Middleton giddy after receiving a No. 4 seed

Middleton’s football team gathered for a playoff viewing party Saturday, and around 10:45 a.m., the room erupted.

MHS co-head coach Tim Simon wasn’t sure if it was because his Cardinals saw their name on the television screen. Or if it was because Middleton received a lofty seed no one ever saw coming.

“Maybe it was both,” Simon said.

Whatever the reason, Christmas came two months early for these Cardinals.

Middleton, which had a less than inspiring season in the mediocre Big Eight Conference, received the No. 4 seed in their bracket. That means the Cardinals (6-3) get a first round home game and will host fifth-seeded Chippewa Falls (6-3) in a WIAA Division 1 Level 1 playoff game Friday at 7 p.m.

“After our (Week 9) game against Madison West, we told the guys we had no idea where we were going, but we were probably going on the road,” Simon said. “Having a home game? We did not think that would be the case.”

The WIAA began using computerized seeding for the playoffs in 2021, going to an electronic auto-seeding format instead of having coaches meeting to vote. But the WIAA refuses to tell its members exactly how the seeds are determined.

Among the criteria the formula considers is win percentage, opponent win percentage, defeated opponent win percentage and defeated opponents’ opponent's win percentage. What percentage each of those variables accounted for, though, remains unclear.

The WIAA also includes historical conference playoff win percentage, historical team playoff win percentage and strength of loss game value, all of which takes into account each of the previous three seasons. As always, there were several inexplicable seeds across the state.

Oconomowoc won the Classic 8 Conference — which is widely regarded the state’s elite conference. The Raccoons were expecting a No. 1 or 2 seed, but instead received a No. 6 seed, meaning they’ll play all of their games on the road.

Mount Horeb-Barneveld went 9-0 in Division 3 and seemed like a lock to be a No. 1 seed. Instead, two-loss Catholic Memorial (7-2) is the No. 1 seed in the Vikings’ pod, and MH-B is a No. 2 seed.

Logic. Common sense. Reasoning.

These are words that don’t seem part of the WIAA’s vocabulary — and many years that has hurt Middleton. This year, the Cardinals benefitted greatly.

Middleton beat just one team all season with a winning record — and that was a Janesville Craig squad that went 5-4. Two of the Cardinals’ wins came against Madison East and Madison La Follette — teams that went a combined 1-17.

And the Big Eight continues to be a watered-down football conference since Sun Prairie left the league after the 2021 season. Of the current members, only Madison Memorial (2019) has been to Level 4 of the playoffs since 2012.

Still, the computer saw something it liked in the 2024 Cardinals — and Middleton wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

“Traditionally, we have not found ourselves with a home game when we have this record or even one a little bit better,” Simon said. “We just kind of expected to be on the road.”

Now, Middleton will try taking advantage of its good fortune.

Waunakee (8-1) was the No. 1 seed in the bracket, followed by Hudson (7-2), Madison Memorial (8-1), Middleton (6-3), Chippewa Falls (6-3), Stevens Point (6-3), D.C. Everest (7-2) and Wausau West (5-4).

Middleton, which was 3-3 overall at one point this year, won its final three games. Those victories did come against a trio, though, that went a combined 3-24 this season.

Still, the Cardinals believe they’re heading to the postseason with some momentum.

“We've got three strong wins (in a row),” junior wideout Jackson Guerrero said. “I feel like we're in sort of a groove going into the first (round).

“I feel like we're much better than where we were at the beginning of the year on offense. I feel like we're clicking at the right time.”

Senior defensive end Torin Pettaway agreed.

“I feel great,” Pettaway said. “We're always trying to get better each and every day. But I feel confident.”

Chippewa Falls went just 4-3 in the Big Rivers Conference — a league made up of schools ranging from Division 1 to Division 3.

The Chi-Hi run the ball 75.6% of the time and have piled up 279.3 rushing yards per game. Chippewa Falls hasn't been as dangerous in the passing game, throwing for just 85.9 yards per contest.

Middleton continues to be a dynamic passing team, as junior quarterback Joey Passaglia has thrown for 29 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Senior wideout Troy Teff has had an all-state season with 44 receptions and 14 touchdowns.

The Cardinals have been pedestrian running the ball, though, averaging just 62.6 rushing yards per game.

“We feel pretty good,” Middleton co-coach Joe Poehls said. “We always feel like we can improve. Mentally this time of year you have to understand that you can't play scared — you've got to play like you want to be playing next week. I think we're feeling pretty good, all in all.”

The Cardinals are feeling extremely good thanks to an unexpected seed — and a home game to go with it.

“When I look at our bracket, I’d say there’s a number of teams that could win it,” Simon said. “We’re just hoping to be one of those.”