Tigers win season opener

Dillon Kirsch runs for the game winner

By Casey Krautkramer

With only a minute left in the game on Friday, Stratford senior quarterback Dillon Kirsch rushed for a twoyard touchdown and his twin brother, Gavin Kirsch, ran for the two-point conversion to give the Tigers a 14-7 comeback road win against Mosinee.

Stratford scored first in the seasonopening game on Gavin Kirsch’s twoyard touchdown run in the first quarter, but the two-point conversion run failed. Mosinee got on the scoreboard in the second quarter when quarterback Trevor Garski passed the ball to Keagan Jirschele for a 45-yard touchdown. The Indians kicked a successful extra point to take a 7-6 lead, which held up until the final minute of the game.

Senior Raife Smart led Stratford with 17 rushes for 129 yards, while Kaden Griesmer added nine rushes for 42 yards. Gavin Kirsch paced the Tigers’ defense with eight tackles. Braeden Schueller, Jackson Ormond, Cole Marten and Johnny Seitz contributed seven tackles apiece. Dillon Kirsch and Devin Ulrich added six tackles each. Marten and Ulrich each had one sack in the victory against Mosinee.

Stratford plays at home this Friday, Aug. 27, against arch-rival Edgar in a non-conference game.

‘Cats down Thunderbirds

Edgar’s football team dominated Lakeland Union, 35-0, on Friday in Minocqua. Mike and Kari Butt’s sons, Karter and Mattison Butt, played outstanding games for the Wildcats in the road win against the Thunderbirds.

Karter Butt ran the ball 18 times for 119 yards and three touchdown, while his older brother, Mattison Butt, completed five of 10 passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns both to end Everet Brehm.

After a scoreless opening quarter, Edgar erupted for 20 points in the second quarter. Mattison Butt found his favorite target, Brehm, for a 21-yard touchdown pass but the two-point conversion pass failed. Karter Butt ran for a two-yard touchdown but the two-point conversion run failed. Karter Butt added a three-yard rushing touchdown and Jordan Bunkelman ran for a successful two-point conversion.

Edgar scored eight points in the third quarter on Karter Butt’s 14-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion pass from Mattison Butt to Bunkelman. The Wildcats tacked on seven more points in the fourth quarter on Mattison Butt’s seven-yard touchdown pass to Brehm and Mattison Butt’s extra point kick.

Senior Ayden Weisenberger contributed 13 rushes for 81 yards, and fellow senior Bunkelman had six runs for 42 yards in Edgar’s big victory against Lakeland Union. Senior Ashton Schuett hauled in a 36-yard reception and Weisenberger caught a 31-yard pass.

Edgar plays a road game against arch-rival Stratford this Friday, Aug. 27.

Raiders fall to ‘Birds

Marathon’s defense held Iola-Scandinavia scoreless during the Thunderbirds’ first two offensive possessions in Friday’s road game, but Iola-Scandinavia then scored touchdowns on its next six drives for a 39-14 win.

The Red Raiders had trouble containing Thunderbirds senior dualthreat quarterback Parker Prahl, who ran 16 times for 248 yards and four touchdowns.

Marathon did score touchdowns at the end of the second quarter and beginning of the third quarter. Red Raiders running back Matt Annis broke loose for a 34-yard touchdown in the second quarter, but Jaden Koeller’s two-point conversion run failed. Annis added a five-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and he also ran for the two-point conversion.

Annis finished the game with 31 rushes for 207 yards while Nathan Hanke added four runs for 37 yards. Mason Seehafer caught one pass for 29 yards. Annis added two kickoff returns for 35 yards and Seehafer had three kickoff returns for 54 yards.

Dakota Erdman led Marathon’s defense with eight tackles and Nathan Hanke contributed seven. Payton Lawrence had a tackle for loss and a sack. Jaden Koeller had two punts for 75 yards and three kickoffs for 138 yards.

Marathon remains on the road this Friday, Aug. 27, with a game against Stanley-Boyd.

BEACH NIGHT AT THE FOOTBALL GAME- Stratford’s student section traveled to Mosinee on Friday to watch the Tigers football team down the Indians, 14-7. Students pictured, from left to right, front row are: Bri Weiler, Heidi Moen, Megan Wiese and Haley Chapel; second row: Olivia Seitz, Haley Faber, Emerson Roy and Kalyn Schueller; back row: Elle Gauerke.PHOTO BY CATHY SEITZ