Raiders ready to roll

Team faces the Hawks at home Friday

By Casey Krautkramer

The Marathon varsity football team’s offense will “literally” run through senior back Matt Annis this season.

Annis is an explosive runner who should have a monster year if he stays healthy, which was an issue for him midway through last season.

He got off to a blazing start last season by amassing 119 carries for 671 yards and seven rushing touchdowns during the Red Raiders’ first four games before suffering an injury. His biggest individual game running the football during this stretch was 33 carries for 233 yards for a 7.1 average with two touchdowns in Marathon’s 28-16 home win against Bonduel.

The Red Raiders simply weren’t the same team without him. Annis returned from injury for the team’s regular-season finale, resulting in Marathon’s 32-8 road victory against Rosholt. He was efficient running the ball by carrying it only 11 times for 71 yards and a touchdown.

Ryan Winkler is entering his fifth season as Marathon’s head coach and offensive coordinator. He values Annis’ great running ability; he placed 15th in the 400-meter dash in the 2022 WIAA Division 3 state track and field championships in La Crosse. “Matt is a difference maker on the football field and we are looking forward to seeing what he does playing a full season,” he said.

Coach Winkler, however, won’t need to totally rely on Annis to carry the team’s offense this season because there are many receivers who are good pass catchers.

“This year’s team is filled with guys that can go get the ball; I am really looking forward to watching the receiving group develop this year,” he said. “We can’t just rely on giving Matt Annis the ball 30 plus times a game. Daniel LaQua, Tyler Underwood, Mason Seehafer, Griffin Treankler, Parker Mathwich and Cody Radtke are all athletes that could have an impact in the passing game this season.”

Having a great running back like Annis is a nice safety value for Marathon’s new starting quarterback, junior Cooper Hoeksema, this season.

“We have a quality group of quarterbacks this year, but a group with little experience,” Winkler said. “Right now Cooper Hoeksema looks like he is ready to take on the challenge of the starting quarterback position. Sophomore Blake Kraft and freshmen True Thurs and Will Tourtillott form a really nice but young group of signal callers.”

Let’s not forget that a good defense is also pivotal to winning football games. Marathon football alum Vince Dinkel is Marathon’s defensive coordinator this season, and coach Winkler likes what he sees thus far from this group of players.

“The defense is making progress each practice and I think it will be a really solid group this year,” Winkler said. “The group has more experience than we have had in the past and has guys that are excited about hitting and playing football.”

The following are Marathon’s top returning varsity senior football players in 2022: Matt Annis, safety and RB/slot; David Duberstein and Logan Werner, offensive and defensive linemen; Dan LaQua, cornerback and wide receiver; Drew Love, outside linebacker and offensive lineman; Parker Mathwich, cornerback and wingback; Hector Pintor, inside linebacker and running back; Mason Seehafer, cornerback/ wide receiver/wing back and Griffin Treankler, outside linebacker and tight end.

The team’s top returning junior varsity football players are Luke Aschbrenner, inside linebacker and offensive lineman; junior Payton Lawrence, offensive and defensive lineman and junior Tyler Underwood, safety and wide receiver.

The following football players are the top newcomers to the varsity squad this season: senior cornerback and wide receiver Peter Chesak; junior quarterback Cooper Hoeksema; junior offensive and defensive linemen Ethan Hale and Jake Lepak; sophomore offensive lineman and linebacker Braxton Jourdan, sophomore cornerback Blake Kraft and sophomore defensive back and wide receiver Cody Radtke.

Coach Winkler has a certain mindset regarding whether his squad is going to win or lose games.

“The main goal is for our team to compete at the highest level each game of the season; if the team is able to do that, then the wins and losses will take care of itself,” he said.