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By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
STRATFORD – The Stratford defense was dominant as usual, the offense put together some long, grinding drives, and the special teams was electric as the Tigers rolled to another victory.
Stratford held Marathon without a first down and to minus-29 yards of offense as it rolled to a 53-0 victory on Friday night at Tiger Stadium as part of the school’s homecoming festivities.
Stratford scored the first five times it touched the ball while holding the Raiders down, forcing two turnovers and nine punts.
The Tigers are now 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the Marawood South, and have yet to allow a point this season. Marathon was eliminated from playoff contention with the loss, falling to 1-5 overall and 1-3 in the Marawood.
“We had homecoming this week, we had a lot of distractions, but we were super happy with the way we played, at times,” Stratford coach Jason Tubbs said. “Our guys grinded it out. We’re trying some different things. Overall, our guys played well and we had some big plays.”
Stratford put together a nine-play 68-yard drive on its opening possession, which ended with a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Max Schwabe.
Chase Flink returned a punt 50 yards for a touchdown after the Tigers’ defense forced the first of five-straight three-and-outs, and Stratford had another nine-play drive that ended with a 9-yard touchdown run by Devin Dennee in the final minute of the first quarter, and they led 20-0.
Teddy Redman had a 26-yard punt return and scored on the next play from 14 yards away 1:37 into the second quarter to make it 26-0.
Stratford put together another nice drive, going 48 yards in nine plays with Matt Handrick running in from the 8, giving the Tigers a 33-0 lead that held into halftime.
Redman had a 2-yard touchdown run and Flink took an inside reverse and went 67 yards for another score in the third quarter, and Redman finished the scoring with a 30-yard punt return for a score in the opening minute of the fourth.
“I wouldn’t kick to us,” Tubbs said. “It’s hard, they are that good. Today, I told him (Flink) he was going to get one more carry, make it a good one, and went off for 60-some yards. He’s fun to watch, he’s worth the popcorn.”
Up next for Stratford is its annual rivalry game with Edgar, and again it will decide the champion in the Marawood Conference. Edgar is also 7-0 overall and moved to 3-0 in conference play with a 62-0 win over Rib Lake/Prentice on Friday.
“Every year’s a great game with them,” Tubbs said. “They’re a great team, a great program, and it’s the last time we’ll play them in the Marawood.”
Marathon finishes its Marawood schedule Oct. 11 at home against Tomahawk. The Raiders’ final game of the season will be Oct. 18 at Hurley.
Tigers 53, Raiders 0
Marathon 0 0 0 0 – 0
Stratford 20 13 13 7 – 53
First Quarter
S – Max Schwabe 1 run (kick missed), 7:03.
S – Chase Flink 50 punt return (Teddy Redman pass from Schwabe), 5:23.
S – Devin Dennee 9 run (kick missed), 0:49.
Second Quarter
S – Redman 14 run (kick missed), 10:23.
S – Matt Handrick 4 run (kick good), 3:28.
Third Quarter
S – Redman 2 run (kick missed), 6:49.
S – Flink 67 run (Connor Stuttgen kick), 3:29.
Fourth Quarter
S – Redman 30 punt return (kick good), 11:10.
Team Statistics
First downs: Marathon 0; Stratford 12.
Rushing (att-yards): M 23-minus 33; S 37-283.
Passing (comp-att-yards-int): M 5-10-4-1; S 6-14-13-1.
Total yards: M minus 29; S 296.
Fumbles (total-lost): M 2-1; S none.
Penalties (no.-yards): M 2-19; S 1-5.
Punting (no.-avg.): M 9-25.0; S 1-37.0.
Individual Statistics
Rushing: M, Noah Gage 9-14, Jake Sweno 1-1, Andrew Love 1-1, Matt Annis 1-0, Ben Robbins 1-0, Clark Mouw 3-minus 24, Jared Sweno 7-minus 25. S, Chase Flink 3-106, Beau Gross 7-59, Matt Handrick 5-44, Teddy Redman 4-36, Justin Schoenherr 4-33, Devin Dennee 1-9, Kale Weisenberger 1-4, Logan Gliniecki 2-3, Karter Stuttgen 1-1, Rafie Smart 1-minus 1, Kix Grabow 1-minus 2, Max Schwabe 7-minus 9.
Passing: M, Mouw 5-9-4-0, Robbins 0-1-0-1. S, Schwabe 5-13-18-1, Max Vanderhoof 1-1-minus 5-0.
Receiving: M, Dakota Hall 2-2, Jake Sweno 1-1, Nathan Trawicki 1-1, Luke Hahn 1-0. S, Vaughn Breit 1-10, Gross 1-9, Chandler Schmidt 1-5, Kainoa Gouveia 1-minus 5, Handrick 1-minus 6.
Interceptions (defense): M, Kole Kaldunski. S, Vanderhoof.
Fumble recoveries (defense): S, Trevor Dennee.
Records: Marathon 1-5, 1-3 Marawood Conference; Stratford 7-0, 4-0 Marawood Conference.