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By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
AUBURNDALE – The Auburndale football team has reached the WIAA postseason the past three seasons and won a road playoff game in each of the past two years.
This year’s goal, according to third-year head coach Jay Anderson, is to secure a home playoff game.
“I’m happy with the effort,” Anderson said. “What I’m expecting is for us to be competitive, show more toughness both physically and mentally. We want to compete play by play, quarter by quarter, game by game.
“I think it’s a realistic goal, a good goal to have. It’s not going to be easy. We just have to compete one week at a time and that starts by trying to win the first one.”
Auburndale, which finished 5-6 last year after bowing out of the Division 6 playoffs with a loss to Abbotsford, hosts former Marawood Conference rival Pittsville in a nonconference game at 7 p.m. Friday. After a road nonconference game at Blair-Taylor on Aug. 30, the Apaches will begin a stretch of four-straight Marawood games with a home contest against defending champion Edgar.
“Pittsville always plays hard and shows great effort,” Anderson said. “It’s a very big game for them and we have to match them. We have to start strong and finish strong.”
Senior Cooper Weinfurter returns at quarterback after throwing for 825 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2018.
His top receiving threat, Dylan Paun, is also back. The running back/receiver rushed for 113 yards and caught a team-high 20 passes for 326 yards and nine touchdowns. Paun also had a punt return for a score.
Kyle Peterson has emerged as the starting running back, Anderson said, and Brent Lau and Terrance Roberson will also see time in the backfield, along with Paun.
Hunter Wright will serve as a receiver and backup quarterback, along with Schuyler Gilhausen, who also could see time at running back.
2019 Auburndale Football Schedule
Fri., Aug. 23 PITTSVILLE, 7 p.m. (nc)
Fri., Aug. 30 at Blair-Taylor, 7 p.m. (nc)
Fri., Sept. 6 EDGAR, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 13 at Tomahawk, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 20 at Marathon, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 27 STRATFORD, 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 4 MAYVILLE, 7 p.m. (nc)
Fri., Oct. 11 at North Fond du Lac, 7 p.m. (nc)
Fri., Oct. 18 at Rib Lake/Prentice (at Prentice), 7 p.m.
Home games in CAPS, at Auburndale High School