This story is sponsored by: Norm-E-Lane Farm
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
AUBURNDALE – Three-straight deep playoff runs has the Auburndale football program surging with excitement.
The Eagles started 8-0 last year on their way to a 10-2 record with a Level 3 playoff loss to eventual Division 6 state champion Stratford.
Of course, the cycle of high school sports is that a team has to replace a large group each year and that’s no different for Auburndale.
A group of seniors that included standout quarterback Kaden Anderson (1,103 passing yards, 1,000 rushing yards, 32 combined touchdowns) and running back Evan Scholl (1,040 rushing yards, eight touchdowns) graduated, leaving holes to be filled.
Veteran head coach Jay Anderson said he is pleased with the way this year’s group has come together so far.
“Bringing in a new group and you have to find that new chemistry,” Anderson said. “Some of the guys have changed positions and you’re trying to find that fit. We might be a little farther along at this point as maybe in the past, but there’s still some question marks. Everybody seems to be pretty excited. I like to see the good leadership.”
Blake Raab will move over from wide receiver to quarterback after leading the Eagles with 30 catches for 292 yards and six touchdowns in 2023.
Nathan Richardson (306 receiving yards) and Colton Weiler (200 rushing yards) will look to play more prominent roles on an offense that returns three offensive linemen – two-year starter Asa Soppe, and returnees Koby Nagel and Logan Nagel.
Tevin Bauer looks to take over at center with Jake Kerns also ready to step in to a starting spot up front.
“We have a good group of athletes that have really worked hard since last winter, not just during the summer,” Anderson said.
Weiler will be out through the first game of the season, a matchup at Spencer/Columbus on Aug. 23, as he is participating on the 17U U.S. national wrestling team at the world championships.
Juniors Nathan Van Wyhe and Trevin Seevers will look to fill the backfield void in the meantime.
Anderson said last Friday’s scrimmage at Wautoma could prove pivotal in what type of team the Eagles will be in 2024.
“You find out when the games start going, you find out how competitive they are,” Anderson said. “Last year, we didn’t have a lot of experience back and we found out that the guys were very competitive and found ways to win. Hopefully that will happen here. We’ll find out a lot at our scrimmage – and I think that’s where it happened last year. The guys found out that ‘Hey, we’re not too bad’ and hopefully they come out of it with a lot more confidence than questions.”
Auburndale will be moving into the Central Wisconsin Conference Small Division this year as the Marawood Conference was dissolved for football. Pittsville, Edgar and Abbotsford also move over from the Marawood, joining Iola-Scandinavia, Stevens Point Pacelli, Rosholt and Wisconsin Rapids Assumption.
“It’s going to be so tough. We’ve seen Assumption, we haven’t seen Pacelli for a long time, Iola is always solid and a good program,” Anderson said. “It’s one of those things, and I always said this about the Marawood, if you can come out on top or near the top, you can make a serious run in the playoffs. I think it will be the same type of challenge. Our goals are pretty simple, always to challenge for a conference championship and host a playoff game.”
Auburndale Eagles Football Schedule
Fri., Aug. 23 at Spencer/Columbus, 7 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 30 MARATHON, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 6 EDGAR, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 13 PITTSVILLE, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 20 at Rosholt, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 27 STEVENS POINT PACELLI, 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 4 at Abbotsford, 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 11 at Wisconsin Rapids Assumption, 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 18 IOLA-SCANDINAVIA, 7 p.m.
(Home games in CAPS, at Auburndale High School)