Controlling own destiny
Tigers take care of next CWC-L team in its sights
By Casey Krautkramer
Stratford’s varsity football team on Friday held off Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 34-21, at Tigers Stadium in a battle of top five ranked squads in the state.
The Tigers were ranked third in Division 6 and the Chargers were fourth in Division 5 heading into Friday’s showdown between two of the three remaining undefeated teams in the Central Wisconsin Conference-Large (CWC-Large).
After the dust settled on Friday night, Stratford now finds itself as the only unbeaten team in the CWC-Large and the frontrunner to win the conference championship this season. Previously unbeaten Weyauwega-Fremont lost its road game to Amherst, 57-36, on Friday. Stratford travels to Weyauwega- Fremont at 7 p.m. this Friday, Oct. 6, for another pivotal CWC-Large matchup that should decide whether or not the Tigers win the conference title outright or share it with the Chargers and Warhawks.
On Friday, Stratford scored first against Wittenberg-Birnamwood on senior Koehler Kilty’s two-yard touchdown run. Junior Red Miller missed the extra point kick. Kilty ran for a seven-yard touchdown in the second quarter but junior quarterback Jack Tubbs’ two-point conversion pass was intercepted in the end zone.
Stratford held a 12-0 advantage against Wittenberg-Birnamwood until the Chargers scored with only one second left on the clock before halftime. Wittenberg-Birnamwood senior quarterback Nathan Waupekenay reached the football into the end zone for a six-yard touchdown run. Waupekenay kicked the extra point and the Tigers held a slim 12-7 lead at the break.
Wittenberg-Birnamwood took its first lead, 13-12, with eight minutes, 29 seconds left in the third quarter when Waupekenay rolled out of the pocket and threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to senior Keegan Benbo. The Chargers’ two-point conversion run was unsuccessful.
Stratford regained the lead, 20-13, on Kilty’s eight-yard rushing touchdown and two-point conversion run with two minutes, 40 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Kilty broke loose for a 44-yard touchdown with 10 minutes, 23 seconds left in the fourth quarter. it was Kilty’s fourth rushing touchdown of the game. He now has 11 rushing touchdowns this season. Kilty also ran in the two-point conversion to give Stratford a 28-13 advantage.
After Tubbs’ interception on defense, it felt like the Tigers had this win in the books until senior Gavin Leonhardt’s fumble gave the Chargers new life. Waupekenay threw a quick pass to junior Owen Dickman who sprinted into the end zone for a 28-yard touchdown. Waupekenay’s two-point conversion pass to junior Jett Rogowski brought the Chargers within only seven points of the Tigers at 28-21.
Wittenberg-Birnamwood was suddenly feeling confident it could pull off the win, until Tubbs threw a 42yard touchdown pass to Leonhardt to seal the victory with three minutes, 28 seconds remaining in the game. Senior Matt Folz’s two-point conversion run failed.
Kilty ran the football 24 times for 148 yards and four touchdowns. Kilty now has 900 yards rushing as he gets closer to achieving his second straight 1,000yard rushing season. Tubbs completed four of eight passes for 115 yards and a touchdown.
Leonhardt caught two passes for 77 yards and a touchdown, ran the football five times for 47 yards and had three kickoff returns for 56 yards.
Kilty also led Stratford’s defense with 15 tackles and Leonhardt was second on the team with seven tackles. Senior Landon Zawislan and junior Carter Lueck each recorded one quarterback sack. Juniors Alec Chapel and Caleb Wrensch, Zawislan, Lueck and Folz had five tackles apiece.
Stratford improves its record to 6-1 overall this season.
