Tigers aiming for ninth state title

By Casey Krautkramer

Grantsburg’s football team has certainly seen enough of Stratford senior running back Koehler Kilty in the playoffs during the last two seasons. Last year, Kilty ran the football 39 times for 236 yards and a touchdown in Stratford’s 27-7 road win against Grantsburg in a WIAA Division 6 Level 3 game. On Friday, Kilty ran the football 36 times for 220 yards and two touchdowns in Stratford’s 35-21 victory against Grantsburg in a WIAA Division 6 Level 4 game.

Stratford handed Grantsburg its first loss this season while advancing to play in the Division 6 state championship for the second straight season. The Tigers, 12-1, are also seeking back-to-back state titles when they play the Darlington Redbirds, 12-1, at 1 p.m. this Thursday, Nov. 16, at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. Darlington gave Kewaunee its first loss this season, 34-28, in Friday’s other WIAA Division 6 Level 4 game.

The Tigers are currently tied with the Kimberly Papermakers for second in state history with eight state football championships. If Stratford beats Darlington in Thursday’s WIAA Division 6 state title game, then the Tigers would be tied with the Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs Ledgers for the state football record of winning nine state championships.

Stratford’s football team will play in the state championship on Thursday for the 11th time in school history. The Tigers won their first state title in 1986. Stratford still holds the state football record for winning the most consecutive state titles with six from 2003-08. This is the first time that Stratford is playing against Darlington in a state football championship. The Redbirds won state football titles in Division 5 in 1987, 1990, 1991 and 1995.

The Tigers got off to a quick start against the Grantsburg Pirates in Friday’s Division 6 Level 4 playoff game at Dorais Field in Chippewa Falls. Stratford junior Jett Schoenherr fielded Grantsburg junior Alex McCormick’s opening kickoff to give the Tigers the football at their own 15yard line. Kilty only gained one yard on Stratford’s first offensive play, but it set up a huge gain. Tigers junior quarterback Jack Tubbs faked the handoff to Kilty and completed a pass over the middle to senior Gavin Leonhardt for 23 yards to the team’s 40-yard line. Kilty later capped off the team’s first offensive drive with a fiveyard touchdown run. Laurenz Plattner’s extra point gave the Tigers an early 7-0 lead with just over seven minutes left in the first quarter.

Stratford junior Reid Miller kicked the football to Grantsburg, which started its first offensive possession on its own 40yard line. Junior defensive end Carter Lueck set the tone right away for Stratford’s defense by sacking Grantsburg junior quarterback Brock Matheny for a fiveyard loss on the Pirates’ first offensive play in the game.

Grantsburg was later faced with fourth down and five yards at its own 45-yard See STATE TITLE DEFENSE/ page 12

READY TO DEFEND THEIR DIVISION 6 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP- Stratford varsity football team captains, pictured from left to right, celebrating Friday’s 35-21 WIAA Division 6 Level 4 win against Grantsburg at Dorais Field in Chippewa Falls are seniors Gavin Leonhardt (23), Matt Folz (52), Peyton Glenn and Koehler Kilty (32).

PHOTO BY HOLLY DEHLINGER State title defense

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line in its first offensive possession. The Pirates faked the punt and senior Gavin Rossow ran the football but outside linebacker Leonhardt tackled him short of the first down. Stratford’s offense took over at Grantsburg’s 49-yard line. Stratford’s second offensive possession of the game eventually ended when Tubbs threw an interception to Grantsburg senior Zach Brombach. The Pirates’ offense took the football on their own 21-yard line but the Tigers’ defense prevailed again by posting a shut out in the first quarter.

Tubbs atoned for the interruption he threw in the opening quarter by intercepting Grantsburg senior Trenton Johnson’s pass in the second quarter. Stratford converted the turnover into points with a well-executed counter run play resulting in Leonhardt’s 26-yard touchdown. Plattner kicked the extra point to give Stratford a 14-0 advantage.

Grantsburg got on the scoreboard for the first time with just over three minutes left before halftime. The Pirates converted a fourth down and 11 play into Matheny’s 16-yard touchdown pass to a wide open Gavin Rossow in the end zone on a rare blown coverage by the Tigers’ defense. McCormick kicked the extra point.

Stratford answered Grantsburg’s score on its next offensive possession when Tubbs executed a perfect play-action pass to Leonhardt for a 16-yard touchdown with under one minute before halftime. Plattner kicked the extra point. Defensive ends Landon Zawislan, a senior, and Carter Lueck sacked Matheny for a five-yard loss as the game clock ran out on the first half. The Tigers held a 21-7 lead against the Pirates at the break.

Tigers senior defensive back Peyton Glenn intercepted Johnson’s pass during the Pirates first possession of the second half. Stratford converted the turnover into points later in the offensive drive on another successful counter run resulting in Leonhard’s 18-yard touchdown. Plattner kicked the extra point to give the Tigers a 28-7 advantage.

Kilty walked into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown run with eight minutes, 17 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Plattner kicked the extra point to give Stratford a commanding 35-7 lead against Grantsburg. The Pirates scored 14 points to make it a closer score at the end of the game. Manthey completed a six-yard touchdown pass to Johnson with five minutes, 30 seconds remaining. McCormick kicked the extra point. Grantsburg got the football back right away after executing a perfect onside kick. Matheny completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to junior Ian Burkman. McCormick kicked the extra point to cut into Stratford’s lead at 35-21.

Tubbs recovered Grantsburg’s next onside kick with five minutes, 29 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Stratford ran the football with Kilty to milk out the remaining time on the game clock. The Tigers offense made it all the way down to the Pirates’ one-yard line before going into its victory formation with Tubbs kneeling down with the football to end the game.

Stratford held a considerable 328-52 advantage in rushing yards against Grantsburg. The Pirates had more passing yards, 167-89, than the Tigers. Leonhardt led Stratford with three receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown and he added nine rushes for 90 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Klity, while playing middle linebacker, led Stratford’s defense with nine tackles against Grantsburg. Carter Lueck added seven tackles and he also had a sack. Junior safety Caleb Wrensch had seven tackles. Seniors Matt Folz, Cole Tichy and Leonhardt contributed five tackles apiece in the Level 4 win.