This story is sponsored by: Sternweis & Sons
By Steve Pilz
For MarshfieldAreaSports.com
STRATFORD – In a game that on paper looked as though it would be tight, considering the pedigree of the participants, it instead proved to be just that in the first half.
Tied for the lead in the Central Wisconsin Conference Large Division, both the Amherst and Stratford football teams brought undefeated records to Tiger Stadium Friday evening.
Only a blocked extra point kept the Falcons from a tie in the first 27 minutes, but Stratford asserted itself early and often in the second half and cruised to a 48-20 win, wrapping up at least a share of the its third-straight CWC Large Division championship and extending its winning streak to 20 in a row. The Tigers will finish their season at Loyal/Greenwood next Friday. Click here to view the Central Wisconsin Conference Large Division football standings
The Tigers showed why they are the two-time defending Division 6 state champs and lead their conference, as they took the ball at their own 26 and dumped it in the end zone 12 plays later with Jack Tubbs going the final seven yards for the game’s first score.
Seemingly undaunted, the Falcons, taking over at their own 31 and led by junior quarterback Michael Glowdowski, held the ball for 16 plays before he hit Sully Perkins with a 12-yard dart at the back of the end zone between the goal posts to tie it up at 7.
The back-and-forth continued as Tubbs capped a nine-play drive with a shuffle pass to Jett Schoenherr for a 5-yard TD pass that concluded a 64-yard drive.
Again, the Falcons answered, after a long kick-off return set Amherst up at the Tigers 25. Nothing fancy here as Glowdowski lugged it all five times, the last for 6 yards for a score and a 14-14 tie.
Tubbs took the ball at his own 32 with 1:58 to go in the half hitting Reid Miller for six before Brooks Vanderhoof gained four on a run. Tubbs then hit Alec Chapel for 31 yards before a fourth-down play that had flags flying. Chapel hauled in the 13-yard TD despite the penalty and the Tigers led 21-14 at the half.
“It’s always one game at a time when you go against Amherst,” said Stratford coach Jason Tubbs, “Hats off to them; it was a great first half.”
Glowdowski got right back at it as the second half started, punching it in from the 9 to culminate a 62- yard drive but the PAT was blocked leaving the Falcons a point short.
From there, Tubbs and company took over.
Stratford’s senior quarterback pushed it in from the four at the 5:18 mark before dropping a rainbow into the hands of Coltan Breit from 30 yards out to up the lead again.
Vanderhoof ripped off a 64- yard rushing TD and Schoenherr scooted in from the 22 to end the scoring at 48-20 to ensure at least a tie for the conference title and stay unbeaten at 8-0 overall and 6-0 in CWC Large play.
“We made our adjustments at the half,” continued Coach Tubbs, “(We) got some stops on D, made some big plays on offense and even got some turnovers. We’re really proud of our guys.”
Jack Tubbs finished the game with 187 yards on 10 of 12 passing and gained 60 yards on nine carries. He ran for two TDs and threw for three more. It was reported by the PA announcer that he became the leading passer in the history of the Stratford Tigers football program.
Amherst (7-1, 5-1 CWC Large) will conclude their season next Friday at home vs. Wittenberg-Birnamwood.
Tigers 48, Falcons 20
Amherst 0 14 6 0 – 20
Stratford 7 14 13 14 – 48
First Quarter
S – Jack Tubbs 7 run (Mason Miller kick), 5:10.
Second Quarter
A – Sully Perkins 12 pass from Michael Glowdowski (Tyler Loken kick), 9:43.
S – Jett Schoenherr 5 pass from Tubbs (M. Miller kick), 4:42.
A – Glowdowski 6 run (Loken kick), 2:03.
S – Alec Chapel 13 pass from Tubbs (M. Miller kick), 0:18.
Third Quarter
A – Glowdowski 9 run (kick blocked), 9:08.
S – Tubbs 4 run (M. Miller kick), 5:18.
S – Coltan Breit 30 pass from Tubbs (kick blocked), 0:14.
Fourth Quarter
S – Brooks Vanderhoof 64 run (M. Miller kick), 8:10.
S – Schoenherr 22 run (Miller kick), 2:45.
Team Statistics
First downs: A 14, S 19.
Rushing (att.-yards): A 34-172; S 37-260.
Passing (comp.-att-yards-int.): A 5-9-37-2; S 10-12-187-0.
Total yards: A 209; S 447.
Fumbles (total-lost): A 0-0; S 0-0.
Penalties (no.-yards): A 1-10; S 6-45.
Individual Statistics
Rushing: A, Michael Glowdowski 20-99, Ayden Nerdahl 10-50, JC Bohman 3-24. S, Brooks Vanderhoof 10-113, Jack Tubbs 9-60, Reid Miller 11-53, Jett Schoenherr 3-30, Caleb Wrensch 3-4.
Passing: A, Glodowski 5-9-37-2. S, Tubbs 10-12-187-0.
Receiving: A, Sully Perkins 3-37. S, Chapel 3-69, Schoenherr 3-24, Wrensch 2-57, Coltan Breit 1-30, R. Miller 1-7.
Records: Amherst 7-1, 5-1 Central Wisconsin Conference Large Division; Stratford 8-0, 6-0 Central Wisconsin Conference Large Division.