MADISON, Wis. — The Kenosha St. Joseph Lancers won the program’s second WIAA state football title with a 35–19 victory over the Cochrane-Fountain City Pirates in the Division 7 championship game at Camp Randall Stadium. The first was in 1994.
St. Joseph set the tone immediately, scoring on every possession in the first half behind quarterback Zach Rizzo — the son of head coach Matt Rizzo. Zach, who also won a state baseball title earlier this year in Division 3, directed an offense that never stalled through the opening two quarters, giving the Lancers control from the outset.
The defense held strong throughout the game, limiting Cochrane-Fountain City’s opportunities and protecting the lead as the Lancers marched toward a long-awaited championship.
After the final whistle, the team returned home to Kenosha at around 5 p.m. and was met with a full commercial police escort — a celebration fitting for a historic achievement. This marks the second state championship in the history of St. Joseph’s football program.
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28 Responses
Nice to see!! Congratulations!
Waiting for this site to investigate who paid for the police escort (eye roll).
Same ones that paid for all the athletic vouchers
It appears St. Joe’s is approaching 1/3 of the student population as state-funded vouchers. That is not including the staff’s children who attend at little to no cost. The school will probably not survive, as St. Joe’s has been reprimanded for not following voucher protocols.
well done
Division 7? How is this even a thing?
Yet they play baseball in division 3?
Exactly. Sounds like Rizzo wanted the lowest division rank to get a championship before he is out. St. Joe’s was not D7 until recently.
The baseball team is legit! They have a pool of very talented individuals! Hell, one of them has been highly recruited since 8th grade and will likely be another Gavin Lux. For baseball, they’ll be moved up to D2 for the upcoming season. As for football, the kids have worked hard and played an amazing game! I would never take anything away from them! As for Coach Rizzo, we all know or have known someone who coaches for the wrong reasons, for the wins, or the need to reassure themselves that they’re great at coaching. The kids played great and worked hard! Should they have been in D7? Meh, whatever. There is only one person that needs to be honest with themselves and live with their actions and decisions.
Yep. Rizzo! Even the Director of Development moved her kid to Central! He is also rumored to be out of St. Joe’s next month!
They don’t have 7 divisions in baseball dude…
WIAA is a clusterf****
Proving, yet again, the WIAA is one of the most incompetent organizations ever created.
The high school has about 200 kids which put them in D7. Next year they will be in D6 because of prior years succes.
Great job St Joes
Question though, I’m confused, maybe I’m wrong but conflicting information…
Title: …”Second State Championship”
Final Line:
“This marks the first state championship in the history of St. Joseph’s football program.”
This is Division 7! The lowest division! Other local high schools are D1!
Better than losing I guess
Your point being?
Math 101. 2,000 enrollment compared to 200. Enrollment is what they base it on. When you win, you move up. It’s not that difficult.
St. Joe’s last won a state championship in football (first) back when the school was in the WISAA (private school league). That league merged with the WIAA and now all schools are in one league. Hence, this is St. Joe’s 1st WIAA Football State Title. Way to go Lancers!
WISSA was a conference when they won their 1st
When you can hand pick kids from large cities in Wisconsin and Illinois and play against tiny rural schools, you should win. Dummys
You’ve got jealousy on your face 😉
Ever hear of Mater De? Kids from 40 states play on that team. STJ is a private school, so you can take an elf from the North Pole if you so choose. Do you even know the rules and how they govern?
Hand pick? Yes. STJ has kids from all over the state? Are you Stunad?
Division 7? 🤣 so they were essentially a CYC team, nothing to be proud about.
Funny how an anonymous person shoots his or her mouth off.
To the kenoshacountyeye.com Administrator.