This story is sponsored by Dental Clinic of Marshfield
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
STRATFORD – The Stratford football team’s 2010 season ended in heartbreak as it suffered a 23-20 loss to Darlington on the final play of a WIAA Division 5 Level 2 playoff game.
For those returning to the Tigers this season, that loss has provided plenty of motivation.
“We’re trying to get the small stuff right. It will help us to get better every day,” said senior tight end/defensive back Jake Griffith. “We always expect success to some degree.”
The Tigers (8-3 in 2010) lost a ton of production from last season. Quarterback Nick Viegut and the four running back rotation of Mark Marquardt, Austin Shelley, Jamie Aschebrock and Josh Reif – all five of which finished in the top 20 in the Marawood Conference in rushing last season – have graduated. Throw in first-team all-conference offensive lineman and linebacker Luke Radke, and there are plenty of holes to fill for Stratford.
However, the goals have not changed for the Tigers, who open their season at Auburndale on Aug. 19.
“I feel that we are always trying to get a conference championship,” said senior running back/offensive end/linebacker Derek Austin. “We have a really tough conference this year, like always, but first we’re hoping for a winning season, then when we get that it’s conference and keeping going on from there.”
Coach Cal Tackes, owner of six straight WIAA state championships from 2003-08, is pleased with the offseason work his team has put in, and with the first week of practice.
“We had some kids that spent a lot of time in the weight room,” Tackes said. “Our lifts are much higher than last year and our speed is much better. Last year we had maybe one guy under a 5-flat (40-yard dash) and this year we have 14, so that helps. That all comes from being a little bit motivated during the offseason and comes from the upperclassmen motivating their teammates.”
Nolan Bargender, a junior, steps in at quarterback for Stratford. Tackes loves his size (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) and athleticism.
“He’s doing a very nice job,” Tackes said of Bargender, who started at safety last season. “Quarterback was his natural position, but he was too athletic to leave on the bench last year so we moved him to end to help us out there.”
At least early on in the season, Tackes said he expects to use a rotation at running back that includes seniors Jake Guyer and Austin, juniors Travis Urlaub and Greg Belter, and sophomore Eli Temanson.
Four seniors will anchor the offensive line, led by center Logan Griesmer. Andrew Murdaugh will start at one tackle with Troy Mengel and sophomore Caleb Bryant playing on the other side. Senior Brandon Schuster and junior Austin Hoffman will take over at guard.
“We lost a lot of starters but we had a lot of guys that played significant time, rotated in at positions, so they do have some experience,” Tackes said. “We’re not as deep, we only have 11 seniors and 12 juniors, but we get more depth from the sophomore class.”