This story is sponsored by: Wisconsin Homes of Marshfield
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
STRATFORD – St. Croix Falls came into Central Wisconsin for the second-straight week and pulled off its second-straight upset in the WIAA football playoffs as the Saints edged Stratford 19-14 in a Division 5 Level 2 matchup at Tiger Stadium.
The sixth-seed St. Croix Falls, which defeated No. 3 seed Spencer/Columbus last week 35-14, earned a spot in a Level 3 matchup at No. 1 seed La Crosse Aquinas next Friday, Nov. 5. Aquinas whipped Stanley-Boyd 47-8 on Friday.
Stratford, the No. 2 seed in the bracket, ends its season with an 8-3 record.
Raife Smart had touchdown runs of 51 and 5 yards to help Stratford build a 14-10 lead late in the third quarter, but that Tigers couldn’t get anything else going on offense.
St. Croix Falls (7-4) took a 17-14 lead on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Brady Belisle to Bryn Gouker with 7:58 to go, the second time the two hooked up for a score in the game.
The Saints added a safety two minutes later when Stratford snapped the ball over the punter’s head in its own end zone, and Stratford couldn’t put another scoring drive together before time expired.
Saints 19, Tigers 14
St. Croix Falls 3 7 0 9 – 19
Stratford 7 0 7 0 – 14
First Quarter
STR – Raife Smart 51 run (Noah Barrett kick), 9:58.
SCF – Travis Oestreich 25 field goal, 0:03.
Second Quarter
SCF – Bryn Gouker 21 pass from Brady Belisle (Oestreich kick), 0:46.
Third Quarter
STR – Smart 5 run (Barrett kick), 5:18.
Fourth Quarter
SCF – Gouker 17 pass from Belisle (Oestreich kick), 7:58
SCF – Safety, snap out of end zone, 5:34.
Records: St. Croix Falls 7-4; Stratford 8-3.