WHITEFISH BAY − Catholic Memorial entered Friday night’s Division 3 quarterfinal football matchup against Whitefish Bay as the underdog.
It didn’t play like one.
The Crusaders defeated the Blue Dukes, 40-15, using a strong defensive performance and timely scoring to earn a spot in the Division 3 semifinals.
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Catholic Memorial (7-5) established control early, scoring 17 unanswered points in the first half. Will Schmitzer opened the scoring with a 34-yard touchdown in the first quarter before the Crusaders added a field goal and another touchdown to take a 17-0 lead into halftime.
Whitefish Bay (9-3) responded in the third quarter with a touchdown from Mace Miskel, cutting the deficit to 17-7. However, Catholic Memorial answered with a 59-yard rushing touchdown to extend its lead to 24-7.
The Crusaders continued to build momentum in the fourth quarter. Ne’Vareon Flowers scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, followed by a successful two-point conversion to make it 32-7.
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Sussex Hamilton wide receiver Alex Restivo (4) fights for yardage against Arrowhead in a WIAA playoff game Friday, November 6, 2026, at Hamilton High School in Sussex, Wisconsin. The host Chargers (12-0) scored a 17-10 victory to advance to a state semifinal matchup with Bay Port.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Sussex Hamilton wide receiver Alex Restivo (4) fights for yardage against Arrowhead in a WIAA playoff game Friday, November 6, 2026, at Hamilton High School in Sussex, Wisconsin. The host Chargers (12-0) scored a 17-10 victory to advance to a state semifinal matchup with Bay Port.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Sussex Hamilton running back Brayden Schroeder (33) celebrate as he scores a touchdown against Arrowhead.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Sussex Hamilton running back Esten Haas (24) fights for yards with Arrowhead linebacker Alex Hansen (42) on his back.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Sussex Hamilton quarterback Cole Erdmann throws a pass. He completed 12 of 20 attempts for 110 yards and a touchdown.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Arrowhead tight end Tre Oiler (7) turns up field after a catch.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Sussex Hamilton wide receiver Alex Restivo (4) extends to make a catch in front of Arrowhead linebacker Alex Hansen (42) but falls out of bounds.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Arrowhead running back Devin Nettles (2) runs to the end zone untouched to score.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Arrowhead running back Devin Nettles (2) is hoisted by offensive lineman Sam Cheever (75) after scoring a touchdown..
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Sussex Hamilton running back Esten Haas (24) tries to outrun Arrowhead defensive back Evan Wozniak (10) but .goes out of bounds before the end zone.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Sussex Hamilton’s Myles St. Louis (16) kicks a field goal.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Arrowhead’s Anthony Vetta (20) fakes a toss to Jacob Bastian (29) on the second-half kickoff return.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Sussex Hamilton defensive back Nick Wambach (7) pulls down Arrowhead running back Devin Nettles (2).
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Arrowhead running back Jebari Craig (17) carries the ball.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Arrowhead quarterback Nolan Hanson (3) twists to the turf after scrambling.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Sussex Hamilton defensive back Nick Wambach (7) tries to bring down Arrowhead running back Devin Nettles.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Sussex Hamilton defensive back Kevin Lally (2) intercepts a pass intended for Arrowhead tight end Tre Oiler (7) in the end zone.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Sussex Hamilton wide receiver Drew Olsson (1) and Arrowhead defensive back Walt Bong (21) leap for a pass but neither can pull it down..
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Sussex Hamilton tight end Avery Ash (86) works for yardage against Arrowhead.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Sussex Hamilton wide receiver Alex Restivo (4) catches a touchdown pass against Arrowhead with 4:55 remaining.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Sussex Hamilton wide receiver Alex Restivo (4) celebrates in front of Arrowhead defensive back Anthony Vetta (20) after catching a touchdown pass.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Arrowhead quarterback Nolan Hanson (3) avoids a Sussex Hamilton tackle while scrambling on his team’s final drive.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Arrowhead wide receiver Logan Crowley (18) turns the corner after a catch and tries to avoid Sussex Hamilton defensive back Nick Wambach (7), but the gain was negated by a penalty.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Arrowhead offensive linemen Roman Holtz (66), Zach Longrie (65) and Sam Cheever (75) sit on the bench in the final moments of a 17-10 loss to Sussex Hamilton.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Sussex Hamilton players celebrate as the final seconds tick off the clock.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Arrowhead players embrace as they walk away from the handshake line following a 17-10 loss to Sussex Hamilton.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Sussex Hamilton offensive lineman Hunter Mallinger (77) and defensive back Kevin Lally (2) share an embrace in celebrating a 17-10 victory over Arrowhead.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Scenes from Arrowhead-Sussex Hamilton in a WIAA football quarterfinal
Sussex Hamilton coach Justin Gumm addresses his team after the game.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Devon Williams Jr. added another touchdown for Catholic Memorial, and the Crusaders converted another two-point attempt to extend their advantage to 40-7.
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Whitefish Bay added a late touchdown and two-point conversion, but the deficit was too much to overcome.
Catholic Memorial head coach Bill Young credited his team’s preparation and defensive execution for the victory.
Young specifically praised defensive coordinator Ryan Stefaniak and Steve Rux, along with several players who helped lead the defensive effort, including Dalton Steinke, Dustin Roach, Cam Shumpert, Flowers and Schmitzer.
“We were really dialed in,” Young said. “We were battle-tested.”
That preparation came from what Young described as one of the toughest schedules in the state. Catholic Memorial faced seven Division 1 opponents and two Division 2 opponents during the regular season.
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Young said competing against that level of competition helped establish the standard his team needed to reach heading into the postseason.
“When you get a chance to play against great teams, the bar is set for you,” Young said. “It’s just a deal that we were ready to compete.”
The Crusaders also benefited from a strong week of preparation, including long practices and an extended walkthrough Friday morning.
Catholic Memorial advances to the Division 3 semifinals, moving one step closer to a state championship appearance.
Young knows the competition will only get tougher as the postseason continues.
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“At this level, you get to Level 2, Level 3, you’re playing great teams, great coaches, great programs,” Young said. “You have to dominate and do the little things right, make your block, do your job, great tackling. We did that tonight. Now we’ve got to get ready for next week.”
Catholic Memorial will face Pewaukee on Friday, Nov. 13, in a Division 3 semifinal matchup.
