Tigers defense comes up huge
By Casey Krautkramer
It was another classic football battle between arch-rivals Edgar and Stratford on Friday night, but this time the Tigers came out on top, 21-8, to snap their two-game losing streak to the Wildcats.
Stratford’s defense made several big plays in the first half. Tigers senior linebacker Caleb Wrensch stripped the football from Wildcats senior running back Jase Apfelbeck and returned the fumble for a touchdown with five minutes, 22 seconds left in the first quarter. Junior Mason Miller kicked the extra point to give Stratford an early 7-0 lead.
The Tigers’ special teams later came up big when sophomore Connor Kreft blocked Wildcats senior Brock Mauer’s punt with two minutes, 50 seconds remaining in the opening quarter. This huge play eventually led to Stratford scoring another touchdown early in the second quarter. Facing a fourth down and eight yards to go at Edgar’s 15yard line, Tigers senior quarterback Jack Tubbs threw a fade pass to junior wide receiver Coltan Breit in the corner of the end zone. Mason Miller tacked on the extra point to give Stratford a 14-0 advantage.
See FOOTBALL RIVALRY/ page 16
STRIPPING THE BALL - Stratford senior linebacker Caleb Wrensch, shown wearing the arm band with the defensive play sheet, works on ripping the football away from Edgar senior running back Jase Apfelbeck (23). Wrensch eventually stripped the football from Apfelbeck and ran for the Tigers’ first touchdown in their 21-8 road win against the Wildcats.
STAFF PHOTOS/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER
PREVENTING MORE YARDS - Edgar junior defensive back Gavin Mauer tackles Stratford senior wide receiver Jett Schoenherr after his four-yard run early in Friday night’s game.
CLUTCH TOUCHDOWN CATCH - Stratford junior wide receiver Coltan Breit grabs a touchdown pass from senior quarterback Jack Tubbs in the second quarter to give the Tigers a 14-0 lead against the Wildcats.
Jack Tubbs Football rivalry
Continued from page 10
Jack Tubbs explained how he threw the football over the outstretched arms of Edgar junior defensive back Gavin Mauer right into Breit’s hands.
“I saw the corner came out to cover Jett Schoenherr and then I saw Coltan open and I trusted in him to make a play,” he said. “I had the upmost faith in Coltan that he was going to bring down that ball and he did.”
Edgar suffered a blow in the second quarter when Apfelbeck suffered an injury on a first-down run with three minutes, 31 seconds left until halftime. Apfelbeck needed to be helped off the field and the injury sidelined him for the remainder of the game.
Stratford’s defense continually kept Edgar’s offense out of the end zone in the second quarter. The Wildcats even had the football on Stratford’s two-yard line but were unable to score on a fourth-down play.
Jack Tubb’s father, Stratford head football coach Jason Tubbs, was proud of his defense’s performance near the goal line.
“I need to give our guys credit because they really battled and the defense bent but it didn’t break,” Jason Tubbs said.
Stratford held a 14-0 lead until the fourth quarter when Edgar finally got onto the scoreboard early in the fourth quarter. Junior Maverick Butt ran for a six-yard touchdown and senior Will Hackel ran for the two-point conversion. Stratford suddenly only had a five-point lead and it was anyone’s game to win.
The Tigers then drove down the field for a game-sealing drive that spanned 73 yards on 14 plays and wore more than eight minutes off the clock. Jack Tubbs kept the football for a 10-yard touchdown run. Mason Miller kicked the extra point to give Stratford a 218 lead against Edgar.
Every defensive lineman dreams of catching an interception. Stratford senior Walker Weis intercepted Edgar junior quarterback Tucker Streit’s pass with just over a minute left in the game.
It was a great feeling for Jack Tubbs to beat Edgar in his senior season.
“It’s great because I know that I’ll never forget coming into their place and beating them on their home field,” he said. “As a senior, it’s something that I’m going to remember for the rest of my life.”
Jason Tubbs said Stratford’s win against Edgar can be a defining moment at the end of this regular season during the WIAA’s computer playoff seeding.
“These are the type of wins that at the end of the regular season you are hoping to be conference champions and 9-0 and all of a sudden looking at a No. 1 seed in the playoffs,” he said. “It makes a big difference to be a No. 1 seed because then you get to play three home playoff games in a row. Last year, both Edgar and us were conference champions and we each had one loss and got No. 2 seeds, but we still both won state championships. It’s anyone’s game to win but it’s always nice to have a chance at the No. 1 playoff seed.”
Senior safety Alec Chapel led Stratford’s defense with 17 tackles and senior linebacker Xander Curtice had 11. Senior linebacker Ty Schnelle and junior defensive back Gavin Mauer paced Edgar’s defense with 10 tackles apiece. Gavin Mauer and junior defensive back Tucker Streit each intercepted a pass.
Edgar and Stratford begin their conference schedule this Friday, Sept. 6. Edgar, 11, plays at unbeaten Auburndale in a Marawood/ CWC-Small clash. Undefeated Stratford plays at Spencer/Columbus Catholic, 11.
