Red Raiders nearly upset the No. 1 seed

By Casey Krautkramer

It was all Marathon on Friday in the first half as the Red Raiders’ offense converted deep passing touchdowns while the defense stifled Auburndale’s rushing attack. The only problem was that Marathon’s football team couldn’t put together a complete game against Auburndale.

Although Marathon silenced Auburndale’s home crowd with an 18-0 halftime advantage, a key third-quarter interception gave the Eagles momentum and they rallied for a 21-18 WIAA Division 6 Level 1 victory.

Marathon scored three straight passing touchdowns in the second quarter against Auburndale. Senior quarterback Cooper Hoeksema uncorked an 80-yard bomb for a touchdown to junior Cody Radtke. Blake Kraft’s two-point conversion run failed. Hoeksema then threw a 33-yard touchdown to senior Tyler Underwood. Sophomore True Thurs’ twopoint conversion ran failed. Hoeksema connected with Underwood again, this time for a 10-yard touchdown. Hoeksema’s two-point conversion pass attempt failed but Marathon still enjoyed an 18-0 lead at halftime.

Hoeksema threw a costly interception to Auburndale sophomore defensive end Wyatt Malden at Marathon’s 20-yard line with just over four minutes left in the third quarter. Auburndale converted the turnover into points on senior quarterback Kaden Anderson’s one-yard touchdown. Junior Colton Weiler, who started the game in place of injured senior Evan Scholl, ran for the two-point conversion.

Weiler then ran for touchdowns of 32 and 11 yards in the second half. Senior Aden Cherney’s kicked a successful extra point on Weiler’s last touchdown to give the Eagles a 21-18 win.

Senior linebacker Luke Aschbrenner led Marathon’s defense with 13 tackles, including 10 of them as solo tackles. Sophomore defensive back Cale Qaintance was second on the team with eight tackles. Senior defensive linemen Ethan Hale and Payton Lawrence each had a quarterback sack.

‘Cats eighth shut out

Edgar’s football team shut out its eighth straight opponent on Friday. Edgar beat Glenwood City, 36-0, in a WIAA Division 7 Level 1 home game.

The Wildcats amassed 340 rushing yards against the Hilltoppers. Senior quarterback Teegan Streit rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Karter Butt rushed for 89 yards and a pair of touchdowns while senior Kohlbe Weisenberger rushed for 60 yards and a touchdown.

Butt, while playing linebacker, led Edgar’s defense with 14 tackles including 10 of them as solo tackles. Junior linebacker Jase Apfelbeck had seven tackles including five of them as solo tackles, a quarterback hurry, a tackle for loss and two knocked down passes.

No. 2 seed Edgar improves its record to 9-1 and will play No. 3 seed Eau Claire Regis, 8-2, in Friday’s home Division 7 Level 2 game at home.

Tigers gain shut out

Stratford’s football team on Friday shut out Weyauwega-Fremont for the second time this season, only this time it was more important because it was a WIAA Division 6 Level 1 playoff game. The Tigers destroyed the Warhawks, 49-0, at home.

Junior Jack Tubbs completed seven of nine passes for 110 yards, an interception and two touchdowns for Stratford in the win. Sophomore backup quarterback Brady Berg completed two of three passes for 31 yards and a touchdown. Receivers Coltan Breit, Payton Glenn and Alec Chapel each caught a touchdown pass.

Senior Koehler Kilty rushed for 189 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Gavin Leonhardt also scored a rushing touchdown for the Tigers.

Kilty led Stratford with eight tackles and senior Landon Zawislan had a quarterback sack. Jett Schoenherr, Brooks Vanderhoof and Gavin Leonhardt each had an interception in the victory.

No. 2 seed Stratford improves its record to 9-1 this season and will play against No. 3 seed Mondovi, 9-1, in a rematch of last year’s WIAA Division 6 state championship this Friday, Oct. 27, at Marshfield High School.

CAUSE AND EFFECT- Marathon senior quarterback Cooper Hoeksema unloads a long touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Tyler Underwood in the second quarter of Friday’s WIAA Divison 6 Level 1 playoff road game against Auburndale. The No. 8 seed Red Raiders stunned the No. 1 seed Eagles with an 18-0 lead at halftime, but Auburndale

outscored Marathon, 21-0, in the second half to win and survive to play Coleman in a home Level 2 playoff game this Friday, Oct. 27. STAFF PHOTOS/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER