Stratford downs Westby in first round

Tigers only give up hook and ladder

By Casey Krautkramer

Stratford’s varsity football team eventually put away Westby, 34-6, during Friday night’s WIAA Division 5 Level 1 game at Tigers Stadium.

Westby executed a perfect hookand- ladder play to tie the game at six points apiece in the second quarter, before Stratford senior running back Raife Smart caught a screen pass from senior quarterback Dillion Kirsch and rumbled into the end zone before halftime.

Smart was shaken up on the touchdown, when he was hit hard while crossing the goal line, but he got back onto his feet to play the rest of the game. Smart led Stratford with 12 rushes for 41 yards, while senior Elijah Lucio added three carries for 36 yards. Senior Kaden Griesmer contributed eight rushes for 65 yards and one touchdown.

The Tigers held a slim 14-6 edge against the Norsemen at halftime. Stratford outscored Westby, 20-0, in the second half to advance in the playoffs. Stratford improves its record to 8-2 this season, while Westby ends its season at 5-5.

Griesmer led Stratford with three catches for 46 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the victory against Westby, while senior Gavin Kirsch had a 40-yard touchdown grab. Smart added two receptions for 23 yards and one touchdown.

Dillon Kirsch had a great night throwing the ball by completing sev- en of 12 passes for 121 yards and four touchdowns against the Norsemen.

Griesmer led Stratford’s defense with nine tackles, while senior Devin Ulrich and Dillon Kirsch added eight tackles apiece. Junior Johnny Seitz contributed seven tackles and senior Cole Marten had six. Senior Noah Barrett and sophomore Ryan Becker added five tackles apiece.

Stratford next plays at 7 p.m. this Friday, Oct. 29, against St. Croix Falls in a WIAA Division 5 Level 2 playoff game. St. Croix Falls upset Spencer/ Columbus, 35-14, in a Level 1 playoff game. The Saints took third place in the Heart O’ North Conference with a 5-2 record. Maple Northwestern won the Heart O’ North Conference this season with a 7-0 record, followed by Cumberland in second place at 6-1. ‘Cats down T-Birds

Edgar’s football squad quickly got to work in beating Iola-Scandinavia, 3313, in a WIAA Division 7 Level 1 home football game on Friday night.

The Wildcats jumped out to a 12-0 lead against the Thunderbirds after the first quarter and they never looked back. Edgar held a dominating 33-0 advantage against Iola-Scandinavia after the third quarter, as the Thunderbirds scored all 13 points against Edgar’s reserves in the final quarter of the game.

Edgar head football coach Jerry Sinz was pleased with how well his team played on both sides of the ball in beating Iola-Scandinavia.

“Defensively, we played very well by limiting Iola-Scandinavia to only 130 yards of total offense and 32 yards rushing,” Sinz said. “Jace Kohl had an excellent game on defense with five tackles for loss. Everet Brehm, Ayden Weisenberger, Jordan Bunkelman, Karter Butt and Jace Apfelbeck also played very well on defense. Offensively, Ayden Weisenberger had his best game of the season with 95 yards rushing and two touchdowns.”

Wildcats sophomore Karter Butt contributed 14 rushes for 60 yards and one touchdown in the team’s victory against Iola-Scandinavia. Senior tight end Everet Brehm had two catches for 33 yards and one touchdown from senior quarterback Mattison Butt. Brehm also ran a 48-yard punt return for a touchdown. On defense, Wildcats senior Ashton Schuett intercepted a pass from Thunderbirds senior quarterback Parker Prahl. Edgar improves its record to 10-3 this season, while Iola-Scandinavia ends this season with a 7-4 record. Edgar next plays a rematch game at undefeated Hurley in a WIAA Division 7 Level 2 playoff game at 7 p.m. this Friday, Oct. 29.

Hurley beat Edgar, 22-20, in overtime on Sept. 24, but the Wildcats were without senior starting quarterback Mattison Butt at the end of this regular- season road game. Hurley, 12-0, dominated Loyal, 60-0, in a home Level 1 playoff game last week.

Athens finishes unbeaten

The Athens football team downed Wisconsin Heights, 54-22, on Friday night at home to conclude the 2021 season with a 9-0 record.

Athens athletic director Craig Diedrich said Athens High School will likely place a banner on the gym wall so people can forever remember this historic undefeated season in the team’s first year playing 8-man football. There already is a banner on the gym wall to remember the 2014 Athens football team, which lost its only game that season against Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs in a Level 4 playoff game.

The Bluejays weren’t eligible for the 8-man football playoffs this year, but it was allowed to play an extra regularseason game on Friday night. Craig Diedrich said Athens and the other football teams in this year’s Rogue 8-man conference, which weren’t eligible for the playoffs, are pushing the WIAA to let them compete in the playoffs for the 2022 season.

Right now, WIAA rules state schools that switch from 11-man to 8-player football aren’t eligible to participate in the 8-man football playoffs for the first two years. Craig Diedrich is hopeful the WIAA will allow Athens and these other schools to compete in the 8-man playoffs next season.

Athens senior Cooper Diedrich accounted for five of the team’s eight touchdowns in the victory against Wisconsin Heights on Friday. He completed eight of 12 passes for 128 yards and a two touchdowns, and he rushed 13 times for 90 yards and three touchdowns.

Bluejays senior Caleb Borchardt ran the ball 23 times for 103 yards and one touchdown, and he also caught a 28-yard pass from Cooper Diedrich. Sophomore tight end Aiden Janke caught two passes for eight yards and one touchdown.

Cooper Diedrich had one punt for 45 yards and six kickoffs for 282 yards for a 47-yard average. Wisconsin Heights ends this season with a 7-2 record.

BREHM IS ACCUSTOMED TO SCORING TOUCHDOWNS- Edgar senior end Everet Brehm (31) loves to receive congratulations from his teammates after scoring touchdowns, whether it’s on offense or on punt returns. He’s shown here celebrating with his teammates, Parker Schuette (75) and Owen Baumann (30) after a return for a touchdown in Edgar’s regular-season homecoming victory against Auburndale. Brehm also ran back a 48-yard punt for a touchdown on Friday night in Edgar’s 33-13 WIAA Division 6 Level 1 playoff home win against Iola-Scandinavia.STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER

EYEING THE END ZONE- Athens senior running back Caleb Borchardt rushes with the football during the team’s big home win against Wisconsin Heights on Friday, to cap off an unblemished 9-0 season. Borchardt was a pivotal piece of the Bluejays’ success this season.PHOTO BY SHANON PEEL