Athens eligible for the playoffs

Two-year wait for eight-man postseason over

By Casey Krautkramer

Finally, after two long years of waiting, the Athens varsity football team is eligible for the eight-man playoffs. Now the Bluejays just need to win enough games to qualify for the playoffs.

Athens is off to a great start this season toward accomplishing one of its goals of making the postseason, following its 44-0 dismantling of Cornell in Friday’s season opener.

Todd Diethelm, Bluejays head coach, has spent 17 years in the Athens football program. He started coaching Athens youth football and then was a middle and high school coach. This is his seventh year as the Bluejays head varsity football coach. Diethelm said this year’s team needs to keep winning if it wants to make the playoffs.

“Making the playoffs will be tough,” he said. “Last year, I believe the worst record to get into the playoffs was 6-2, but we now have something to play for and be excited about. It brings a little extra for every game we play.”

Diethelm is also the varsity team’s offensive coordinator again this sea-son and assistant Shawn Steinke is back as defensive coordinator. Other Athens varsity football assistant coaches are Matt Ellenbecker and Andy Thurs.

The varsity team’s top returning football players this season are seniors Jakob Annala, running back, defensive lineman and linebacker and Dan Dworak, offensive and defensive lineman; junior Gavin Glenn, offensive and defensive lineman and linebacker and sophomores Evin Passehl, running back, linebacker and defensive back and Kamden Zarnke, quarterback and defensive back.

Athens’ top newcomers on this year’s varsity football squad are senior Isaac Bushman, linebacker, defensive back and tight end; junior Austin Dean, defensive back and tight end; sophomores Gavin Frahm, linebacker, defensive back and running back and Jordan Frahm, offensive and defensive lineman and freshmen Daxton Diethelm, quarterback, defensive back, tight end and running back and Cole Hartman, offensive and defensive lineman and linebacker.

It’s exciting that Athens is finally eligible for the eight-man playoffs if the team wins enough games this season to qualify for the postseason. What’s just as exciting for the Athens football program this year is coach Diethelm said there are more student athletes competing in high school football this fall.

“Our numbers are up a little bit,” Coach Diethelm said. “We have 24 players out this year and last year we were at 18. We have great middle school numbers so the future is looking up.”

It was a few years ago when Athens didn’t even have a junior varsity football team, which is important for a high school program. This year Athens does have a junior varsity squad.

“If you look at our roster you will see that the JV schedule will be very important to build for our future,” Coach Diethelm said. “We have some pretty good kids coming up.”

Kyler Ellenbecker, last year’s starting quarterback, graduated in the spring as did big tight end Aiden Janke who became the team’s quarterback after Ellenbecker got injured in the team’s loss at Owen-Withee last season. Athens has another versatile athlete like Ellenbecker as its starting quarterback this season.

“We will be starting Kamden Zarnke at the quarterback position and freshman Daxton Diethelm will be the backup quarterback,” Coach Diethelm said. “Kamden knows the offense and does a great job with ball fakes and carrying out his fakes to help deceive defenses. Our line will be OK. We are not as big as we have been in the past but we have good athletes that just need time to figure it out.”

Athens was able to quickly figure out things in its 44-0 season-opening road win against Cornell. Sophomore running back Evin Passehl accumulated 223 all-purpose yards including a 72-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, 81 rushing yards with two touchdowns and 70 receiving yards.

Kamden Zarnke got Athens on the scoreboard against Cornell with a 29yard touchdown run with 10 minutes, 43 seconds left in the first quarter. Jakob Annala ran for the successful two-point conversion.

Daxton Diethelm hauled in a 30yard touchdown reception from Zarnke with just over eight minutes remaining in the opening quarter. The extra point kick failed.

Zarnke ran for a 17-yard touchdown with 5:28 left in the first quarter. Diethelm caught the two-point conversion pass from Zarnke.

Passehl rushed for a nine-yard touchdown with just over one minute remaining in the first quarter. The extra point kick failed. It was then the Athens defense’s turn to score with a two-point safety early in the second quarter. Passehl then returned the kickoff 72 yards for an electrifying touchdown with 10:34 left in the second quarter. The extra point kick failed.

Passel also scored the team’s final touchdown of the game with a 17yard scamper with 7:40 remaining in the fourth quarter. Zarnke ran for the successful two-point conversion.

Athens tallied 10 first downs to only four for Cornell in the game. The Bluejays amassed 219 yards of offense compared to only 14 for the Chiefs.

Zarnke completed four of five passes for an interception, one touchdown and 101 yards. Zarnke also ran seven times for 50 yards and two touchdowns.

Athens, 1-0, will look to keep its early- season road success going at 7 p.m. this Friday, Sept. 1, against Lake Holcombe.

Red Raiders stumble

Marathon’s varsity football team lost, 50-8, to unbeaten Stanley-Boyd on Friday. Stanley-Boyd has scored 94 total points in its first two games this season. The Orioles beat the Cadott Hornets, 44-28, in their season opener.

Stanley-Boyd turned the football over on its first offensive possession of the game, but then the Orioles scored seven consecutive touchdowns against the Red Raiders on Friday. Marathon, meanwhile, turned the football over on its first offensive possession and then punted the ball four straight times. Marathon then missed a field goal before halftime as the Orioles led the Red Raiders, 26-0, at the break.

Marathon scored points on its first offensive possession of the second half. Senior quarterback Cooper Hoeksema handed the football off to sophomore Blake Kraft who ran for a 17-yard touchdown. Sophomore True Thurs attempted the two-point conversion run but he was tackled short of the goal line.

Later in the third quarter, Hoeksema threw an interception to a Stanley- Boyd defender who returned the football for a touchdown. Hoeksema completed eight of 11 passes for 126 yards. Marathon senior wide receiver Tyler Underwood caught six passes for 132 yards.

Red Raiders senior Luke Aschbrenner led the defense with seven tackles and Thurs had five tackles.

Marathon returns to action at 7 p.m. this Friday, Sept. 1, with a road game against winless Rosholt.

ATHENS FOOTBALL 2023 SCHEDULE

Aug. 25 44-0W @ Cornell Sept. 1 @ Lake Holcombe Sept. 8 Bruce Sept. 15 Owen-Withee Sept. 22 @ Lincoln Sept. 29 @ Thorp Oct. 6 Greenwood Oct. 13 Gilman Oct. 20 WIAA 8-man Level 1 Playoff Oct. 27 WIAA 8-man Level 2 Playoff Nov. 3 WIAA 8-man Level 3 Playoff Nov. 11 WIAA 8-man state championship

Kickoff time is 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Bold print indicates home contest.

ELUSIVE QUARTERBACK MAKING PLAYS- Athens starting sophomore quarterback Kamden Zarnke on Friday escapes Cornell freshman Landon Larson’s pass rush to complete a downfield pass during the Bluejays’ dominating 44-0 road win against the Chiefs.STAFF PHOTO/GINNA YOUNG