If there is a way to slow down the Bradford football team, Marquette coach Dick Basham probably has the answer.

The Red Devils go up against the winningest high school coach in state history in facing Basham’s Hilltoppers in a Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division-1 State quarterfinal 6 p.m. Saturday at Indian Trail Stadium.

In 39 seasons, Basham is 349-87 (.800) with six state championships.

“He’s well-respected and for good reason,” said former St. Joseph football coach Bob Freund, who battled Basham in the early-1980s and early-1990s in the now-defunct Metro Conference. “He’s done a tremendous job at Marquette. His teams are extremely disciplined and very diverse with the ability to run, throw and play strong defense.

“I’ve always been impressed with his teams. We came out on the short end every time we played them.”

Basham is 20-0 against St. Joseph and has never lost a game played in Kenosha against any team. Marquette captured a 28-0 victory over Bradford in the only meeting between the schools in the second round of the 2006 playoffs.

Bradford and Marquette each enter Saturday’s game with an 11-0 record.

“I was awfully impressed with Bradford (last Saturday),” said Freund, who is now an assistant coach for St. Joseph. “The speed Bradford has is just incredible and they’re big and physical up front. I wonder what Marquette has up front and if they have the power to handle Bradford.”

Inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2000, Basham accepted his first head coaching position in 1970 at Wisconsin Rapids Assumption. He went 2-7 his first year before finishing 8-1 the following season. In 1972, he took over at Marquette and has been there ever since.

“I know him very well,” said Frank Matrise Sr., the former St. Joseph football coach and longtime athletic director. “Football is his passion. He’s always had the ability to move personnel around and put them exactly where they belong. He’s a very, very knowledgeable coach and handles the kids very well.”

Former St. Joseph coach Bob Carbone squared off against Basham in the early 1970s.

“He has a great mind for football,” said Carbone, who still resides in Kenosha. “He was always well prepared and very fundamentally sound. They just overpowered us.”