This story is sponsored by Forward Bank
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
AMHERST – When the momentum suddenly shifted toward Amherst on the first play of the second half, the Stratford football team turned to its plodding running game to grab it back.
The Tigers answered that quick score with an 8-plus minute scoring drive and dominated the rest of the way, defeating Amherst 33-13 in the Central Wisconsin Conference Large Division opener for both teams on Friday night at Amherst High School.
Stratford led 14-7 at halftime after second quarter touchdowns from Gavin Leonhardt on a 1-yard plunge and Jack Tubbs’ 18-yard touchdown pass to Payton Glenn.
On the opening offensive play of the second half, Amherst’s Michael Benjamin hit a wide open Dylan Cook for a 56-yard touchdown pass on a flea flicker to get to within one at 14-13 after a missed extra point.
The Tigers then turned to their power running game, chewing up more than eight minutes on the clock before Koehler Kilty ran in from the 2 to up their lead to 20-13. Amherst would not mount a comeback.
Stratford’s defense dominated the rest of the way and the offense padded the score in the fourth quarter as Tubbs ran in from 44 yards and threw a shovel pass to Cole Tichy, who raced in from 8 yards out to finish off the scoring.
Stratford racked up 356 total yards, 289 on the ground. Tubbs finished with 101 yards on 11 carries, Kilty added 95 yards on 31 carries, and Leonhardt chipped in 85 on nine carries.
Stratford (2-1, 1-0 CWC Large) hosts Manawa for another CWC Large game Friday, Sept. 8, at Tiger Stadium.
Tigers 33, Falcons 13
Stratford 0 14 6 13 – 33
Amherst 7 0 6 0 – 13
First Quarter
A – Ayden Nerdahl 14 run (Spencer Cohen kick), 5:51.
Second Quarter
S – Gavin Leonhardt 1 run (kick missed), 4:06.
S – Payton Glenn 18 pass from Jack Tubbs (Koehler Kilty run), 3:06.
Third Quarter
A – Dylan Cook 56 pass from Michael Benjamin (kick missed), 11:51.
S – Kilty 2 run (run failed), 3:27.
Fourth Quarter
S – Tubbs 44 run (Mason Miller kick), 5:20.
S – Cole Tichy 8 pass from Tubbs (kick missed), 1:36.
Team Statistics
(Amherst stats incomplete)
First downs: S 27; A 11.
Rushing (att-yards): S 52-289.
Passing (comp-att-yards-int): S 6-12-67-0.
Total yards: S 356.
Fumbles lost: S 0; A 0.
Penalties: S 3-36; A 1-5.
Individual Statistics
Rushing: S, Jack Tubbs 11-101, Koehler Kilty 31-95, Gavin Leonhardt 9-85, Jett Schoenherr 1-8.
Passing: S, Tubbs 6-10-67-0, G. Leonhardt 0-2-0-0.
Receiving: S, Schoenherr 3-15, Alec Chapel 1-26, Payton Glenn 1-18, Cole Tichy 1-8.
Interceptions (defense): S, Kilty.