This story is sponsored by Forward Bank
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MADISON – Gold Ball No. 10 is heading back to Stratford.
Stratford used a pounding running game and dominant defense to outlast Wrightstown 21-6 in the WIAA Division 5 state football championship game on Thursday at Camp Randall Stadium, and collects its state-record 10th football title in 12 tries.
The win gives Stratford head coach Jason Tubbs his third state title in a row, and his last, as he made it official following the game that he will be stepping down from the position as his son, quarterback/defensive back Jack Tubbs, is a graduating senior.
Junior running back Brooks Vanderhoof gained 137 of Stratford’s 255 rushing yards, and Jett Schoenherr and Alec Chapel had interceptions on defense in the win to finish off a perfect 14-0 season and extend the team’s winning streak to 26. Wrightstown finishes 12-2, losing in the D-5 final for the second-straight year.
“A great team effort all year long,” Jason Tubbs said. “These guys have worked their butts off all year long, they’ve wanted it from Day 1. Moving up a division didn’t matter to our guys, we’ll play anybody, and Stratford football showed what they can do.”
Stratford held Wrightstown to two three-and-outs to open the game and took over on its second possession at its own 9 before it got the offense rolling.
Stratford converted seven first downs on the 91-yard drive that ended with an 8-yard touchdown run by Tubbs on a quarterback-keeper. Mason Miller’s extra point gave Stratford a 7-0 lead.
Wrightstown’s next drive ended on an interception by Schoenherr at the 10 on an underthrown pass, one of four drives Stratford stuffed inside the 50.
After holding Stratford, Wrightstown popped its only big play of the game as quarterback Trevor Vande Hey rolled 61 yards through the right side of the line for a touchdown. Stratford’s Xander Curtice blocked the extra point, the second-straight week he deflected a kick, and Stratford held on to a 7-6 lead.
Stratford immediately responded, going 58 yards in 10 plays. The first nine plays were on the ground before Tubbs hit Coltan Breit in the left corner of the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown pass on fourth down and Stratford led 14-6 with 2:14 to go before halftime.
Wrightstown managed to get to midfield before punting and Stratford took the eight-point lead into the break.
As per usual, Stratford came out strong after halftime and marched down the field for what proved to be the dagger.
Taking over on its own 27, Stratford ran the ball on nine-straight plays, with a Vanderhoof 36-yard bolt bringing the Tigers in the red zone. Five plays later, Vanderhoof ran in from the 1 to give Stratford a 21-6 lead 4:48 into the second half. Neither team would score again.
Wrightstown had drives stall at the Stratford 24- and 16-yard lines and Chapel sealed the win with another pick with 2:53 to go. Stratford was able to run out the clock from there.
“Getting plays from Xander Curtice and Carter Lueck, guys busting their tails,” Jason Tubbs said of the Stratford defense’s effort. “We told them they have to go 100 percent all of the time and good things will happen. They were locked in.”
The win was extra special for Coach Tubbs as he got to share it with his son on the field as both ride off into the sunset with the gold ball trophy in tow.
“It’s emotional because this is it for me too, I’m done, I’m going to retire and let these other young coaches taking over,” Jason Tubbs said. “If you’re going to go out, go out with him. He’s a hell of a player and he’s a better son. I’m super proud of him because he played his butt off tonight.”
Jack Tubbs was glowing in the victory, for himself, his team and his father.
“It would have sucked to lose in his last game,” he said. “It was a fairy tale ending to go out on top. I’m going to hold it (the trophy) for the next few hours before I get tired.”
Stratford 21, Wrightstown 6
Wrightstown 0 6 0 0 – 6
Stratford 0 14 7 0 – 21
Second Quarter
S – Jack Tubbs 8 run (Mason Miller kick), 11:55.
W – Trevor Vande Hey 61 run (kick blocked), 7:04.
S – Coltan Breit 4 run (M. Miller kick), 2:14.
Third Quarter
S – Brooks Vanderhoof 1 run (M. Miller kick), 7:12.
Team Statistics
First downs: W 9; S 15.
Rushing (att-yards): W 28-128; S 50-255.
Passing (comp-att-yards-int): W 5-11-80-2; S 5-5-31-0.
Total yards: W 208; S 286.
Fumbles (total-lost): W 3-0; S 0-0.
Penalties (no.-yards): W 1-15; S 4-28.
Punting (no.-avg.): W 3-38.3; S 4-40.2.
Individual Statistics
Rushing: W, Trevor Vande Hey 15-83, Aiden Humphreys 10-43, Jaeden Kittoe 1-1, Kaden Colwell 2-1. S, Brooks Vanderhoof 24-137, Jack Tubbs 15-94, Caleb Wrensch 5-10, Carter Lueck 1-7, Jett Schoenherr 3-5, Reid Miller 1-3, Team 1-minus 1.
Passing: W, Vande Hey 5-11-80-2. S, Tubbs 5-5-31-0.
Receiving: W, Kittoe 2-27, Humphreys 2-17, Colwell 1-36. S, Coltan Breit 2-13, Schoenherr 2-10, Wrensch 1-8.
Punting: W, Vande Hey 3-38.3. S, Brady Berg 4-40.2.
Interceptions (defense): S, Schoenherr, Alec Chapel.
Records: Wrightstown 12-2; Stratford 14-0.
2024 WIAA State Football Championships
Nov. 21-22, at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison
Thursday, Nov. 21
Division 7: Edgar (13-1) 19, Potosi/Cassville (13-1) 0 Stats
Division 6: Lomira (12-2) 26, Grantsburg (12-2) 19 Stats
Division 5: Stratford (14-0) 21, Wrightstown (12-2) 6 Stats
Division 4: Racine St. Catherine’s (14-0) 26, Baldwin-Woodville (12-2) 22
Friday, Nov. 22
Division 3: Waukesha Catholic Memorial (11-2) vs. Green Bay Notre Dame (13-0), 10 a.m.
Division 2: Rice Lake (11-2) vs. Slinger (13-0), 1 p.m.
Division 1: Bay Port (11-2) vs. Muskego (9-4), 4 p.m.