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By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield football team was one win away from a surprising trip to the Division 2 state finals last season. Despite the 35-21 loss to Cedarburg in a WIAA state semifinal, the Tigers are hopeful they can carry that momentum into this season.
The Tigers will play in the new Valley Football Association for the first time. The combination of the Wisconsin Valley Conference and Fox Valley Association for football has Marshfield playing in the South Division along with WVC rivals Wisconsin Rapids and Stevens Point, and FVA opponents Menasha, Neenah, Fond du Lac, Oshkosh North and Oshkosh West.
The new alignment has Marshfield’s second-year coach Denny Goettl not knowing what to expect.
“We don’t have any idea what they do, but we’re all trading film,” Goettl said. “We’ll have to scout like everyone else and make it work. I think it will be fun.”
Marshfield lost the majority of its offensive skill players from last year’s team that finished 8-4, including its top running back in T.J. Vantassel, its starting tight end and its top three wide receivers.
However, the Tigers bring back quarterback Elliot Ashbeck, who threw for more than 1,200 yards in the final six games of the season after taking over the position fulltime.
“He’s shown some great leadership so far,” Goettl said. “The offense has kind of become his own now. The 2-minute drill, he’s handling things pretty well as far as game management. Friday nights are going to be a little different, but he’s doing a great job so far.”
As Marshfield heads into its season opener Aug. 19 at D.C. Everest, Ashbeck will have to find some new weapons and a number of players are stepping up.
The wide receiver position is muddled right now, with eight players vying for playing time. Seniors Austin Littmann, Jordan Litwatis, Nate Saverda and Brandon Brown, along with juniors Tanner Happe and Ryan Treiweiler are in the mix.
“They are all doing a nice job and it’s hard to say who’s going to be the guy,” Goettl said. “We have a lot of sets, so we can play with a lot of different guys.”
Riley Gebelein is taking over at tailback and the search for depth at the position is ongoing, Goettl said.
Gebelein saw limited time last season, carrying six times for 48 yards in conference play.
“We’re trying to make tailbacks out of some people that have never played tailback before, but they can run really well,” Goettl said. “Riley’s going to handle the load right now.”
Defensively, the Tigers have fewer question marks. Marshfield returns second-team all-WVC linebacker Justin Sternweis and defensive end Trevor Peterson, as well as honorable mention linebacker Nick Zillman.
“Our defense, I’d have to say right now, is way ahead of the offense as far as practice time,” Goettl said. “We’ve got some great athletes on that end. Trevor Peterson (defensive end), both linebackers are back in Sternweis and Zillman, our other two standup guys on the outside in Alex Zirbel and Matt Scheel are tough, our defensive line is pretty thick and quick with Alex Anrdt and Bowdi Krall. Our middle seven is going to be pretty tough to deal with.”
2011 Marshfield Football Schedule
Aug. 19 at D.C. Everest (nc)
Aug. 26 WAUSAU WEST (nc)
Sept. 2 at Oshkosh North (Titan Stadium)
Sept. 9 FOND DU LAC
Sept. 16 NEENAH
Sept. 23 at Oshkosh West (Titan Stadium)
Sept. 30 WISCONSIN RAPIDS
Oct. 7 MENASHA
Oct. 14 at Stevens Point