Edgar still has a shot

‘Cats need help to share Marawood

By Casey Krautkramer

Edgar’s varsity football team on Friday handed Auburndale its first loss this season, 21-14, to spoil the Eagles’ homecoming. It was a big victory for Edgar because it gives the Wildcats a shot yet to win a share of the Marawood Conference championship. Edgar just needs to take care of business against Marathon at home this Friday, Oct. 14, and hope Auburndale beats undefeated Colby on the road.

Wildcats senior Keghan Hartway said after Friday’s victory he and his teammates never wavered in their belief they still had a chance to share the Marawood Conference championship this season, despite their 32-6 homecoming loss to Colby on Sept. 16.

“At film study on the Sunday after we lost to Colby, our team’s four captains Karter Butt, Brady Stencil, Justin Davis and Carver Higgins told the team our chances of winning the conference aren’t over as long as we win the rest of our games,” Hartway said on a crips 37-degree night in Auburndale.

Keghan, the son of Josh and Nicole Hartway, is hoping Edgar’s football team makes a deep postseason run in Division 7 this year before he graduates next spring and likely plays cornerback or safety for a Division 3 state college football squad next fall. The WIAA will release playoff brackets this Saturday morning, Oct. 15, following teams’ final regular-season games on Friday.

No team on Friday scored until the second quarter when Butt, Edgar’s junior starting running back, scored a five-year touchdown run. Junior quarterback Teegan Streit threw a successful two-point conversion pass to junior tight end Brett Baumgartner to give the Wildcats an 8-0 lead.

Auburndale senior quarterback Trayton Weber ran for a two-yard touchdown, but his two-point conversion pass failed. Edgar held an 8-6 halftime advantage. After Auburndale’s homecoming parade class floats strolled around the track during halftime, Edgar’s football squad worked to create a more comfortable lead in the second half.

The Eagles received the second half opening kickoff but the Wildcats’ defense shut them down. Edgar sophomore defensive tackle Corey Koeppl’s pressure forced Weber into an intentional grounding penalty, which resulted in a loss of down. Weber’s next pass was also incomplete on fourth down, as the Wildcats took over the ball on downs at their own 33-yard line.

Wildcats junior Kohlbe Weisenberger had some solid runs during the team’s third-quarter scoring drive, which resulted in Butt’s four-yard touchdown run. The officials determined Butt crossed end zone before fumbling the football. Junior Harrison Graveen kicked the extra point to give the Wildcats a 15-6 advantage.

Auburndale made things interesting in the fourth quarter. After officials called a late hit against Edgar’s defense, which riled up the Wildcat fans, Weber kept the football for a five-yard touchdown run. Weber than lofted a perfect two-point conversion pass that was caught by Alex Wilfahrt in the corner of the end zone. The Eagles were now within one point of the Wildcats.

Both teams punted the football on their next offensive possessions. Edgar then put together a touchdown drive to give itself a more comfortable lead. Streit kept the football for a run to Edgar’s sideline and the officials called Auburndale’s defender for a late hit on him out of bounds, giving the Wildcats the football at the Eagles’ 30-yard line.

Later in the scoring drive, Butt shrugged off Auburndale tacklers for a nice gain. He then ran up the middle for a key first down on a fourth-down play to extend the drive. Butt eventually scored a three-yard touchdown run to give Edgar a 21-14 advantage. Streit handed the football to Butt who attempted to throw it to sophomore running back Jase Apfelbeck but the pass was too short for Apfelbeck to catch in the end zone.

Weber quickly maneuvered Auburndale down the football field with successful throws to his plethora of wide receivers, in an attempt to tie the game and force overtime. The Eagles made it all the way down to the Wildcats’ 11-yard line, before senior tight end Timothy Schmitt fumbled the ball away.

Edgar’s offense ran time off the game clock before punting the football back to Auburndale, which was given one last shot to score a Hail Marry touchdown with only six seconds remaining. Weber’s long heave fell incomplete in the end zone, as Edgar’s football team held off Auburndale.

Tall flames could be seen in the northwest sky coming off in the distance, because Auburndale school officials had already started the homecoming bon fire. The train whistle sounded as players from both schools shook hands on the field after the game.

Andrew Lukasko, Edgar football assistant coach, on Friday gave the team the following advice after its crucial victory against Auburndale: “Believe in your identity that you can do this to any team in the state.” The Wildcats are hoping to do just that by defeating Marathon on Friday and every team it faces in the WIAA playoffs so it can win the Division 7 state championship this season.

Butt led Edgar with 34 carries for 171 yards rushing and three touchdowns in the win against Auburndale. He also led the defense with 12 tackles.