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By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield defense has been hit with multiple injuries throughout the season – from losing one of their senior linebackers, Ross Hasserodt, after just a couple of games, to senior safety Sully Luepke in its regular-season finale.
The Tigers have fought through it all and relied on their defense to beat La Crosse Central 7-6 in their playoff opener Tuesday.
Marshfield (6-3) again will have to count on its defense when it takes on Hortonville (7-3) in a WIAA Division 2 Level 2 playoff game at 1 p.m. Saturday at Hortonville High School.
“We’ve persevered through a lot of things,” Marshfield coach Denny Goettl said. ‘We’ve seen just but it all. We pulled up a lot of sophomores, and started one the whole year at middle linebacker (Ross Zillman). Injuries, we can’t stop that, that’s part of football. Everybody in the state goes through it. It is an attribute of the guys that come out for our football team, and we have a lot of them. They’ve been able to practice all year, with a lot of coaches. It makes the kids that much better.”
Junior linebacker Justin Sternweis has become the playmaker on defense, leading the team in tackles and fumble recoveries. He also has taken over as the unit’s leader for Hasserodt and Luepke.
“Sternweis is the Tasmanian Devil, that’s what I call him,” Goettl said. “He’s been all over the place. He’s been the guy. Justin takes charge, plays with emotion and when he hits guys, the other guys starting hitting.”
Mike Schara, Dylan Wrege and Ben Wartella are the anchors on the defensive line. All seniors, they are responsible, and have been doing a great job, keeping the opponents’ blockers off the linebackers so they can make plays, Goettl added.
The front eight of the defense will again be tested as Hortonville provides a run-heavy offense.
“They use three running backs, with the line pulling and trapping,” Goettl said. “All the stuff we see in our league, they’re doing the same stuff. That helps a little bit defensively to prepare.”
The Polar Bears are led by running backs Eric Sprangers and Zach Vallafskey, and quarterback Kegan Gennrich.
Sprangers led the way in Hortonville’s 36-35 first-round, double overtime win over Tomah with 111 yards on the ground. It was the first playoff win since 1996 for the Polar Bears, who won despite being outgained 391-183.
“They have a couple of nice players that really make their team go,” Goettl said. “We have to play our game and scheme to beat a four-front defense.”