This story is sponsored by: American Family Insurance – Randy Le Moine Agency
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
For years, the Spencer and Stratford football teams would battle every year in the Marawood Conference.
The two schools, located just 15 miles apart, broke apart from the same conference in 2008 when the Spencer/Columbus Catholic program moved into the Cloverbelt Conference.
On Friday, the rivalry will be renewed when Spencer/Columbus (7-2) hosts Stratford (7-2) in a WIAA Division 5 Level 2 playoff game at Spencer High School. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on WOSQ-FM 92.3 and online at wdlbwosq.com.
“Before the tournament started, if someone said you will get a chance to play Spencer, I would have said great,” Stratford coach Cal Tackes said. “They are close by, we don’t have to travel far, and I like the matchup.”
Spencer/Columbus coach Jason Gorst said his players are far enough removed from the rivalry, having never faced Stratford in a high school game, but that the community of Spencer is fired up for the playoff tilt.
“There’s definitely a feeling in our community that they know it’s a big game,” Gorst said. “I think our guys are aware of that, but they might be a little young to understand the full magnitude of it, but that’s OK with us right now.”
For S/C running back Charlie Mayeux, it’s all about advancing in the postseason.
“Last year we got to the playoffs, but didn’t make it past the first round,” Mayeux said. “This year we were able to get the win in the first week, and now that we’re here, we aren’t satisfied. We still want to win more.”
Both teams are on a roll recently.
Stratford is 4-0 since losing a tough 11-8 battle to Edgar in overtime, outscoring its opponents 190-34. S/C, since losing two games in a row to Colby (35-0) and Eau Claire Regis (36-0) – the Rockets won a game in between by forfeit over Cadott – have ripped off five wins a row, three by a touchdown or less.
The common theme is that both teams have turned to running the ball and defense to right the ship.
Stratford ran for more than 400 yards in wins over Prentice/Rib Lake and Auburndale to finish the regular season.
“Our line has been blocking really good,” Stratford senior running back Travis Urlaub said. “They’ve been opening some huge holes for our running backs and off of that, our pass game has opened up.”
The Rockets had an astounding 553 yards on the ground in a rout of Altoona that started their win streak, and has went over the 200-yard mark in each of their four games since then.
Mayeux, Kaleb Miller and Eathen Aden lead the S/C rushing attack that has been carrying the team. Calvin Lenz’s move to starting quarterback – and former QB Joe Meyers move to receiver – has left the Rockets with a less-accomplished passer, but more of a threat at receiver.
Tackes likes the matchup for his defense.
“I think stopping the run is more of our forte, we’re better at stopping the run than the pass, and it will be our size against their quickness,” Tackes said. “I think we’re aggressive and that will help against the run.”
With a good running game there always is a good offensive line to lead the way, and that has been the strength of the Rockets’ team this season.
“We’re big and strong, they definitely are fast, so it definitely will be a battle between those two attributes,” Gorst said. “We’ve been going with what works. For as much as you want to have a system, you still have to cater to the type of talent you have. We’re as big, or bigger, than anybody up front, so we’ve just been trying to run behind those guys up front.
“Our guys like contact, they like being physical, they like hitting. That’s just the style of football we have been playing.”
Stratford also has a strong, diversified running attack. Urlaub leads the way, but Jake Reif, Joe Franklin, Greg Belter and Kellen Bornbach also have been getting their share of the carries.
Defensively, senior linebacker Tyler Stelson said Spencer/Columbus Is ready for the challenge.
“We’ve been tough, we’re big and we worked all offseason to get that way, and that’s how we’ve been playing,” Stelson said. “We have to play big, play to our assignment and just execute.”
For Tigers’ quarterback Drew Spaeth, the game has multiple levels of meaning.
“It’s going mean a lot because we know a lot of guys over there and we want to get on top,” Spaeth said. “We haven’t beat the Cloverbelt in a long time and we’re really looking to get a ‘W’ and keep moving on.”