Football: Wausau West, Wausau East, D.C. Everest, Marathon all fall in Level 1 playoffs.

It was a tough Level 1 of the WIAA football playoffs for the Wausau area teams as seasons came to a conclusion for Wausau West, Wausau East, D.C. Everest and Marathon on Friday night.

In Division 1, the 8th seeded Wausau West Warriors lost at top seeded Bay Port 32-7 in a game broadcast live on Wausau Area Sports. Bay Port running back Jackson Smith scored four touchdowns in the game (3 rushing and 1 receiving) while the quarterback duo of Bray Babich and Braydon Maney moved moved the team with their arms and legs. Babich threw for 90 yards and ran for 44 while Maney had 66 yards passing and 51 throwing for the Pirates. Bay Port led 13-0 after the first quarter and 25-0 at halftime before the Warriors gambled to start the third quarter and tried to rally. West would recover an onside kick to start the half and ultimately scored on a 23 yard touchdown connection from Jackson Riley to Marcus Koenigs to make it 25-7. West then attempted and recovered a second straight onside kick and threatened for another score but were stopped on downs at the Bay Port 25. The Pirates then reestablished a 25 point lead with a long touchdown drive that culminated with Smith's 4th score of the night. Riley threw for 180 yards for West while Miles Waldvogel concluded his HS football career with 66 yards rushing on 14 carries. The Warriors finish 2026 with a 5-5 record while Bay Port improves to 9-1 and a Level 2 game vs. Neenah next week.

Also in D-1, D.C. Everest wanted to conjure up some 7th seed magic for the 2nd time in 3 years. In 2024, as a 7 seed, Everest advanced to the state semifinal in Division 1. Part of that run included a win at Waunakee. Friday night Everest returned to Waunakee to meet the 2nd seeded Warriors in Level 1. A slow start hurt the Evergreens and a late rally came up short in a 36-22 loss. Everest trailed 28-8 heading into the 4th quarter but scored a pair of touchdowns to move with 28-22. However, Waunakee would add some insurance with a score and advance to Level 2. Everest finishes their season at 5-5. Waunakee advances to host 6th seeded Appleton North, who upset 3rd seeded Stevens Point 21-7.

In D-2, the Wausau East Lumberjacks earned a home game with a 4th seed but also a tough Level 1 match up with 5th seeded Marshfield. The 2nd place team in the Wisconsin Valley Conference proved too much for the 2nd place in the Great Northern Conference as Marshfield topped East 44-14. East knew they would face a tough run game but the surprise was who ended up carrying the load for Marshfield. Instead of Haiden Carlson, the 2025 all-WVC RB who missed significant action this season, it was Josh Carlson who racked up 250 yards rushing on just 15 attempts and 4 touchdowns. Carlson had a 50 yard scoring run in the 2nd quarter as the Tigers led 22-7 at halftime. Carlson then scored all three TD's in the 3rd quarter as Marshfield put the game away and led 44-7 after three quarters. East's touchdowns came on a 1 yard Camdyn Rye rush in the 2nd quarter and a 31 yard Rye to Henry Maahs touchdown connection in the 4th quarter. Cash Ryan Seefeldt had 74 yards rushing while Rye hit on 12 of 26 passes for 135 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. East finishes the campaign at 7-3 while Marshfield is 7-3 and will travel to top seeded Monona Grove next Friday

In Division 6 it was nearly.....almost, a massive comeback win for Marathon. The 6th seeded Red Raiders trailed 3rd seeded Cambridge 24-3 at halftime on Friday night but came roaring back to take a 25-24 lead with just over 3 minutes left in the 4th quarter. However, Cambridge was able to respond and scored the winning touchdown with 1:17 left in the game and hold on for a 30-25 victory. Marathon finishes their season with a 6-4 record.

Further info including stats to be added.