This story is sponsored by: Victory Apparel
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield football team came into its annual Homecoming game needing three wins in its last four games to qualify for the WIAA playoffs.
Step 1 is complete.
The Tigers scored on their first two drives of the game and never looked back as they shut out Wisconsin Rapids 26-0 on Friday night at Heiting Community Stadium at Marshfield High School.
Senior running back Grayden Rode ran for 122 yards and two touchdowns to lead a Marshfield offense that has come to life after scoring just two offensive touchdowns over their first three games.
Marshfield is now 2-4 overall and 2-2 in the Wisconsin Valley Conference, inching closer to another postseason berth.
Marshfield coach Denny Goettl said the improved play of the Tigers’ running backs and moving some other pieces around have led to improved play from the offense as a whole.
“Coach Randy (Hartwig) has a rotation of linemen so they aren’t getting tired,” Goettl said. “After two series with have new linemen moving in all of team so they stay a little more ready and not as tired.
“I’m really happy with Haiden Carlson. He looks like a running back that can play football. And Grayden Rode is punches holes through the walls and making things happen. He’s a quiet leader and just goes after it.”
A 31-yard kickoff return by Rode to open the game set Marshfield near midfield and the Tigers needed just four plays to find pay dirt. A 39-yard pass from Chase Robinson to Brooks Hinson set up a 4-yard touchdown run by sophomore Haiden Carlson and the Tigers led 6-0 after a missed two-point conversion attempt.
After a long drive by Wisconsin Rapids (0-6, 0-4 WVC) was stopped on downs and the Tigers scored quickly again.
A six-play, 62-yard drive was capped off by a 1-yard QB sneak from Robinson and the extra point put Marshfield on top 13-0.
“You’re playing an option football team and I remember back when I played, if you don’t get up on a team like that, you aren’t getting the football back,” Goettl said. “They are a team that didn’t have a win and you know anything can happen. The kids came out and played really well. Maybe we can hit our stride here and keep it going.”
Wisconsin Rapids then chewed up the final 1:15 of the first quarter and the first 8 minutes of the second on a 19-play drive that was eventually snuffed out by a stingy Marshfield defense inside the 10.
An interception by Hinson on the final play of the half nearly resulted in a 100-yard pick 6, but the Tigers’ two-way standout was tackled just inside the 20 and Marshfield took that 13-0 lead into the intermission.
Marshfield’s defense was on point in the second half, holding the Raiders to five-straight three-and-outs.
The Tigers’ first possession resulted in a missed field goal, but Marshfield was able to pull away on its next two drives as the offense found the end zone on each.
Rode scored from 13 yards out with 3:53 to go in the third quarter and added another score with just 4 seconds to go, finishing off the home win.
“We played against three good teams to start the season,” Goettl said. “We know that we have to play harder when you play a good football team. We had Everest (last week), we had them, you just have to put the pin in the coffin. But, you just have to keep getting better and we’ll continue to get better. We have to get in the playoffs, that’s our goal.”
Marshfield will travel to Thom Field in Wausau next Friday, Oct. 4, to take on Wausau West (3-3, 2-2 WVC). West lost to Stevens Point 37-16 on Friday.
Tigers 26, Raiders 0
Wisconsin Rapids 0 0 0 0 – 0
Marshfield 13 0 13 0 – 26
First Quarter
M – Haiden Carlson 4 run (pass failed), 10:21.
M – Chase Robinson 1 run (Keegan Fredrick kick), 1:15.
Third Quarter
M – Grayden Rode 13 run (pass failed), 3:53.
M – Rode 3 run (Fredrick kick), 0:04.
Team Statistics
First downs: WR 14; M 12.
Rushing (att-yards): WR 57-180; M 31-169.
Passing (comp-att-yards-int): WR 0-4-0-1; M 5-8-80-0.
Total yards: WR 180; M 249.
Fumbles (total-lost): WR 0-0; M 1-0.
Penalties (no.-yards): WR 2-20; M 10-105.
Punting (no.-avg.): WR 2-31.5; M 2-41.0.
Individual Statistics
Rushing: WR, Cohen Lehmann 17-63, Sawyer Brooks 7-36, Chase Gethers 9-25, Jonah Rasmussen 13-24, Landon Pelot 4-15, Owen Richardson 6-14, Tyson Stempa 1-3. M, Grayden Rode 17-122, Chase Robinson 7-40, Haiden Carlson 6-37, Team 1-minus 30.
Passing: WR, Richardson 0-3-0-1, Rasmussen 0-1-0-0. M, Robinson 5-8-80-0.
Receiving: WR, none. M, Brooks Hinson 2-63, Carson 2-1, Camden Kolstad 1-16.
Interceptions (defense): M, Hinson.
Records: Marshfield 2-4, 2-2 Wisconsin Valley Conference; Wisconsin Rapids 0-6, 0-4 Wisconsin Valley Conference.