This story is sponsored by: Valley Communities Credit Union
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield football team wasted little time showing Valley Football Conference South Division foe Fond du Lac that it may be the team to beat in the conference.
The Tigers scored four touchdowns in the first 7 minutes of Friday’s game at Beell Stadium to roll out to a 28-point lead and never looked back, crushing the Cardinals 56-7.
Marshfield improves to 4-0 on the season and 2-0 in the VFC South. Fond du Lac falls to 0-4 and 0-2 in conference play.
The Tigers have outscored their opponents 182-60 in their four victories.
Marshfield took the opening possession 59 yards, converting a third-and-18 along the way, and scored when running back Riley Gebelein rambled in from 9 yards out to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead.
The Tigers’ defense made their presence known early when senior linebacker Justin Sternweis forced a fumble on Fond du Lac’s second offensive play and Matthew Scheel recovered at the 21. Three plays later, Elliot Ashbeck threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Litwatis.
Sternweis then picked off a pass on the Cardinals’ third play of their next possession and returned it to the 30. On the very next play, Ashbeck hit Austin Littmann on a post pattern for a 30-yard touchdown and the rout was on as the Tigers led 21-0 just 5:59 into the game.
“As long as everybody’s doing their jobs, we’re going to stop them,” Sternweis said. “The offense has been doing a wonderful job. Last year, the offense struggled a little bit. This year they’ve been getting it in, pounding it in, and getting us back on the field and we stop them.”
Gebelein returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown 1:09 later and Marshfield scored touchdowns on its first two possessions of the second quarter as well.
Ryan Trierweiler scampered 14 yards for a touchdown and Ashbeck hit Littmann again for a 49-yard touchdown pass to make it 42-0 2:58 before halftime.
“Everybody’s really keeping their heads on straight and doing what their supposed to do,” Marshfield coach Denny Goettl said. “We’re trying to keep them humble. It’s a really good group of kids and we’re blessed with these guys.”
Gebelein (12 yards) and Cody Tarnowski (8 yards) scored on touchdown runs in the third quarter to give the Tigers a 56-0 lead.
Fond du Lac scored its only points early in the fourth quarter when Alex Letourneau scored on a 4-yard run, capping a 15-play, 80-yard drive.
Ashbeck threw for 196 yards and three touchdowns, giving him 13 scoring passes through four games this season.
The senior has been poised in the pocket all season, something attributed to the protection the Tigers’ offensive line has been giving him.
“The offensive line has been really good this year, giving us lots of time,” said Littmann, who caught three passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns. “Elliot has a great arm and he can throw the ball as far as anyone I’ve ever seen. It’s good to have a quarterback like that.”
Marshfield hosts Neenah next Friday at Beell Stadium.
Tigers 56, Cardinals 7
Fond du Lac 0 0 0 7 – 7
Marshfield 28 14 14 0 – 56
FIRST QUARTER
M – Riley Gebelein 9 run (Gus Utech kick), 9:18.
M – Jordan Litwatis 21 pass from Elliot Ashbeck (Utech kick), 7:36.
M – Austin Littmann 30 pass from Ashbeck (Utech kick), 6:01.
M – Gebelein 55 punt return (Utech kick), 4:52.
SECOND QUARTER
M – Ryan Trierweiler 14 run (Utech kick), 8:49.
M – Littmann 49 pass from Ashbeck (Utech kick), 2:58.
THIRD QUARTER
M – Gebelein 12 run (Utech kick), 6:42.
M – Cody Tarnowski 8 run (Utech kick), 4:50.
FOURTH QUARTER
F – Alex Letourneau 4 run (Jacob Behlke kick), 8:42.
TEAM STATISTICS
First downs: Fond du Lac 6; Marshfield 12.
Rushing: Fond du Lac 26-108; Marshfield 32-173.
Passing: Fond du Lac 5-17-30-1; Marshfield 10-17-207-0.
Penalties: Fond du Lac 2-13; Marshfield 9-60.
Fumbles (total-lost): Fond du Lac 3-2; Marshfield 1-0.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: F, Alex Letourneau 20-102, George McEnroe 4-17, Hunter Schmitz 1-0, Alex Kaphengst 1-minus 11. M, Riley Gebelein 12-121, Cody Tarnowski 3-31, Ryan Trierweiler 3-22, Caleb Cline 2-16, Jack Marquardt 3-9, Austin Littmann 1-7, Dakota Schlough 1-4, Luke Wirtz 1-3, Elliot Ashbeck 1-minus 8, Bo Howard 4-minus 10, Gus Utecht 1-minus 22.
Passing: F, Kaphengst 2-11-9-1, Schmitz 3-6-21-0. M, Ashbeck 8-13-196-0, Howard 2-4-11-0.
Receiving: F, Matt Schnell 2-16, Tyler Cizek 2-14, David Zimmerman 1-0. M, Littmann 3-107, Tarnowski 1-48, Jordan Litwatis 2-36, Jesse Helgerson 1-8, Jordan Schecklman 1-5, Daniel Bargender 1-3, Caleb Cline 1-0.
Fumble recoveries (defense): M, Matthew Scheel.
Interceptions (defense): M, Justin Sternweis.
Punting (no.-avg): F, Kaphengst 5-32.0.
Records: Fond du Lac 0-4, 0-2 Valley Football Association South; Marshfield 4-0, 2-0 VFA South.