By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – For the first time since 1994, someone other than Len Luedtke is running practice for the Marshfield High School football team.
Longtime offensive coordinator Denny Goettl has taken over the helm as the head coach of the Tigers following the retirement of Luedtke, who led Marshfield to a 136-44 record over 15 remarkable seasons that include 14 straight trips to the WIAA playoffs, five state championship game appearances and Division 1 state titles in 1997, 2001 and 2002.
Goettl, who has been on the staff since 1994, will continue to tutor the quarterbacks but has been adjusting to his new administrative role during the first few practices.
“I’m trying to feel like I am still needed,” Goettl joked. “I can focus more on the reads and things for quarterbacks, give them more attention, but yeah, I’m trying to stay useful.”
Goettl may not be used to delegating roles so far, but he is overseeing an offense that will have nearly an entire new look.
The Tigers will have a new offensive line, new receivers, a stable to quality tailbacks and a new quarterback.
Junior Elliot Ashbeck and senior Chris Stemen are battling for the No. 1 spot at quarterback, and Goettl is excited by the prospects.
“The quarterbacks are battling every day,” Goettl said. “We don’t have anyone penciled in. Both bring good things to the game. They’re real good throwers. Elliot can probably move a little faster than Chris.
“You look for the senior to bring the leadership, but Elliot’s started in baseball as a pitcher since he was a freshman and on the basketball team since his sophomore year. We might have a two-headed monster and make it work that way.”
Goettl said he likes the team speed on the perimeter and the talent on both lines.
“We’re pretty fast, but we don’t have a lot of returners,” Goettl said. “We have a whole new line and are moving some defensive line to 1 ½ players, I’m calling them. You might be a starter on D, but you’re a first backup on offense, or vice versa. They are not necessarily two-way players.”
The Tigers will spend the next 10 days implementing their offensive and defensive schemes, something Goettl said most of the players already have a grasp on after playing in the Marshfield program over the years. By time Marshfield takes part in a scrimmage at Black River Falls on Aug. 20, the basic game plan should be in place.
“We’re going to put in all the base stuff before the scrimmage,” Goettl said. “We don’t have to spend hours trying to put in double-pass reverses, we’re going to get our run game down and our base pass game down. We can call out plays now and the kids know where they are going, for the most part.”
The Tigers open their season at home against Menomonie on Aug. 27. Marshfield has beaten the Indians three times during the past two seasons, including a 42-41 thriller in last year’s season opener.
Marshfield football schedule
Fri., Aug. 27 MENOMONIE, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 3 at Antigo, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 10 at Stevens Point, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 17 WAUSAU WEST, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 24 at D.C. Everest, 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 1 MERRILL, 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 8 at Wausau East, 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 15 WISCONSIN RAPIDS, 7 p.m.
Thur., Oct. 21 NO GAME SCHEDULED
(HOME GAMES IN CAPS)