If the Bradford football team is to advance to the State semifinals, it will do so under the lights.

The second-seeded Red Devils (11-0) will play top-seeded Marquette (11-0) in a WIAA Division-1 State quarterfinal 6 p.m. Saturday at Indian Trail Stadium.

The kickoff time was announced Monday by Bradford athletic director Steve Knecht after a short negotiating session with Marquette. For Level 3 playoff games, schools are supposed to reach an agreement to play either Friday or Saturday. If Saturday is chosen, the game’s start time must be between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Knecht said neither team was enamored with the possibility of playing Friday.

“All the coaches are thinking now why would you play on Friday, if you can get the whole extra day of rest,” Knecht said. “Whatever two teams are left standing will only have to (play on a short week) for the State final.”

The Level 4 games have the same Friday/Saturday option at a neutral site next week, while the D-1 State championship game is 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20, at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.

Hosting swimming, too

Knecht had another variable to consider since Bradford is hosting the WIAA Division-1 swimming sectional. The diving is Friday evening with the swimming beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The WIAA handbook recommends avoiding conflicts between two events so fan bases and students can attend both.

“That’s two major things to host — a sectional and a Level 3 football game,” Knecht said. “When I talked to their AD, he understood it takes a lot of the same people that work my games — for ticketing, security and all that fun stuff.”

Knecht said Marquette expressed concern about the sun’s impact on a game at 4 p.m., so the teams arrived at a 6 p.m. kickoff.

The Marquette-Bradford winner will be the last entrant to the D-1 final four as none of the other three quarterfinals will kick off later than 4 p.m.

Tickets on sale

Bradford is already pre-selling tickets for Saturday’s game on the Internet at bradford.safesportzone.com.

According to Knecht, tickets will also be on sale at the school’s welcome center from noon to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday.

As with all WIAA postseason events, tickets will be available at the gate and no passes will be honored.