This story is sponsored by Forward Bank
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
STRATFORD – The Stratford football team put together another playoff season in 2021 and will look to reload in 2022 as it competes in a tough Central Wisconsin Conference Large Division.
The Tigers went 8-3 last season, which included one forfeit, and reached the second round of the Division 5 playoffs before losing to St. Croix Falls.
Stratford lost most of its offensive weapons, but return senior quarterback Braeden Schueller, who shared time at the position a year ago, along with a number of linemen.
Senior Jackson Ormond anchors the line after earning first-team all-CWC Large honors a year ago, and returns along with Cash Daul and Johnny Seitz III.
Koehler Kilty, Conner Weigel, Ryan Becker, Payton Glenn, Cole Tichy and Ashton Wrensch will compete for time at running back.
“Jackson Ormond is looking great,” Stratford coach Jason Tubbs said. “He put on 10 pounds and filled out his body. We moved him to tackle and he will play defensive end now instead of linebacker. Johnny Seitz returns, Kash Daul is another starting lineman that is back so we have our center and two guards returning.
“Walker Weis is a sophomore that has been playing well and we’re going to give him a shot at center. Evan Danielson at tight end, he was 170 pounds last year and is 215 pounds this year. He’s put on a lot of muscle and he’s looked really good in camp. Koehler Kilty has built himself into a great football specimen. He was always a good player and he hit the weight room and the offseason program, and he looks just fantastic.”
Seitz returns at linebacker after earning first-team all-conference accolades and leading the Tigers in tackles with 80, including seven for loss, last year.
Schueller threw for 264 yards and three touchdowns in limited action in 2021. He said he likes the way the Tigers are trending heading into their opener Friday against Mosinee.
“We’re getting our offense and defense together, and both sides of the ball are looking good,” Schueller said. “We’re a really fast team this year and are really looking forward to the season. I learned a lot last year with Dillon (Kirsch as the other quarterback) and it will help me a lot going into this year.”
With ongoing renovations at Tiger Stadium, Stratford will play its home games in Marshfield this season with three on the artificial turf at Heiting Stadium and its homecoming matchup against Weyauwega-Fremont on Sept. 30 at Beell Stadium.
“I think with our speed, that can help us (on the turf),” Tubbs said. “Our kids are excited to play there.”
Weigel, who also plays outside linebacker, hinted the Tigers are poised to make some noise.
“I think we’re starting off a little better than last year,” Weigel said. “We put in a lot of concepts that took us a little while to get them down, but this year we have the same ones and we’re starting out a little faster, I think. We’re probably going to try to get outside a little more, maybe passing a little more.”
The Tigers start the season with nonconference games at Marshfield against Mosinee on Friday and at rival Edgar on Aug. 26 before starting the conference. Tubbs said he’s more concerned about the end of the year.
“This year is more about how we end it with Amherst (in Marshfield on Oct. 14), and then the playoffs,” Tubbs said. “As of now, it looks like we may drop to Division 6 for the playoffs, so we’ll go into it with that D-5 mentality but drop down to D-6.”
Stratford Football Schedule
Fri., Aug. 19 &MOSINEE, 7 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 26 at Edgar, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 2 at Manawa, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 9 at Shiocton, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 16 &NEKOOSA, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 23 at Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 30 *WEYAUWEGA-FREMONT, 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 7 at Spencer/Columbus (at Spencer), 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 14 &AMHERST, 7 p.m.
Home games in CAPS, &at Marshfield High School; *at Beell Stadium, Marshfield