212.1.
Selk came close to surpassing his career-high of 373 yards, which he accomplished against Pulaski in Week 8 last season.
Greg Salzman, Seymour
One standout Salzman graduates and another takes his place.
The younger brother of Xavier rushed for 150 yards and one TD on 22 carries against Waupun while catching two passes for 23 yards.
The junior added an interception and three total tackles on defense.
Drew Taber, De Pere
The senior running back-linebacker did nice work on both sides of the ball in the Redbirds’ win at Manitowoc.
He rushed three times for 45 yards and a TD. The team captain added four tackles and a pick-six.
Taber had 41 total tackles as a junior in 2025.
Ryder Timmerman, Bay Port
His debut as a featured running back on varsity was a smashing success. The senior rushed eight times for 135 yards and one TD, averaging 16.9 yards per carry.
Timmerman had two carries last season that went for 31 yards. He keeps putting up big plays.
Traevaughn Weaver, Green Bay Southwest
The senior running back was all smiles after his team’s 33-13 win over Sheboygan South, the first win for the program since 2022.
Weaver played a huge role in the victory, rushing 31 times for 201 yards and three scores.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Allen, Greisen headline best Week 1 Green Bay-area football performers