This story is sponsored by: Chili Implement
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MENASHA – The Marshfield defense tried to do all it could to stop Mequon Homestead, and did for the most part, but the Highlanders’ defense just proved too tough for the Tigers to overcome.
Homestead held Marshfield to just 118 total yards and four first downs on its way to a narrow 12-7 win over the Tigers in a WIAA Division 2 Level 4 state semifinal football game Friday night at windy and cold Calder Stadium.
Homestead (13-0) moves on to the Division 2 state finals and will take on Brookfield Central (13-0) at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Friday, Nov. 16, at 1 p.m.
Marshfield’s season ends with a 12-1 record, and a ton of good memories.
“I told them to take back, take a breath, and think about what you did,” Marshfield coach Denny Goettl said. “They helped our school get back to a Level 4 playoff game, that’s something they have to be very proud of, but everything hurts.
“Football is the greatest game in the world to teach a person the things you have to do, caring for people and the way you treat people, and try to be a better person.”
Marshfield’s best chances to get on the scoreboard early in the game came on its first two possessions.
After forcing a punt into a forceful northwest wind, the Tigers took over at their own 41, but were forced to punt themselves after losing six yards on a third-and-1 opportunity at midfield.
Homestead muffed the punt, but recovered, taking over at its own 3.
Marshfield forced another three-and-out and this time the wind knocked down the Highlanders’ punt, allowing the Tigers to take over at the 27.
Marshfield picked up one first down as Ryan Krueger threw an eight-yard pass to Isaac Meverden on third-and-6, but two penalties and a sack pushed the Tigers back to the 29. After a 10-yard pass to Brant Bohman, Mason Coffren attempted a 36-yard field goal, but it was just short.
“They are one of the more solid defenses you’re going to face all year,” Goettl said of Homestead. “They don’t screw up, they don’t mess up, they go where they’re supposed to go. They play man-to-man defense, switch to the zone, they have a great big man in the middle of the field. It’s a Level 4 playoff game, if you’re not any good you wouldn’t be here and we knew that.”
Homestead then embarked on an epic drive that gave it the lead for good.
The Highlanders ran 21 plays on an 80-yard drive, converting six first downs. Twice they picked up a first down on fourth-and-1 and finally Jared Schneider ended the 9 minute, 12 second drive with a 7-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion attempt failed and Homestead led 6-0 with 5:51 to go in the half.
The score remained that way until early in the fourth quarter.
The Tigers went three-and-out on all three of their possessions in the third quarter, failing to take advantage of the game’s only turnover when Bentley Schwanebeck-Ostermann recovered a Homestead fumble at the Tigers’ 41.
Marshfield was called for intentional grounding, losing 20 yards, lost another nine on a short pass, and was forced to punt.
Homestead responded with its second long drive, going 59 yards in 14 plays.
Marshfield couldn’t get off the field, forcing third down four times, but each time the Highlanders converted. Luke Konik ran in from the 9 with 8:52 left in the game and Homestead led 12-0.
Marshfield put together its only big drive of the game on its ensuing possession. Krueger hit Preston Wagner for a 41-yard pass following a holding penalty, and later hit Meverden for a 5-yard touchdown pass on fourth down. Coffren kicked the extra point and cut the Tigers’ deficit to 12-7 with 4:55 to go.
Marshfield needed one stop to get the ball back for a chance to win, but couldn’t do it.
Homestead ran the ball seven-straight plays, converting two third-down plays into first downs, and was able to kneel the final two plays after the Tigers had exhausted their timeouts.
“This (senior class) was one of those classes that you knew had a lot of good athletes in it, a lot of good characters, a lot of good people,” Goettl said. “They just kept getting better every year. This was a special group, we knew they were special for a long time, but they took it to another level. These are kids we are never going to forget and it’s going to be sad to lose them.”
Highlanders 12, Tigers 7
Homestead 0 6 0 6 – 12
Marshfield 0 0 0 7 – 7
Second Quarter
H – Jared Schneider 10 run (pass failed), 5:51.
Fourth Quarter
H – Luke Konik 9 run (kick missed), 8:52.
M – Isaac Meverden 5 pass from Ryan Krueger (Mason Coffren kick), 4:55.
Team Statistics
First downs: Homestead 16; Marshfield 4.
Rushing (att-yards): H 56-234; M 23-46.
Passing (comp-att-yards-int): H 4-9-72-0; M 7-13-72-0.
Total yards: H 316; M 118.
Penalties (no.-yards): H 4-20; M 7-54.
Fumbles (total-lost): H 4-1; M 0-0.
Punting (no.-avg.): H 3-31.3; M 6-29.3.
Individual Statistics
Rushing: H, Willie Garrison 21-90, Jared Schneider 10-71, Emory Weeden 21-60, Luke Konik 3-13, Howie Newbauer 1-0. M, Caden Pearce 8-24, Brant Bohman 8-9, Isaiah Baierl 1-8, Ryan Krueger 6-0.
Passing: H, Weeden 4-9-72-0. M, Krueger 7-13-72-0.
Receiving: H, Schneider 3-61, Newbauer 1-11. M, Isaac Meverden 3-22, Bohman 2-20, Preston Wagner 1-41, Baierl 1-minus 9.
Fumble recoveries (defense): M, Bentley Schwanebeck-Ostermann.
Punting: H, Arthur Liebau 3-31.3. M, Krueger 5-31.6, Mason Coffren 1-18.0.
Records: Mequon Homestead 13-0; Marshfield 12-1.