This story is sponsored by: Trudeau Construction and The Tile Guys
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
View a photo gallery of the Tigers’ win.
PITTSVILLE – Following a sloppy 24-point win over Auburndale a week ago, the Stratford football team looked to play a more complete game Friday against Marawood Conference rival Pittsville.
The Tigers did that, dominating the Panthers with a sound rushing attack that piled up 349 yards on 47 carries and routed the home team 52-0 at Pittsville High School.
Stratford moves to 2-0 overall and in the Marawood, while Pittsville drops to 1-1 overall and in conference play.
The Tigers, who committed three turnovers and recovered five of their own fumbles in the season opener on Aug. 28, took care of the ball much better Friday and forced Pittsville into four turnovers.
Stratford scored on all six of its first-half possessions, racking up 266 yards on the ground and putting together a seven-play, 86-yard drive and an 11-play, 92-yard drive on back-to-back possessions bridging the first and second quarters.
“I thought we came out and played physical football that we’re capable of playing,” Stratford coach Cal Tackes said. “We were a little hesitant last week and we talked about putting a little swagger in our step this week. That showed right from the beginning. I was really impressed with our offensive line. Our backs can get behind those guys, get chugging and hopefully get a good chunk of yardage on every play.”
Mark Marquardt capped the opening 56-yard drive with a 29-yard run right through the middle of the Pittsville defense to get the Tigers on the board.
After a three-and-out by Pittsville, and just a two-yard punt following a high snap over the punter’s head, Stratford needed just four plays to go 31 yards for another score – an 11-yard run by Josh Reif.
Following a second three-and-out, Stratford ripped off its 86-yard drive that was keyed by a 55-yard pass from quarterback Nick Viegut to Derek Austin. On the next play, Austin Shelley scored on a 15-yard run and the Tigers led 20-0 heading into the second quarter.
The second frame was much the same for the Tigers, who scored all three times they had the ball.
Marquardt’s 26-yard touchdown run capped an impressive 92-yard drive that saw an 86-yard TD run by Shelley negated by a clipping penalty.
Viegut hit Connor Brock for a 23-yard touchdown pass and following an interception by Marquardt, Reif scored from 3 yards out with 1:17 to before half, giving the Tigers a 39-0 lead at the break.
“Our offensive line came played really well,” said Shelley, who had 67 yards rushing and a touchdown on just five carries, and added an interception on defense. “Our coaches do a great job of scouting (the opponent) and putting us in position to make plays. We have to give them a lot of credit, and we went out there and did what we needed to do.”
With a running clock in the second half due to Stratford’s 35-plus point lead, possessions were limited.
Stratford was forced to punt finally in the fourth quarter, but Pittsville muffed it and it was recovered by Austin Hoffman. Eleven running plays later, Travis Urlaub capped the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run, his second score of the second half.
“I was totally impressed with the attitude of the group tonight and getting back to playing football the way we want to play it in Stratford,” Tackes said. “There isn’t much negative I can say about this one.”
Stratford hosts 0-2 Phillips on Sept. 10 before beginning a grueling four-game stretch that starts with a nonconference home game against Osseo-Fairchild and is followed by Marawood games at Marathon, at home against Chippewa Falls McDonell and at Edgar.
“We knew this was a must-win game. Every game is a must-win game,” Shelley said. “We just wanted to show that we deserve to where we are and want to be.”
Tigers 52, Panthers 0
Stratford 20 19 6 7 – 52
Pittsville 0 0 0 0 – 0
First quarter
S, Mark Marquardt 29 run (Mitch Miller kick failed), 9:48.
S, Josh Reif 11 run (Jamie Aschebrock run), 7:09.
S, Austin Shelley 5 rn (Miller kick failed), 2:33.
Second quarter
S, M. Marquardt 26 run (Nick Viegut run failed), 5:57.
S, Connor Brock 25 pass from Viegut (Sam Guyer kick), 2:58.
S, Reif 3 run (Guyer kick failed), 1:17.
Third quarter
S, Travis Urlaub 28 run (Miller kick failed), 7:13.
Fourth quarter
S, Urlaub 1 run (Guyer kick), 2:47.
TEAM STATISTICS
First downs: Stratford 15, Pittsville 4.
Rushing (att-yards): Stratford 47-349, Pittsville 16-59.
Passing (comp-att-yards-int): Stratford 2-4-80-0, Pittsville 6-20-63-3.
Penalties: Stratford 5-35, Pittsville 4-41.
Fumbles (total-lost): Stratford 2-1, Pittsville 3-1.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: Stratford, Mark Marquardt 10-98, Jamie Aschebrock 10-74, Austin Shelley 5-67, Travis Urlaub 6-49, Josh Reif 4-33, Joe Franklin 3-14, Greg Belter 3-9, Jake Guyer 2-7, Ben Syring 1-4, Jake Griffith 1-3, Derek Austin 1-1, Tyler Adams 1-minus 1. Pittsville, Ryan Schwanebeck 7-50, Chris Downs 5-13, Eric Hahn 2-minus 1, Gavin Hautala 1-minus 3.
Passing: Stratford, Nick Viegut 2-4-80-0. Pittsville, Hautala 6-19-63-3, Schwanebeck 0-1-0-0.
Receiving: Stratford, Austin 1-55, Connor Brock 1-25. Pittsville, Jordan Rayburn 3-23, Hahn 1-34, Schwanebeck 1-3, Downs 1-3.
Punting: Stratford, Derek Dehlinger 1-34. Pittsville, Hautala 5-28.8 avg.
Fumble recoveries: Stratford, Austin Hoffman. Pittsville, Schwanbeck.
Interceptions: Stratford, Luke Radke, Shelley, M. Marquardt.
Records: Stratford 2-0 overall and Marawood Conference; Pittsville 1-1, 1-1 Marawood.
Click here to view the Marawood Conference football standings