Twenty-four players--including seven from Edgerton and six from Janesville Craig--make up this year's Gazette all-area high school football team.

Keeanu Benton is The Gazette's player of the year in football. The Janesville Craig senior and University of Wisconsin recruit was a disruptive force on the defensive line.

Less than two months after a devastating injury, Lois has finished his first round of physical therapy. His recovery is going well, and he continues to work toward a return to the gridiron.

A whopping 22 of the 28 No. 1 seeds over the seven different divisions won WIAA football state quarterfinal games Friday night and will play for a trip to Camp Randall this week.

Bolstered by an imposing offensive line that averages 275 pounds, Lakeside Lutheran cruised to 45-14 victory over visiting Edgerton in a WIAA Division 4 state quarterfinal football game Friday night.

Edgerton plays at Lakeside Lutheran on Friday night in a WIAA Division 4 state quarterfinal football game. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Six Janesville Craig football players were named first-team all-Big Eight Conference after finishing 6-4 this season.

For the first time in program history, Edgerton High's football team has advanced to the third round of the WIAA playoffs. Edgerton pounded Lodi 35-14 on Friday night in a Division 4 second-round game.

A look at the players and teams that stood out statistically this fall

Edgerton is the lone remaining team from The Gazette's primary sports coverage area that is still alive in the WIAA football postseason, while Sun Prairie is the only team out of six Big Eight squads that won in the opening round.

A roundup of area first-round high school football playoff games on Oct. 19, 2018.

Edgerton High's football team beat Wautoma 42-18 Friday night in the opening round of the WIAA Division 4 playoffs.

Elijah Weis ran for more than 200 yards and four touchdowns, and fifth-seeded Kettle Moraine topped fourth-seeded Janesville Craig 36-6 in a WIAA Division 1 football playoff opener.

Edgerton High football's offensive line, which has been given the nickname "The Hogs," is a big reason the Crimson Tide have won eight straight games heading into Friday's WIAA Division 4 first-round playoff game against Wautoma.

Janesville Craig's football team earned a No. 4 seed in its WIAA Division 1 playoff grouping, and the Cougars will host fifth-seeded Kettle Moraine on Friday night.

A recap of Rock Valley high school football action for Friday, Oct. 12, 2018. 

Lake Geneva Badger beat Union Grove 28-20 on Friday night to extend its WIAA postseason streak to 12 straight years.

A recap of area high school football action for Friday, Oct. 12, 2018. 

Janesville Parker turned the ball over five times and totaled 31 total offensive yards in a 34-0 loss at Beloit Memorial on Friday night.

Janesville Craig had a chance to possibly secure a first-round home playoff game next Friday but came up short in a 41-27 Big Eight Conference loss to Madison Memorial.

High school football results for the Rock Valley Conference on Friday, Oct. 5. 

Janesville Parker trailed just 19-0 at halftime against first-place Madison Memorial on Friday night, but the Spartans pulled away to a 48-6 victory.

Badger kept its playoff hopes alive with a 28-20 road victory. The Badgers improved to 3-5 overall, but more importantly are 3-3 in the Lakes.

Craig senior quarterback Ben Coulter accounted for three touchdowns, and the Cougars defense forced three turnovers in a 39-6 Big Eight Conference victory over visiting Madison West on Friday.

Janesville's Craig's Keeanu Benton has a chance to play in the 2019 Under Armour All-America game. fans have a chance to vote him in.

Five notable performances from area high school athletes over the past week, and five area events to watch for over the next seven days:

After beating Evansville/Albany on an untimed down at the end of a game in Week 6, Whitewater picked up its second straight victory Friday night against Brodhead/Juda, improving to 2-5.

A recap of Week 7 high school football games in the Rock Valley Conference for Friday, September 28, 2018. 

Jaden Johnson and Devin Jorgenson combined for 479 yards rushing and seven touchdowns, and Edgerton scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns to beat host East Troy in a Rock Valley Conference football game.

Despite trailing by only six points at halftime, Craig was overpowered by Middleton in the second half in a 42-7 loss.

A recap of Week 7 high school football games in the Southern Lakes Conference for Friday, September 28, 2018. 

Parker scored four touchdowns Friday night and trailed by just 12 in the fourth quarter before Madison West pulled away to a 55-28 Big Eight Conference victory at Monterey Stadium.

Janesville Craig and Edgerton punched their ticket to the WIAA football playoffs Friday night by picking up their fifth conference wins of the season.

A recap of Week 6 high school football games around the area for Sept. 2, 2018. 

A recap of Week 6 high school football games in the Rock Valley Conference for Friday, September 21, 2018. 

Tressin Kussmaul rushed for three touchdowns and Janesville Craig's football team moved into a three-way tie atop the Big Eight Conference and clinched a playoff berth with a victory at Madison East on Friday.

Jaden Johnson rushed for 258 yards and five touchdowns and the Crimson Tide piled up more than 500 yards on the ground on the way to a 52-16 Rock Valley Conference victory over shorthanded Beloit Turner.

Middleton opened up a 21-0 lead Friday night and coasted to a 46-0 Big Eight Conference win over Janesville Parker at Monterey Stadium.

The iPad has replaced the chalkboard when it comes to high school football. Gone are the days of making adjustments and diagramming plays at halftime.

The high school football season is past the midway point. Gazette sports editor Eric Schmoldt breaks down the area teams' playoff chances.