Conference champs!

‘Cats, Tigers both receive help to win football titles

By Casey Krautkramer

Stratford’s varsity football team fell to Amherst, 28-21, during Friday’s back-and-forth battle in Marshfield. It didn’t matter because the Tigers still won a share of the Central Wisconsin Conference Large (CWC-L) championship with Wittenberg-Birnamwood this season.

Friday was supposed to be a battle between conference leaders Stratford and Amherst, who were both unbeaten in the CWC-L a week before the final regular-season game. That was until Thursday when the WIAA made Amherst forfeit its wins this season because it had an ineligible player.

The only victory that counted for Amherst this season was against Stratford Friday because the ineligible player didn’t compete in this game. Although Wittenberg-Birnamwood lost to Amherst on a game-winning kick as time expired in their game this season, the Chargers gained a forfeit victory against the Falcons after the WIAA ruling. Stratford beat Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 14-6, this season thus the Tigers and Chargers share the CWC-L championship.

Craig Martens, Stratford athletic director, said the CWC handbook states that although Stratford beat Wittenberg- Birnamwood in their head-tohead matchup this season, the two squads still share the CWC-L conference title.

Stratford senior quarterback Braeden Schueller had a big night throwing the football against Amherst on Friday. He completed 11 of 21 passes for 246 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Senior Ashton caught three passes for 75 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown from Schueller in the first quarter. Senior Connor Weigel grabbed a 54-yard touchdown catch from Schueller in the second quarter. Junior Gavin Leonhardt had two catches for 70 yards.

Tigers junior Koehler Kilty ran the football 16 times for 67 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Seniors Ryan Becker and Kash Daul led Stratford with seven tackles each. Seniors Izaiah Hadlock and Jackson Ormond had one sack apiece.

Stratford’s record is 6-2-1 this season. Stratford begins the WIAA Division 5 playoffs with a home game against Cumberland at 7 p.m. this Friday, Oct. 21, at D.C. Everest’s Stiehm Stadium in Schofield.

‘Cats share the Marawood

Edgar’s varsity football squad took care of business on Friday against Marathon at home with a 35-0 win. Then Edgar discovered Auburndale knocked off Colby, 20-14, to allow the Wildcats, Eagles and Hornets to share the Marawood Conference championship this season.

The Wildcats beat the Auburndale Eagles the previous week to give itself a shot at winning a piece of the conference title if Auburndale downed Colby, which occurred in the final regular- season game.

On Friday, Edgar senior receiver Avery Normington hauled in a 64-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Teegan Streit in the first quarter, and the Wildcats were off and running right away against the Red Raiders and they didn’t stop. Edgar junior running back Karter Butt scored on a 62-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

Edgar junior running back Kohlbe Weisenberger scored a pair of touchdown runs of seven and five yards in the second quarter to give the Wildcats a commanding 28-0 halftime advantage against the Red Raiders. Wildcats sophomore Jase Apfelbeck added a 45-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to seal the victory on Senior Night in Edgar. Butt led Edgar’s defense with nine tackles and senior Keghan Hartway returned an interception 39 yards.

Marathon senior Matt Annis rushed 14 times for 55 yards and senior Daniel LaQua caught two passes for 36 yards. Senior Hector Pintor led the team with six tackles and senior Mason Seehafer intercepted a pass.

Edgar concluded the regular season with an 8-1 record while Marathon ends its season at 3-6. The Red Raiders were not eligible for the playoffs. Edgar, meanwhile, starts the WIAA Division 7 playoffs at 7 p.m. this Friday, Oct. 21, against Turtle Lake at home.

Athens ends season

The Athens varsity football team concluded its eight-man football season with a 54-16 road loss at Gilman on Friday.

Senior quarterback Kyler Ellenbecker led Athens in rushing with 29 attempts for 65 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Senior Aiden Janke contributed 21 rushes for 71 yards. Freshman Kamden Zarnke intercepted a pass on defense.

Athens ends its football season with a 6-3 record. The Bluejays were not eligible for the playoffs this season because the WIAA requires football teams to sit out the postseason for two years after they switch from playing 11-man to eight-man football. Athens will be eligible to make the eight-man football playoffs next season.

BUYING SOME TIME- Stratford senior quarterback Braeden Schueller rolls out of the pocket to give himself more time to find an open receiver downfield, while Tigers senior lineman John Seitz III (58) blocks an Amherst player. Straford lost to Amherst, 28-21, on Friday in Marshfield.STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER

CLUTCH CATCH BY A FRESHMAN- Athens freshman Kamden Zarnke gets ready to haul in a pass for the varsity squad during its road loss to Gilman on Friday.PHOTO BY SHANON PEEL