This story is sponsored by: WDLB-AM 1450 and WOSQ-FM 92.3 radio
By Jake Miller
For MarshfieldAreaSports.com
SPENCER – The Stratford Tigers weren’t going to let their coach walk off into retirement this early in the postseason.
After two quarters of tight football, the Tigers (8-2) blew open their WIAA Division 5 Level 2 playoff game against former Marawood Conference rival Spencer/Columbus (7-3). Stratford’s offense ripped off 463 yards and held the Rockets’ potent running game to just 74 yards in a 33-15 win Friday night at Spencer High School.
Stratford will play at No. 1 seed and undefeated Amherst (10-0) in a Level 3 playoff game Saturday at 1 p.m. keeping the Tigers’ veteran coach Cal Tackes out of retirement. Tackes announced earlier this year that this will be his final season. Amherst throttled Marathon 34-7 in a Level 2 game on Saturday afternoon.
“Our team is just jacked. It’s good for our coach,” said Drew Spaeth, Stratford’s junior quarterback who threw for 140 yards. “This is his last year, and we want to do the best we can for him and our seniors.”
Tackes and the Tigers’ defense came into the game knowing they had to shut down the Rockets’ potent run game, which includes senior running back Charlie Mayeux, the team’s leading rusher.
Mayeux helped keep the game close in the first half when he busted loose for an 18-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to give the Rockets a 7-6 lead. Mayeux finished with 42 yards on 11 carries, averaging just 3.8 yards per touch.
“They did a very nice job of being able to stop what we do. Hats off to them,” said Spencer coach Jason Gorst. “(Stratford) played a heck of a game, but our guys played hard.”
Stratford’s offense took a while to warm up, but once the running game began to click the Tigers took control.
Senior Travis Urlaub, the team’s leading rusher, scored three touchdowns, including a 16-yard run in the first quarter. He finished with 121 yards on 28 carries. Eli Temanson broke the game open in the third quarter with a 68-yard touchdown run to give the Tigers a 19-7 lead.
“Our kids did a great job of understanding the inside-outside game, the passing game. We were able to incorporate all that and there was a lot of communication with our guys tonight,” Tackes said. “We’re understanding this game a lot better and that’s going to make us a better team because we can hit.”
Turnovers and costly penalties plagued the Tigers in the first half, but they managed to clean things up in the second half. However, a fourth-quarter fumble led to a 47-yard fumble return by the Rockets Mitchell Susa. Gorst said Spencer/Columbus should’ve taken better advantage of Stratford’s mistakes.
But despite the loss, the Rockets took a big step forward year, reaching the second round of playoffs, Gorst said. And although they won’t meet much during the regular season, the game may have been just enough to rekindle the Stratford and Spencer/Columbus rivalry.
“I think it does,” Gorst said. “We wanted to get (the win), but we didn’t.”
Urlaub said the Tigers continue to make improvements weekly, which has allowed them to hit their stride as they continue to roll deeper into the playoffs. That constant improvement could pay dividends next week against either Marathon or Amherst.
“Our game is hitting its peak right now. We’re playing amazing right now,” he said. “Everything is just flowing.”
Saturday’s game against Amherst will be broadcast live on WDLB-AM 1450 and on wdlbwosq.com, with pregame starting at 12:30 p.m.
Tigers 33, Rockets 15
Stratford 6 6 7 14 – 33
Spencer/Columbus 0 7 0 8 – 15
First Quarter
S – Travis Urlaub 16 run (Jake Zuelke kick missed), 3:43.
Second Quarter
S/C – Charlie Mayeux 18 run (Call Innman kick), 3:29.
S – Urlaub 2 run (2 pt. conversion missed), 0:32.
Third Quarter
S – Eli Temanson 68 run (Zuelke kick), 6:39.
Fourth Quarter
S – Urlaub 3 run (Zuelke kick), 10:39.
S/C – Mitchell Susa 53 fumble return (Joe Meyers pass from Calvin Lenz), 7:14.
S – Nolan Bargender 26 pass from Drew Spaeth (Zuelke kick), 3:51.
Team Statistics
First Downs: Stratford 24; Spencer/Columbus 7.
Rushing (att-yards): Stratford 56-323; Spencer/Columbus 25-74.
Passing (comp-att-yards-INT): Stratford 7-13-140-1; Spencer/Columbus 5-20-94-0.
Penalties (No.-yards): Stratford 5-45; Spencer/Columbus 1-0.
Individual Statistics
Rushing: Str, Temanson 12-128, Urlaub 28-121, Greg Belter 4-35, Bryce Reif 4-15, Michael Bargender 1-8, Justin Schmidt, 1-7, Spaeth 2-7, Zuelke 2-1, No. 41 (not listed on roster) 1-2, No. 42 (not listed) 1- minus 1. S/C, Kaleb Miller 7-43, Mayeux 11-42, Eathen Aden 3-2, Lenz 4- minus 13.
Passing: Str, Spaeth 7-12-140-1, Urlaub 0-1-0-0. S/C, Lenz 5-20-94-0.
Receiving: Str, Bargender 3-58, No. 38 (not listed), 1-30; Urlaub 1-26, Hunter Kauffman 1-19, Belter 1-7. S/C, Aden 3-87, Joe Meyers 2-7.
Records: Stratford 8-2; Spencer/Columbus 7-3.