This story is sponsored by: Sternweis & Sons
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – The Stratford football train just keeps on rolling.
The Tigers asserted their dominance on the first drive of the game by using a pounding running game to score a touchdown and never looked back, rolling to a 34-11 win over Lake Country Lutheran in a WIAA Division 5 Level 3 playoff game Friday night at Heiting Community Stadium at Marshfield High School.
Stratford (12-0) stands a win away for its third-straight trip to the state finals and will play Prairie du Chien (11-1) in a D-5 state semifinal next Friday, Nov. 15, at Wisconsin Dells High School. Click here to view the statewide Level 3 scoreboard
Stratford ran the ball 15-straight times on its opening possession, picking up six first downs on the 82-yard drive that chewed up 7:42 off the clock and ended with a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Jack Tubbs for a touchdown.
After Lake Country Lutheran’s second three-and-out in a row, the Tigers went 53 yards in 10 plays with Jett Schoenherr scoring from the 5, giving them a 14-0 lead four minutes into the second quarter and it was lights out for the Lightning.
Lake Country Lutheran managed just one first down and 53 yards in the first half as Stratford’s defense was as good as its offense.
“We kind of thought we’d have some chances on the edges and they made some adjustments, but our guys just kept blocking like crazy,” Stratford coach Jason Tubbs said. “We’re so proud of our offensive line, (tight end) Alec Chapel, Wrenschy (Caleb Wrensch), making big holes for Reid (Miller), Jack (Tubbs) and Brooks (Vanderhoof). Ground and pound, and then get a couple of turnovers and get some points. Overall, pretty happy with a full team type of win.”
The Tigers’ lone mistake in the first half came when they were putting together a two-minute drive. Taking over after an interception by Coltan Breit on their own 11 with 2:19 to go before halftime, Stratford turned to its short passing game as Tubbs completed five passes and Caleb Wrensch had a 17-yard run to push the Tigers down to the LCL 32.
With 20 seconds to go, Tubbs was picked off by Evan Roell at the 30 and he returned it 60 yards before being run down at the 10.
The Lightning managed to get a 23-yard field goal from Bennett Hahm on the final play of the half, cutting Stratford’s lead to 14-3 at the break.
The Tigers took the opening kickoff of the second half and put the game away.
Stratford went 63 yards in 13 plays and a 7-yard TD run by Schoenherr finished it off to make it 21-3.
On the ensuing kickoff, Lake Country Lutheran fumbled and Schoenherr recovered at the 49. Tubbs completed passes of 19 and 28 yards for Wrensch, and Wrensch ran in from the 2 to give the Tigers their second touchdown in 43 seconds for a 28-3 lead.
“The nice thing about our team is we have a lot of weapons and can distribute the ball, and Jack and (offensive coordinator) Coach (Greg) Belter does a nice job of finding those guys and keeping the chains moving,” Jason Tubbs said.
Stratford poured it on with Schoenherr’s third rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter, and Lake Country Lutheran had a garbage touchdown in the final minute with its starters playing against the Tigers’ second string.
Wrensch finished with five catches for 101 yards, and five different Stratford ball carriers had at least 38 yards rushing in a balanced attack as the Tigers outgained LCL 380-190.
“It’s like a brotherhood, they get along so well, it’s almost scary,” Jason Tubbs said. “You can tell these guys love each other. It’s fun to watch.”
Tigers 34, Lightning 11
Lake Country Lutheran 0 3 0 8
Stratford 7 7 14 6 – 34
First Quarter
S – Jack Tubbs 1 run (Mason Miller kick), 2:44.
Second Quarter
S – Jett Schoenherr 5 run (M. Miller kick), 8:04.
LCL – Bennett Hahm 23 field goal, 0:00.
Third Quarter
S – Schoenherr 7 run (M. Miller kick), 6:52.
S – Caleb Wrensch 2 run (M. Miller kick), 6:09.
Fourth Quarter
S – Schoenherr 2 run (kick missed), 9:23.
LCL – Blake Barkow 42 pass from Jackson Menzel (Menzel run), 0:46.
Team Statistics
First downs: LCL 7; S 22.
Rushing (att-yards): LCL 24-90; S 53-227.
Passing (comp-att-yards-int): LCL 9-17-100-1; S 13-17-153-1.
Total yards: LCL 190; S 380.
Fumbles (total-lost): LCL 2-2; S 2-0.
Punting (no.-avg.): LCL 2-21.5; S 1-29.0.
Individual Statistics
Rushing: LCL, Jackson Menzel 10-48, Andrew Benz 7-16, Connor Lubbers 1-11, Gavin Kiley 1-9, Nathan Graf 5-6. S, Jack Tubbs 11-55, Brooks Vanderhoof 10-49, Caleb Wrensch 9-45, Reid Miller 13-43, Jett Schoenherr 7-38, Aaron Knetter 1-2, Brady Berg 1-minus 2, Ashton Bushman 1-minus 3.
Passing: LCL, Menzel 8-16-92-1, Lubbers 1-18-0. S, Tubbs 12-16-155-1, Berg 1-1-minus 2-0.
Receiving: LCL, Barkow 2-45, Lubbers 2-17, Graf 1-15, Gavin Baranyk 1-12, Ethan Hans 1-8, Benz 1-3. S, Wrensch 5-101, Schoenherr 5-34, Coltan Breit 1-13, Vanderhoof 1-7, Cayden Leonhardt 1-minus 2.
Fumble recoveries (defense): S, Alec Chapel, Schoenherr.
Interceptions (defense): LCL, Evan Roell. S, Breit.
Records: Lake Country Lutheran 8-4; Stratford 12-0.