If there is going to be a rematch between the West De Pere and Bay Port football teams this season, it will come in the WIAA Division 1 state title game.
Both were a No. 1 seed when playoff brackets were released Oct. 17, two of four local teams to earn a top seed along with Green Bay Notre Dame in D2 and Coleman in D7.
First-round games are tentatively scheduled for Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. but are subject to change due to Game 1 of the World Series.
West De Pere (9-0) and Bay Port (8-1) are on opposite sides of the bracket, which means the teams could meet in the state championship game at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison next month.
The title games in seven divisions will be Nov. 19-20.
It would be the second straight season two local schools faced off on the big stage after West De Pere beat Green Bay Notre Dame in D2 in 2025.
The Phantoms defeated the Pirates this season for the third straight year and enter the postseason riding a 23-game winning streak.
Despite West De Pere losing one of the best quarterbacks in state history in Patrick Greisen to graduation along with head coach Chris Greisen, it hasn’t missed much of a beat after being elevated to D1.
The Phantoms are the highest-ranked squad in the 32-team field, one year after they were the highest-ranked in D2.
They kick off what they hope is another run to state with an interesting opening round game against No. 8 seed Kimberly.
The Papermakers haven’t been as dominant this season as past years, but they have been to the postseason every year since 2006 and won their most recent state title in 2022.
They started this season 0-3 – it included a 28-13 loss at Bay Port in Week 2 – but have won four of their last six.
Still, they will face a West De Pere team that has scored 35 or more points in every game while posting four shutouts.
As for another dominating team, Notre Dame starts its quest to make a third straight title game by hosting No. 8 seed Germantown.
The Tritons were ranked second overall in the D2 field after a season in which they went 9-0 and set a local record for most points scored in the regular season with 511.
Notre Dame has won 36 of its last 37 games.
West De Pere, Bay Port, Notre Dame and Coleman were among 15 local teams to earn a playoff spot.
The only first-round game that features local teams squaring off comes in D2, where No. 3 Pulaski hosts No. 6 Ashwaubenon.
The Red Raiders beat the Jaguars 35-0 in Week 5 and have won each of the last 11 games in the series.
The most notable playoff team in the field might be Green Bay West, which is a No. 7 seed in D3 and will play at No. 2 Medford.
West is making its first playoff appearance since 1996, breaking the longest postseason drought among Green Bay metro teams.
The Wildcats have won six games in a season for the first time since making the postseason 30 years ago.
“Hopefully, this leads to more kids coming out for football,” West coach Drew Brusoe said. “Hopefully, it’s more kids getting into our program at Franklin [Middle School]. They have been doing a great job. More kids, the better.
“Then, we have an opportunity to have three levels. The one goal this year was to make the playoffs. The other goal is getting three levels of football. JV2, freshmen, sophomores, playing against them. JV1, sophomores and juniors playing against equal competition. A lot of these kids have had to play on varsity since they were freshmen, or potentially sophomores. It took them two or three years to develop to what the team is now. There is a lot of talent here. Kids have worked their absolute tails off for it. I’m super proud of each and every one of them.”
Green Bay area first-round playoff games
Division 1
No. 8 Kimberly at No. 1 West De Pere
No. 8 Wausau West at No. 1 Bay Port
No. 5 De Pere at No. 4 Neenah
Click here for the Division 1 bracket.
Division 2
No. 8 Germantown at No. 1 Green Bay Notre Dame
No. 6 Ashwaubenon at No. 3 Pulaski
Click here for the Division 2 bracket.
Division 3
No. 5 Merrill at No. 4 Luxemburg-Casco
No. 7 Green Bay West at No. 2 Medford
Click here for the Division 3 bracket.
Division 4
No. 8 Denmark at No. 1 Little Chute
No. 6 Wrightstown at No. 3 Fuller Collegiate Academy
No. 7 Seymour at No. 2 Stratford
Click here for the Division 4 bracket.
Division 5
No. 5 Peshtigo at No. 4 Chilton
Click here for the Division 5 bracket.
Division 6
No. 7 Loyal/Greenwood at No. 2 Kewaunee
Click here for the Division 6 bracket.
Division 7
No. 8 Manawa at No. 1 Coleman
No. 5 Stevens Point Pacelli at No. 4 Crivitz
Click here for the Division 7 bracket.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Bay Port, West De Pere, Notre Dame, Coleman earn top seeds in WIAA football playoffs