Edgar, Stratford win conference titles
By Casey Krautkramer
Edgar’s varsity football team beat Abbotsford, 42-21, in Friday’s road game to win its third consecutive Marawood Conference championship. Edgar has won two straight outright Marawood titles after sharing it with Auburndale and Colby three seasons ago.
The Edgar Wildcats were awarded a No. 1 seed in the WIAA Division 7 playoffs. Edgar, 8-1, begins the playoffs at 7 p.m. this Friday, Oct. 25, against conference foe Pittsville, 3-6. The Wildcats beat the Panthers, 35-0, on Sept. 20 at home. This season Edgar will attempt to add to its state record of 14 state title appearances.
Edgar junior quarterback Tucker Streit had a great overall game against Abbotsford by completing a perfect six of six passes for 83 yards and a touchdown while also running the football four times for 34 yards and a touchdown. Junior Maverick Butt led the Wildcats in rushing with 16 carries for 114 yards and three touchdowns. Senior Will Hackel added 10 rushes for 115 yards and a touchdown. Senior Leyton Schuett paced the Wildcats in receiving with four catches for 36 yards and a touchdown.
Abbotsford got on the scoreboard first on senior AJ Brodhagen’s 40-yard touchdown run and extra point. Edgar nearly tied the game on Streit’s two-yard rushing touchdown but the two-point pass was unsuccessful. The Falcons held onto a slim 7-6 advantage at the end of the first quarter.
Abbotsford extended its lead, 14-16, against Edgar in the second quarter on senior quarterback Irvin Aguilera’s twoyard touchdown run and extra point. Edgar then tied the game on Butt’s oneyard touchdown plunge and Streit’s twopoint conversion run.
The Wildcats took their first lead of the game, 20-14, before halftime on Streit’s nine-yard touchdown pass to senior Leyton Schuett. The extra point failed.
Edgar extended its lead against Abbotsford, 26-14, in the third quarter on Hackel’s 20-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion pass was unsuccessful. The Wildcats only led the Falcons, 2621, after Abbotsford junior Christian Fuentes’ one-yard touchdown run and extra point.
The Wildcats scored the next two touchdowns to seal the victory and Marawood Conference championship. Butt broke loose for a 51-yard touchdown run and Streit passed the football to Butt for the two-point conversion as Edgar led, 34-21, at the end of the third quarter. Butt rushed for a 16-yard touchdown and Hackel ran for the two-point conversion in the fourth quarter.
Streit led Edgar’s defense with nine tackles and junior linebacker Alex Schneider added 10 and senior linebacker Ty Schnelle had eight. Senior defensive tackle Corey Koeppl had a sack.
Tigers win the CWC-Large
Stratford’s football squad beat Loyal/ Greenwood, 43-8, on the road Friday to win its third consecutive Central Wisconsin- Large Conference (CWC-Large) championship. Stratford has won two straight outright CWC-Large titles after sharing it with Wittenberg/Birnamwood three seasons ago.
The Tigers finished the regular season with an undefeated record this season for the first time since 2019 when Wisconsin Badgers starting defensive tackle Ben Barten was a senior.
Stratford has qualified for the WIAA playoffs for a state record 39 seasons. Edgar and Menominee have each qualified for the playoffs 38 seasons. Stratford has the second longest playoff streak in the state with 33 consecutive playoff appearances. Menomonie has the longest playoff streak with 35 straight appearances.
The Tigers will attempt to win a state record 10th state championship this season. Stratford is currently tied with Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs with nine state titles each. Edgar and Kimberly are tied for second with eight state titles apiece.
Stratford, 9-0, was awarded a No. 1 seed in the WIAA Division 5 playoffs and will play Horicon/Hutisford, 4-5, at 7 p.m. this Friday, Oct. 25, at Tiger Stadium.
Tigers senior Jack Tubbs led the team in Friday’s victory against Loyal/Greenwood by completing 12 of 16 passes for 185 yards with two interceptions and a pair of touchdowns. Junior backup quarterback Brady Berg completed two of three passes for 65 yards and a touchdown.
Senior Reid Miller paced Stratford’s rushing attack with 12 carries for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Brooke Vanderhoof added five carries for 41 yards and a touchdown. Senior Alec Chapel led Stratford in receiving with three catches for 69 yards and a touchdown. Senior Cayden Leonhardt added two catches for 65 yards and a touchdown and senior Caleb Wrensch had two catches for 24 yards and a touchdown.
Chapel led Stratford’s defense with 12 tackles and an interception. Wrensch added nine tackles and senior Xander Curtice added eight.
RUMBLING DOWNHILL FOR TOUGH YARDS - Edgar senior Will Hackel (6) carries the football during Friday’s 42-21 road win against Abbotsford.
TP PHOTO/NATHANIEL UNDERWOOD
