FOOTBALL: Five area games to watch for the 2024 season

The 2024 high school football season is finally upon us. Here are five area games to mark on your calendars for the months ahead.

WEEK 4: BANGOR AT ITHACA

This is the first significant SBC game of the season. The Week 4 meeting kicks off a series of crucial league matchups, yet this game will likely direct the path of the Bluffs' championship race.

WEEK 4: TOMAH AT SPARTA

The records don't matter. This game has gone down to the wire or to overtime the last two years and the visiting team has won the last three meetings.

Need we say more? This game is must-see action.

WEEK 4: BROOKWOOD AT ROYALL

From a pure numbers perspective, Brookwood shouldn't have an issue handling Royall. However, the Falcons, despite outnumbering RHS nearly 2-1 on the sideline, has had a tough time notching a win against the Panthers in recent years. In 2023, BHS fell short despite a first-half shootout. There's no reason to believe the same won't happen this year, either.

WEEK 6: HOLMEN AT SPARTA

Despite being the biggest school in the MVC, Holmen has struggled to make the postseason by more than the skin of their teeth in recent years. Those struggles haven't come against Sparta, though. Getting a win against HHS is a must for the Spartans if they hope to repeat as playoff qualifiers.

WEEK 8: CASHTON AT HILLSBORO

This is a classic measuring stick game. One program seems to be on the rise and another has to learn how to evolve after graduating a bunch of talent. Expect this game to have major playoff implications.