Edgar stays undefeated in 2020

Team has little trouble beating No. 3 Reedsville

By Casey Krautkramer

Edgar’s varsity football team clobbered Reedsville, 41-6, in a matchup between two top-ranked teams in Division 7 this season.

The undefeated and No. 1 ranked Wildcats, 7-0, handed No. 3 ranked Panthers, 6-1, their first loss this season. Edgar traveled a few hours east on Friday to play against Reedsville, which is close to Manitowoc, when its regular-season game at Marathon was canceled.

Edgar’s top senior offensive weapons Kyle Brewster and Austin Dahlke led the team to the big victory against Reedsville. The Wildcats also defeated the Panthers two years ago in a WIAA Division 7 Level 4 playoff game in Waupaca, to advance into the state championship.

Brewster ran the ball 10 times for 140 yards and four touchdowns, while Dahlke added 12 carries for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Dahlke also caught three passes for 41 yards. Senior quarterback Konnor Wolf completed five of his eight passes for 50 yards.

Edgar football head coach Jerry Sinz lauded his team’s strong defense in shutting down Reedsville’s offen- sive attack.

“Austin Dahlke again led Edgar with 30 defensive points,” Sinz said. “Brady Lemmer, Ashton Schuett, Karter Butt, Brayden Baumgartner, Ayden Weisenberger, Korbynn Bauman and Drew Guden also had excellent games.” Dahlke and Lemmer paced the Wildcats’ defense with 10 total tackles each, of which seven of Dahlke’s and eight of Lemmer’s were solo tackles. Dahlke also had a sack, four quarterback hurries and two tackles for loss against Reedsville.

Edgar junior defensive back Ashton Schuett had five total tackles, one interception and two knocked down passes. Freshman linebacker Karter Butt collected six total tackles, half a sack, one quarterback hurry and a tackle for loss in the win.

Wildcats senior defensive tackle Brayden Baumgartner had four tackles, one sack, a quarterback hurry and one tackle for loss against the Panthers. Junior linebacker Ayden Weisenberger had two tackles, one sack and a quarterback hurry, and he also blocked a Reedsville punt.

Edgar was awarded a No. 1 seed in the WIAA Division 6 regional playoff pod. Edgar begins the two-week playoffs with a home game at 7 p.m. this Friday, Nov. 20, against No. 4 seed Stevens Point Pacelli.

The Cardinals have a 3-3 record this season, and they are led by junior running back Brycen Cashin who has amassed 1,373 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns this year.

One of Stevens Point Pacelli’s losses this season was to Athens, 44-35, on the road.

Edgar’s 2008 football team beat Stevens Point Pacelli, 14-0, in a WIAA Division 6 Level 4 game to advance into the state championship against archrival Stratford. The Wildcats fell, 7-3, in a defensive battle against the Tigers in the 2008 Division 6 state finals. Edgar did go on to win two straight Division 6 state championships in the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

Should Edgar beat Stevens Point Pacelli on Friday, then the Wildcats would host another playoff game on Friday, Nov. 20, to conclude this season.

The WIAA isn’t holding football state championship games this season, despite Edgar football parent Terri Skrzypcak sending a petition with over 500 signatures on the WIAA for it to consider reversing its decision to not have state championships this season because of COVID-19.

Edgar football head coach Jerry Sinz had hoped the WIAA could have the same playoff format it did in the 1979 season, when he led the Wildcats to their first state championship in school history.

In the 1979 season, the WIAA only chose the top teams in each division to play for a state championship. Edgar beat Oconto Falls, 16-8, in the state semifinal and then downed Iowa/Grant, 11-6, in the state finals game. Sinz said the state championship was played in Sparta in the 1979 season, therefore the WIAA could’ve held this year’s state championships at alternate sites other than in Madison because of COVID-19.

It looks like Edgar’s football team will need to win two straight playoff games againt Central Wisconsin-Small teams.

Undefeated Iola/Scandinavia, 7-0, received the No. 2 seed in Edgar’s regional pod and it’ll play No. 3 seed Hurley, 4-1, this Friday, Nov. 13, at home. Hurley’s only loss this season was to Colby, 37-14, at home.

There’s a very good chance Edgar plays against Iola/Scandinavia in a regional championship clash between two undefeated teams this season.

Iola/Scandinavia has rebounded this season after suffering a 2-7 record in the 2019 season.

The Thunderbirds didn’t qualify for the playoffs in 2019, after they won the 2018 Division 6 state championship against Racine Lutheran, 43-14. Iola-Scandinavia finished as Division 6 state runners-up in the 2017 season after losing, 35-12, to Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs Academy.

Edgar’s football team beat Iola/ Scandinavia, 22-6, to win the 1999 WIAA Division 5 state championship.

Current Edgar football defensive coordinator Greg Streit played on the school’s 1999 Divison 5 state title team, along with former Edgar High School principal Jordan Sinz, who was the team’s quarterback that season. Tyler Berg was the Wildcats’ top rusher in the state title game.

EDGAR ON THE ATTACK- Pictured to the left, Wildcats senior slot end Drew Guden lines up for a play in the team’s dominating road win against Abbotsford this season. To the right, Edgar alum and defensive coordinator Greg Streit gives a postgame speech to players Bunkelman (20), Dahlke (5) and Konnor Wolf after the victory against Abbotsford.

Jerry Sinz

OFF TO THE RACES- Edgar junior Ayden Weisenberger breaks off a long gain during the team’s road win against Abbotsford this season.STAFF PHOTO/ROSS PATTERMANN