This story is sponsored by The Williams-Gray Co.
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – Turnover in high school sports is common place, but the Marshfield football team may be feeling it more than most coming into the 2012 season.
Running back Riley Gebelein is back after posting eye-popping numbers a year ago, but gone are the 1,998 passing yards of quarterback Elliot Ashbeck, five of the top six receivers, and four of the five starting linemen graduated after lifting the Tigers to a 9-2 record and a Level 2 playoff appearance.
The leaders of the defense – outside linebacker Trevor Peterson and middle linebacker Justin Sternweis – also graduated, leaving Marshfield in search of some playmakers.
One thing is certain, the Tigers are confident that whoever steps in, they will do what needs to be done to succeed.
Marshfield opens its season with a nonconference game against old Wisconsin Valley Conference rival D.C. Everest on Friday at Beell Stadium. Game time is 7 p.m.
“I think everybody has been picking up things really quick,” left tackle Tom Gershman said. “It’s nice to know that people can step up and learn the plays and know where they need to go.”
Gebelein is back after rushing for 1,258 yards and 21 touchdowns, catching 19 passes for another 202 yards and a score, and leading the team in punt return (15.2 yards) and kickoff return (31.9) average. He was a unanimous first-team all-Valley Football Association Southern Division pick at running back and return specialist.
Fullback Caleb Cline, an honorable mention all-conference pick, also returns.
Senior Bo Howard steps in at quarterback after playing a backup role a year ago. Howard brings a running threat to the Tigers’ offense from the QB position, but also has a strong arm, coach Denny Goettl said.
“Bo’s coming along nicely,” Goettl said. “He’s going to get it, it’s just going to take some time. He has been on varsity baseball for how long, been on varsity hockey for how long, but football is a different animal. He has to settle in to that leadership role that the quarterback position brings, but he will do fine.”
Howard’s targets will be all newcomers to the starting lineup. Ryan Trierweiler moves from running back to wide receiver after catching three balls for 62 yards and two touchdowns last year and running for 236 yards.
Tanner Dennis-Brown, Isaac Accola and Jeff Allison also will man the receiver position, with Kane Seubert and Luke Wirtz playing tight end. Keiron Howlett will bring big-time speed as he backs up Gebelein at tailback.
Gershman, Nathan Borchardt, Brad Schroeder and Andy Wittman join second-team all-conference pick Nick Thorton on the offensive line.
“The offensive line is really starting to step up,” Gebelein said. “The four new guys that are up in the front line are doing a really good job stepping up, learning their new positions, and we have two new receivers that are starting to make some really good catches and running their routes really well.”
Howard said the playing time he did get at the end of a bunch of Marshfield blowouts last year helped him tremendously coming into this season.
“I think last year, me getting some playing time, really helped out,” Howard said. “It’s a lot faster game. You have to get rid of the ball fast, you don’t have much time, but our receivers are really fast so that will help me out.”
Two-year starting middle linebacker Ross Zillman and three returning starters in the secondary – Brandon Baltus, Tanner Happe and Mack Scheppler – give the Tigers some experience on the defensive side. Zillman and Baltus were first-team all-conference picks.
Goettl said Zillman will have to step up as the leader in the absence of Peterson and Sternweis.
“It’s a tough role for him,” Goettl said. “He’s played since he was a sophomore, but he has always played under those guys. He’s not a vocal leader like Sternweis was – that guy was just nuts – but he was blood head to toe during the scrimmage, so I know he wants to play and be that guy for us.”
Radio broadcast: Friday’s game, and all of the Marshfield football games this season, will be broadcast live on WDLB-AM 1450, with pregame starting at 6:30 p.m.