Pair of local football teams earn opening playoff wins
Edgar’s football team dispatched Greenwood, 43-12, in its WIAA Division 7 Level 1 playoff game on Friday at home.
Next Edgar, 9-1, plays Hurley, 8-2, for the second time this season in a Level 2 playoff home game this Friday, Nov. 1. Hurley beat Loyal, 33-22, in its Level 1 playoff game on Friday at home.
The Wildcats easily beat the Northstars, 42-0, during a home regular season game on Sept. 20.
Edgar senior Kaleb Hafferman rushed 15 times for 101 yards and two touchdowns in the playoff victory against Greenwood. Junior Austin Dahlke ran eight times for 78 yards and a score, while senior Mason Stoudt added a pair of short rushing touchdowns.
Junior defensive lineman RJ Knetter led the Wildcats with 25 defensive points. Knetter collected six tackles, one quarterback hurry, a tackle for loss and a blocked punt against Greenwood.
Tigers also advance
Stratford’s football team didn’t take kindly the fact Spooner voted for it as a No. 2 seed in the WIAA Division 5 playoffs. The Tigers blasted the Rails, 63-0, in a Level 1 playoff game on Friday at home.
Stratford senior quarterback Max Schwabe completed nine of 10 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns against Spooner.
Senior Teddy Redman scored two rushing touchdowns and a 46-yard reception for another score. Chase Flink, Matt Handrick, Chandler Schmidt and Kainoa Gouveia rushed for one touchdown apiece. Vaughn Breit caught two passes for 85 yards and one touchdown, and Justin Radtke added a touchdown reception.
Stratford, 10-0, next plays a Level 2 playoff game against Spencer/Columbus, 6-4, this Friday at home.
Spencer/Columbus upset Bloomer, 20-12, in a Level 1 road playoff game on Friday. Stratford easily downed Spencer/ Columbus, 41-0, in its regular season opener at home this year.
‘Jays fall to Eagles
The Athens football team hung with undefeated Almond- Bancroft for three quarters during its WIAA Division 7 Level 1 playoff road game on Friday.
Junior Dayne Diethelm scored a three-yard rushing touchdown with a few minutes left in the first quarter to take a 7-6 lead.
Athens only trailed Almond-Bancroft, 14-7, at halftime and at the end of the third quarter, but the Eagles rattled off 16 fourth-quarter points to gain a 30-7 win.
Dayne Diethelm led the Bluejays with 17 rushes for 46 yards and the team’s lone touchdown. He also completed a 32-yard pass to junior Sawyer Schreiner. Athens ends this season with a 5-5 record.
