All three local teams win conference openers

By Casey Krautkramer

Marathon’s varsity football team won its Central Wisconsin Conference Large (CWC-Large) opener on Friday with a come-from-behind 29-16 road win against Loyal/Greenwood.

Marathon was losing, 8-0, to Loyal/ Greenwood after the first quarter and 16-7 at halftime. Marathon’s defense shut out Loyal/Greenwood in the second half while Marathon’s offense scored 22 points.

Junior quarterback True Thurs ran the football 24 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns in the victory. Sophomore receiver Garrett Bracewelll had five receptions for 115 yards.

Thurs, while playing linebacker, led Marathon’s defense with 10 tackles. Sophomore linebacker Landon Hilgart collected nine tackles and a forced fumble. Junior defensive back Blake Underwood had seven tackles and an interception. Junior defensive back Cale Quaintance also had seven tackles. Junior defensive lineman Chris Marcell had six tackles, one sack and a forced fumble.

Marathon improves its record to 1-0 in the CWC-Large and 2-1 overall this season.

Edgar throttles Auburndale

Edgar junior Maverick Butt is 35 pounds lighter than his older brother, Karter Butt, who graduated high school last spring after helping lead the Wildcats football team to a WIAA Division 7 state championship. Nonetheless, Maverick Butt did his best impression of Karter Butt on Friday night by amassing 167 all-purpose yards and scoring three touchdowns in Edgar’s 41-14 road win against Auburndale.

Maverick Butt rushed the football 23 times for 113 yards and two touchdowns, caught three passes for 37 yards and a touchdown and had a 19-yard kick return in the big victory. He scored Edgar’s first three touchdowns in the game.

Edgar’s football team looked more like its old self in Friday’s bounce-back win against Auburndale, following its 21-8 home loss to arch-rival Stratford the previous week. The Wildcats built a 12-0 lead in the first quarter on Maverick Butt’s oneyard touchdown plunge and six-yard touchdown scamper. Auburndale senior quarterback Blake Raab kept the football for a one-yard touchdown in the second quarter and he also kicked the extra point.

Edgar junior quarterback Tucker Streit, who is Maverick Butt’s first cousin, connected with him on a 30-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. Senior Will Hackel ran for the two-point conversion to give the Wildcats a 20-7 halftime advantage.

The Wildcats outscored the Eagles, 140, in the third quarter to take a commanding 34-7 lead. Streit threw a 34-yard touchdown pass and ensuing two-point conversion pass to senior receiver Leyton Schuett. Hackel got loose for a 34-yard touchdown run.

Edgar scored first in the fourth quarter on Hackel’s 59-yard touchdown run and Schuett kicked the extra point to give the Wildcats a dominating 41-7 lead. Auburndale senior Colton Weiler ran for a 10yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Streit completed eight of 10 passes for two touchdowns and an interception. Hackel led Edgar’s rushing attack with 16 carries for 163 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the second half.

Edgar’s defense for the most part shut down Auburndale’s dynamic offensive duo of quarterback Raab and running back Weiler. Raab only completed six of 13 passes for 67 yards and two interceptions. Weiler only ran the football 10 times for 20 yards and a touchdown at the end of the game. Weiler also only caught one pass or negative one yard.

Senior defensive end Ty Schnelle led Edgar with 10 tackles, one sack and an interception. Senior nose guard Corey Koeppl added five tackles and junior defensive back Gavin Mauer had the team’s other interception.

Edgar improves its record to 1-0 in the Marawood/CWC Small and 2-1 overall this season. Edgar is ranked second in this week’s wissports.net Division 7 coaches poll behind Potosi/Cassville.

Tigers dismantle Rockets

Straford’s varsity football squad remains undefeated after destroying Spencer/Columbus Catholic, 54-7, on the road Friday night.

The Tigers jumped out to a 41-0 halftime advantage against the Rockets. Stratford led, 54-0, at the end of the third quarter before Spencer/Columbus Catholic scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Stratford scored three touchdowns in the first quarter. Senior strong safety Jack Tubbs returned a fumble 68 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. Junior Mason Miller kicked the extra point. Senior Reid Miller ran for a 10-yard touchdown and Mason Miller kicked the extra point. Junior receiver Coltan Breit caught a 53yard touchdown pass from Tubbs. Mason Miller missed the extra point.

The Tigers also scored three touchdowns in the second quarter. Breit caught a 35-yard touchdown from Tubbs. Mason Miller kicked the extra point. Senior Jett Schoenherr caught a 25-yard touchdown from Tubbs and Reid Miller ran for the two-point conversion. Schoenherr ran for a one-yard touchdown but Mason Miller’s extra point failed.

Stratford scored a pair of rushing touch-

See FOOTBALL ROUNDUP/ page 14

HOENISCH HANDLES THE FOOTBALL - Marathon junior running back Nathan Hoenisch carries the football for positive yardage during the team’s 29-16 road win against Loyal/Greenwood in the Central Wisconsin Conference Large opener.

TRG PHOTO/VALERIE BRECHT Football roundup

Continued from page 13

downs in the third quarter. Junior fullback Brooks Vanderhoof ran for a 14-yard touchdown and Mason Miller kicked the extra point. Reid Miller ran for a 36-yard touchdown but Mason Miller’s extra point failed.

Tubbs completed eight of 10 passes for 200 yards and four touchdowns. Reid Miller led Stratford’s rushing attack with seven carries for 71 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Breit paced the Tigers receivers with four catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns. Schoenherr added three catches for 55 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior safety Alec Chapel led Stratford’s defense with 10 tackles and a forced fumble. Junior safety Brady Berg and Vanderhoof, while playing strong safety, had eight tackles apiece. Senior defensive lineman Carter Lueck collected seven tackles and a forced fumble. Tubbs, while playing strong safety, also had seven tackles. Schoenherr, while playing defensive back, had two interceptions.

Stratford improves its record to 1-0 in the CWC-Large and 3-0 overall this season. Stratford is ranked second in this week’s wissports.net Division 5 coaches poll behind Wrightstown.

Athens falls in daytime game

The Athens varsity football team lost Saturday afternoon’s road game, 46-20, to Flambeau.

Junior Evin Passehl led Athens’ rushing attack with 13 carries for 92 yards and a touchdown. Juniors Gavin Frahm and Kamden Zarnke each scored a rushing touchdown. Senior Kyle Schreiner had 19 carries for 70 yards. Sophomore Daxton Diethelm led the Bluejays in receiving with two catches for 45 yards. Freshman Eli Schaer caught a 19-yard reception.

Schreiner, while playing linebacker, led Athens with 16 tackles. Passehl, while playing linebacker, added 10 tackles.

Athens falls to 2-0 in eight-man football this season.