This story is sponsored by: Jake’s Quality Repair
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
The 2022 WIAA football playoffs continue with Level 2 matchups on Friday, Oct. 28.
Eight games each in seven divisions will be played across Wisconsin with the winners moving on to Level 3 divisional quarterfinals on Nov. 4.
Three local teams remain and will try to keep their hopes alive. Here is a look at the matchups:
Division 2
No. 4 Marshfield Tigers (7-3) at No. 1 River Falls Wildcats (9-1)
When and where: Friday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m., at David Smith Stadium, University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
About the Tigers: Marshfield held on for a 21-13 win over Pulaski in a Level 1 matchup on Oct. 21 at home as it kept the Red Raiders out of the end zone in the final seconds…The Tigers have won six of its last seven games after losing their first two, scoring at least 21 points in each game…Senior quarterback Trevor Foemmel, the Valley Football Association Offensive Player of the Year, has thrown for 1,108 yards and 18 touchdowns, and run for 887 yards and 13 scores to lead the team…Luke LeMoine has become Foemmel’s favorite target through the air, catching 30 balls for 533 yards and 10 touchdowns, including one in the Level 1 victory…Marshfield’s defense is led by senior defensive linemen Adrian Kruger and Isaac Dagit, and senior outside linebacker Vaughn Kolbeck, who were all first-team all-VFA recipients.
About the Wildcats: River Falls, co-champions of the Big Rivers Conference, scored four first-half touchdowns and went on to defeat La Crosse Central 40-20 in a Level 1 matchup last week…The Wildcats’ defense has not given up more than 20 points in any game this season…River Falls has defeated two of the three teams to beat Marshfield this season, winning 28-7 against Wisconsin Rapids and 27-13 against Hudson…Jonah Severson is the Wildcats’ workhorse on offense, rushing for 1,264 yards and 20 touchdowns, accounting for more than 40 percent of the team’s offense.
Next up: The winner plays the winner of No. 3 West De Pere (9-1) and No. 2 New Richmond (7-3) on Nov. 4.
Division 6
No. 3 Auburndale Eagles (9-1) at No. 2 Mondovi Buffaloes (9-1)
When and where: Friday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m., at Mondovi High School.
About the Eagles: Auburndale bounced back from its only loss of the season, a 21-14 defeat against Edgar on Oct. 7, to beat Colby 20-14 and grab a share of the Marawood Conference championship, the program’s first in 20 years…The Eagles opened the playoffs with a dominating 47-20 win over Fall Creek in a Level 1 game on Oct. 21 behind four rushing touchdowns from quarterback Trayton Weber, who ran for 136 yards in total…Weber has run for 867 yards and 20 touchdowns, and thrown for 13,76 yards and 12 scores, five to Alex Willfahrt…Running back Evan School has chipped in 698 rushing yards and eight TDs, and tight end Tim Schmitt tops the team with 28 receptions…Auburndale had four shutouts this season and have not allowed more than 22 points in any game.
About the Buffaloes: Mondovi finished second in the Cloverbelt Conference and opened the playoffs with a convincing 43-13 win at home over Augusta last week…The Buffaloes have allowed just 103 points this season, 37 of those coming in their only loss to conference champion Eau Claire Regis…Like Auburndale, Mondovi has a balanced offense led by its quarterback, Jarod Falkner, who has thrown for 1,188 yards and nine touchdowns, and run for 845 yards and 14 scores…Running back Dawson Rud leads the team with 1,172 rushing yards and 19 TDs.
Next up: The winner plays the winner of No. 5 Onalaska Luther (7-3) and No. 1 Marshall (9-1) on Nov. 4.
Division 6
No. 3 Cadott Hornets (7-3) vs. No. 2 Stratford Tigers (7-2-1)
When and where: Friday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m., at Heiting Community Stadium, Marshfield High School.
About the Hornets: After losing its final two regular-season games, Cadott rolled to a win in a Level 1 game over Ladysmith 42-14, scoring three touchdowns in the third quarter to open up a big lead…The Hornets boast a balanced rushing attack that has seen four players rush for 400 yards or more this season, led by Nick Fasbender with 702 yards…Quarterback Tristan Drier has thrown for only 61.8 yards per game with six touchdowns as the team mostly relies on a running game that has combined for 459 attempts.
About the Tigers: Stratford has won seven of its last eight games, including a 54-0 whitewashing of Cumberland in a Level 1 matchup last week at D.C. Everest…The Tigers have held their opponents to single digits four times and pitched two shutouts this season on their way to a share of the Central Wisconsin Conference Large Division title…Running back Koehler Kilty emerged as the Tigers’ top running back this season, rushing for 1,239 yards and 16 touchdowns…Quarterback Braeden Schueller helped Stratford’s balanced offense with 1,182 passing yards and 15 scores, nine to top receiver Ashton Wrensch, who has nearly half of the team’s receiving yards with 607 on 32 catches.
Next up: The winner plays the winner of No. 4 Unity (8-2) and No. 1 Grantsburg (9-2) on Nov. 4.