By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
SPENCER – The Spencer/Marshfield Columbus Catholic football has double its win totals the past two seasons and coach Greg Oestreich said he expects the trend of improvement to continue.
The Rockets won just one game in 2007 and two in 2008, but improved to 4-5 last year, just missing out on a WIAA playoff spot after losing their season finale to Cloverbelt Conference champion Colby 20-6 and finishing 3-5 in conference play.
Making that final push over the top and back into the WIAA playoffs, something the Rockets haven’t achieved since 2006, is what is fueling the team heading into the season.
“During the course of last year we talked about getting better from the year before,” Oestreich said. “We weren’t very competitive (in 2008) and won two games. We doubled that total last year and every game we played solid, I thought, and we had a chance in the fourth quarter. They understand that was part of getting better and I think we’ll improve on that even more this year.”
Oestreich said the Rockets should have a strong set of skill position players as first-team all-Cloverbelt wide receiver Jared Boyle leads a group of returnees that include tailback Travis Pischel, fullback Jacob Welsh, receiver Wyatt Phillips and quarterback Paul Selz.
Selz will battle with junior Jordan Buss for playing time as the Rockets’ signal caller.
“I think in our skill positions, we are going to be as good as we have been in a long time,” Oestreich said. “We have two kids at quarterback, Paul Selz and Jordan Buss – Paul played last year as a junior and Jordan led an undefeated JV.
“Jacob Welsh is back at fullback, he had a good year last year for us. Travis Pischel is back at tailback, he alternated there last year. He’s got to get the ball a lot more this year.”
The set of skill players is so good that Oestreich hinted the Rockets may be a pass-first team this season.
“I think we’re going to be throwing it a fair amount because I think we have the ability to,” he said. “Probably our weakness is up front. We have two returning starters but we have a lot of new kids coming in, so sometimes getting rid of the ball and getting those quick-hitters is going to be the way to not make them go toe-to-toe with some of the big defensive linemen.”
Oestreich seemed to challenge his team when speaking on Wednesday before the Rockets’ second practice, hoping they will round into shape soon. Spencer/Columbus opens its season Aug. 27 at home against defending Division 6 state champion Edgar before rolling into conference play Sept. 3 against Osseo-Fairchild, which finished third last season at 6-2.
“They are not where we would like them to be,” Oestreich said. “We had a group of about 10-15 kids that were dedicated every morning (during the summer), but we had some that still find it hard to wake up at 6:30 in the morning. They found out (Tuesday during the first day of practice), when you come in on a hot day and haven’t done much, they were wishing they would have been here a little more.”
Spencer/Columbus Catholic football schedule
Fri., Aug. 27 *EDGAR, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 3 *OSSEO-FAIRCHILD, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 10 at Fall Creek, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 17 *STANLEY-BOYD, 7 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 25 at Eau Claire Regis, 1 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 2 &CADOTT, 1 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 8 at Altoona, 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 15 *NEILLSVILLE, 7 p.m.
Thur., Oct. 21 at Colby, 7 p.m.
(HOME GAMES IN CAPS)
*HOME GAME AT SPENCER HIGH SCHOOL
&HOME GAME AT BEELL STADIUM, MARSHFIELD