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MARSHFIELD – Although it seemed likely Marshfield would be making it in to the WIAA playoffs regardless of the outcome, the Tigers did not want to take any chances.
Marshfield forced seven turnovers with a stingy defensive performance throughout a steady, cold rain at Heiting Community Stadium and took care of business with a 17-7 win over Hortonville in the Valley Football Association regular-season finale for both teams on Friday night.
The victory gives the Tigers (4-5, 4-3 VFA) an automatic berth in the WIAA playoffs, which will begin next Friday, Oct. 20. Marshfield will travel to New Richmond for a Division 2 Level 1 game, a rematch of a nonconference game that New Richmond won 31-10 back in August.
Marshfield completed only four of 18 pass attempts, ran for less than three yards per carry and finished with just 162 yards, but did not turn the ball over and used two short-field scenarios and a pick-six on defense to put up enough points to earn the victory.
Following a short punt by Hortonville on its opening possession, Marshfield quarterback Adam Gilbertson hit a streaking Chris Pohl for a 38-yard touchdown to take the lead.
Hortonville tied it up later in the first quarter on a nine-play, 66-yard drive that ended with a 4-yard touchdown run by Levi Strange.
That would be all the Polar Bears could muster as they had seven possessions end in turnovers with five interceptions and two lost fumbles.
Marshfield senior defensive back Kaleb Neuenfeldt returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown on Hortonville’s first possession of the second half.
After a three-and-out, Marshfield finished off the next drive with a 30-yard field goal by Keegan Fredrick to up its lead to 17-7 midway through the third quarter.
Hortonville threatened in its next drive, but that ended in a debacle. A high snap on a field goal attempt was recovered by kicker Colin Wendt, who scrambled and threw an interception to Marshfield’s Caleb Dennee.
Another interception by Marshfield’s Brant Freis late in the fourth quarter sealed the victory for the Tigers.
Click here to view the final Valley Football Association standings
Tigers 17, Polar Bears 7
Hortonville 7 0 0 0 – 7
Marshfield 7 0 10 0 – 17
First Quarter
M – Chris Pohl 38 pass from Adam Gilbertson (Keegan Fredrick kick), 8:24.
H – Levi Strange 4 run (Colin Wendt kick), 2:09.
Third Quarter
M – Kaleb Neuenfeldt 48 interception return (Fredrick kick), 10:54.
M – Fredrick 30 field goal, 5:56.
Team Statistics
First downs: H 9; M 5.
Rushing (att-yards): H 37-111; M 34-90.
Passing (comp-att-yards-int): H 11-29-138-5; M 4-18-72-1.
Total yards: H 249; M 162.
Penalties (no.-yards): H 6-54; M 3-20.
Fumbles (total-lost): H 4-2; M 0-0.
Individual Statistics
Rushing: H, Levi Strange 22-74, Gavin Vallner 9-24, Broden Butzin 5-20, Miles Sillas 1-11, A.J. Pfeifer 1-minus 5, Team 1-minus 14. M, Braden Anderson 15-34, Adam Gilbertson 8-27, Mason Seidl 3-20, Grayden Rode 8-9.
Passing: H, Butzin 11-28-138-4, Colin Wendt 0-1-0-1. M, Gilbertson 4-18-72-1.
Receiving: H, Tate Denkins 3-42, Strange 3-24, Winston Peters 2-18, Wendt 1-27, Levi Hebbe 1-20, Nolan Skebba 1-8. M, Chris Pohl 2-57, Brooks Hinson 2-15.
Interceptions (defense): M, Dawson Meissner, Hinson, Kaleb Neuenfeldt, Brant Freis, Caleb Dennee.
Fumble recoveries (defense): M, Dennee, Neuenfeldt.
Records: Hortonville 5-4, 4-3 Valley Football Association; Marshfield 4-5, 4-3 Valley Football Association.