This story is sponsored by Forward Bank
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
The 2023 WIAA football playoffs continue Friday night with Level 2 matchups across seven divisions.
Winners will move on to Level 3 divisional quarterfinal contests next Friday, Nov. 3, and the playoffs will conclude with the 2023 WIAA State Football Championships at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Nov. 16-17.
Auburndale and Stratford survived first-round matchups last week to continue their quest toward Madison, and if they both win this week, they will face each other in Level 3. Here is a look at this week’s games:
Division 6
No. 3 Mondovi (9-1) vs. No. 2 Stratford (9-1)
When and where: Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m., at Heiting Community Stadium, Marshfield.
About Mondovi: The game is a rematch of last year’s WIAA Division 6 state championship game that saw Stratford prevail 32-14…Mondovi scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to slip past Bonduel 33-29 in a Level 1 game last Friday…Quarterback Jake Linse is the catalyst for Mondovi as he threw for 108 yards and a touchdown and ran for 153 yards and two scores in the victory…Running back Peyton Snyder added 146 yards rushing and two TDs in the first-round playoff victory…Both Snyder (1,126 yards) and Linse (1,105 yards) have eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in rushing this season.
About Stratford: The defending Division 6 state champion Tigers have won eight games in a row since a home loss to Edgar back in Week 2…Stratford continued its dominant play with five first-half touchdowns in a 49-0 shutout of Weyauwega-Fremont in Level 1 last Friday…Stratford’s two big-play threats were at it again in the win as running back Koehler Kilty had 177 yards rushing and two touchdowns, and Gavin Leonhardt had a touchdown run and an interception return for a score.
Next up: The winner moves into a Division 6 quarterfinal against the winner of No. 1 Auburndale (9-1) and No. 5 Coleman (8-2) on Nov. 3.
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Division 6
No. 5 Coleman (8-2) at No. 1 Auburndale (9-1)
When and where: Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m., at Thorpe Field at Auburndale High School
About Coleman: The Cougars pulled off a mild upset, topping No. 4 seed Onalaska Luther 31-21 on the road last Friday…Coleman trailed 15-8 before Kuchta had three rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including a 50-yarder to cap the victory for the Cougars…Brady Gross has run for 1,433 yards and nine touchdowns, while Kuchta averages 10.3 yards per carry and has totaled 750 yards and 23 rushing TD.
About Auburndale: The Eagles overcame an 18-0 halftime deficit to defeat Marawood Conference rival Marathon 21-18 in a Level 1 game last Friday at home…Colton Weiler stepped in to the starting running back role with Evan Scholl unable to play, and ran for 97 yards and two second-half touchdowns, including the game-winner from 11 yards out with 2:18 to go…Quarterback Kaden Anderson added another 90 yards on the ground and 111 through the air in the victory. He has accumulated 946 passing yards and 13 touchdowns, and 712 yards on the ground with another 13 scores…The only common opponent for the Eagles with Coleman is Oconto Falls. Auburndale won a nonconference matchup 28-16 on Sept. 8, while Coleman lost to Oconto Falls 36-8 in a Northwoods Conference game on Sept. 22.
Next up: The winner will play the winner of No. 2 Stratford and No. 3 Mondovi in a Level 3 D-6 quarterfinal next Friday, Nov. 3.
View the entire statewide WIAA Level 2 football playoff schedule here