This story is sponsored by: High Street Salon, Spa & Travel
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
STRATFORD – The Stratford and Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs football programs have a rich history and that will continue Thursday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.
Stratford (11-2) will take on Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs (13-0) in the WIAA Division 5 state championship game at 4 p.m. as it shoots for its eighth state title in school history.
The Tigers have never lost in their seven previous state finals appearances, which includes a title in 1986 and a state-record six in a row from 2003-2008.
Springs is back in the state finals for the 11th time in 17 seasons dating back to 2002. The Ledgers have won seven championships, including a Division 6 crown last year when they beat Iola-Scandinavia 35-12, but two of their three losses in the finals have come at the hands of Stratford – 29-13 in 2003 and 25-7 in 2005.
The battle of two of the state’s titans of high school football is shaping up to be a good one.
“We feel that we are playing really well, we’re healthy, and we feel like we can run the ball, control the clock, and keep that good (offensive) team on the sidelines,” Stratford coach Jason Tubbs said. “If we defend them, I think we have a shot.”
Stratford rode the legs of senior running back Kade Ehrike, and a dominant offensive line, into the state finals.
Ehrike amassed 303 yards rushing on 42 carries and scored three touchdowns in the Tigers’ 22-6 victory over Spencer/Columbus Catholic a Division 5 Level 4 state semifinal last Friday at Medford.
With windy, cold and snowy weather conditions, the Tigers turned to their power running game and Ehrike did the rest.
“It’s a good thing to have a guy like him,” Stratford running back/defensive back Eli Drexler said about Ehrike. “You don’t have to think too much about it, just give it to him. He’s a beast.”
Stratford will try to crack a tough Springs defense that has allowed just 83 points in 13 games this season, which includes four shutouts in the first four games on the year.
Ehrike tops the Tigers with 1,945 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns, averaging 8.1 yards per carry. Chase Flink has provided relief, toting the ball for another 405 yards and nine touchdowns, running at a staggering 11.6 yards per carry.
“We found that we could run the ball with Kade, why stop?,” Tubbs said. “We were winning the game, keeping them (Spencer/Columbus) off the field, we just had to go with the hot hand.”
Springs brings a diversified offense led by quarterback Mitchel Waechter, running back Marcus Orlandoni and receiver Cade Christensen.
Waechter is the catalyst, throwing for 2,117 yards and 21 touchdowns, with just three interceptions. He has added another 672 yards on the ground with 12 scores.
Orlandoni has run for 1,226 yards and 20 touchdowns, and also leads the Ledgers in tackles with 123.
Christensen is a big-play threat, averaging more than 20 yards per catch on 50 receptions for 1,065 yards and 11 touchdowns.
“We can’t give up the big plays,” Tubbs said. “With their quarterback, we have to get pressure on him. We have to get him off his spot and rattle him, kind of like we did (in the Level 3 game) against Kewaunee. We think our line matches up with them. Our goal is to be physical with them and get them in a third and long.”
For Stratford linebacker Ben Barten, it comes down to the Ledgers’ passing game.
“We have been more comfortable with about what we’re ready to do and approaching every game,” Barten said. “Obviously their receiver is really good and their quarterback is really good. We really have to stop their passing game.”
Regardless of the outcome, the journey this group of Stratford players has been on will be memorable. Stratford is back in the state finals for the first time in 10 years and has a chance to win a state record eighth title. Edgar (Division 7), St. Mary’s Springs, and Kimberly (Division 1) are all trying to do the same this week.
“It’s been a long, long wait, and it’s very exciting for us to be the team that gets down there,” Drexler said. “It’s going to take the whole team to play the best game we can. They (Springs) are a good team.
“Everyone is starting to figure out what they need to do and execute it instead of trying to make everything happen at once.”
All of the games will be televised live on Fox Sports Wisconsin and the Fox Sports app.
Audio broadcasts of the Stratford game will be available on WOSQ-FM 92.3, wdlbwosq.com, and zaleskisportsshow.com.
2018 WIAA State Football Finals
Nov. 15-16, at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison
Thursday, Nov. 15
Division 7: Edgar (13-0) vs. Black Hawk (12-0), 10 a.m.
Division 6: Racine Lutheran (11-2) vs. Iola-Scandinavia (13-0), 1 p.m.
Division 5: Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs (13-0) vs. Stratford (11-2), 4 p.m.
Division 4: St. Croix Central (13-0) vs. Racine St. Catherine’s (13-0), 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 16
Division 3: West De Pere (13-0) vs. Waukesha Catholic Memorial (12-1), 10 a.m.
Division 2: Mequon Homestead (13-0) vs. Brookfield Central (12-1), 1 p.m.
Division 1: Kimberly (12-1) vs. Muskego (13-0), 4 p.m.