This story is sponsored by: American Family Insurance-Randy LeMoine Agency
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – The 2022 Marshfield football team earned a share of the Valley Football Association title and made the WIAA playoffs for the sixth-straight season behind a strong group of accomplished seniors.
Heading into 2023, the Tigers have only a handful of returning starters, but are optimistic about making another postseason run.
Gone are 32 seniors from last year’s team that finished 7-4 overall (5-1 VFA) and made it to Level 2 in the Division 2 playoffs.
“I think we’re a team that is definitely going to try to find an identity real fast, if that’s possible,” veteran head coach Denny Goettl said. “We lost a big group of seniors. We have 22 seniors this year and had 32 last year, so it’s a big change. We have to find an identity, leadership has to step up, and they have to believe in each other. All of the things that a team has to do.”
One spot the Tigers are experienced at is on the offensive line, where Riley Heller, Hayden Dieringer and James Clements all saw significant playing time a year ago.
The group will lead the way for running backs Mason Seidel and Braden Anderson, both of whom saw the field a lot as juniors.
Senior Adam Gilbertson and junior Chase Robinson are competing at quarterback, vying to replace three-year starter Trevor Foemmel, whom the Tigers came to rely on as not just a passer, but a runner.
“Both are pretty adequate, they can throw the football, it’s just a learning experience and getting time on the field,” Goettl said. “It’s the experience – how are you going to see the defense? I call it the sneakiness of being a quarterback. Are you going to be a competitor? Are you going to just run the play we call, or are you going to go out and make a play out of the one we called?”
Junior Brooks Hinson and senior Evan Jakobi both saw action at wide receiver last year and return to help a group that is otherwise inexperienced at the varsity level. Tyler Heiman will step in at tight end, replacing Sam Meverden.
Defensively, junior Dawson Meissner leads the way at outside linebacker after stepping into the starting role midway through last season as a sophomore. “Defensively, it’s a pretty new crew and we’ll have to grow up real fast,” Goettl said.
Marshfield opens its season with two long road trips, taking on Hudson on Thursday and New Richmond on Aug. 25 on the road in nonconference play, before its home and Valley Football Association opener Sept. 1 against Wausau East.
Marshfield Football Schedule
Thur., Aug. 17 at Hudson, 7 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 25 at New Richmond, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 1 WAUSAU EAST, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 8 at D.C. Everest, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 15 WAUSAU WEST, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 22 at Appleton West, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 29 at Wisconsin Rapids, 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 6 STEVENS POINT, 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 13 HORTONVILLE, 7 p.m.
Home games in CAPS, at Heiting Community Stadium, Marshfield High School