This story is sponsored by Victory Apparel
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – After two straight losses, the Marshfield football team needed a win to gain some momentum.
The Tigers turned to a punishing running game, a stingy defense, and a sophomore quarterback to get it.
Braden Bohman ran 36 times for 251 yards and three touchdowns, and Ryan Krueger, making his first varsity start at quarterback, threw for 107 yards and two touchdowns as Marshfield rolled past Oshkosh West 34-13 in a Valley Football Association South Division matchup Friday night at Beell Stadium.
Krueger replaced injured starter Jared Johnsrud this week and completed 9 of 19 passes, including two scores to Nathan McGrath.
“We matched up well with them and our sophomore quarterback came in there and did a heck of a job,” Marshfield coach Denny Goettl said. “He had to. He’s a sophomore, he’s going to be that kid, he’s the next one. We just have to teach and he just has to believe what he can do.”
Krueger’s 6-yard TD to McGrath on the Tigers’ first possession gave them an early lead.
Oshkosh West (1-3, 1-2 VFA South) quickly responded as Ben Kohl hit Jacob Zentner for a 62-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline to tie the game.
Marshfield (2-2, 1-2 VFA South) put together a nine-play, 92-yard drive that bridged the end of the first and beginning of the second quarters for another score. A 21-yard pass from Krueger to Zackary Schmidt to bring the ball down to the 1 and Bohman plowed in on the next play to put the Tigers up 14-7, a lead that held through halftime.
“The line blocked effectively, we rolled Krueger out a little bit and kept our fullback in to block a little bit, so we had to adjust (as coaches),” Goettl said. “I told (Braden) he was going to get 30 carries a game and we went a little over. When you’re getting yards, you can’t do much. We had to get a win.”
The Tigers came out of the locker room ready to go and began to wear down the West defense.
Marshfield had a nine-play, 59-yard drive that was capped off by Krueger’s second TD pass to McGrath, this time from 26 yards away.
After Bohman intercepted Kohl on West’s next possession, Marshfield went 48 yards in seven plays with Bohman scoring from the 13 and putting the Tigers up 28-7.
Marshfield’s only turnover of the game – a fumble early in the fourth quarter – led to West’s second score on a 2-yard run by Kohl, but the Tigers were able to put the game away on their next drive.
Bohman ran nine straight times before Krueger had a 6-yard scamper on fourth-and-3. Bohman scored from the 22 on the next play to complete the scoring.
Marshfield outgained West 414-199 and held the Wildcats to just four first downs.
Marshfield will play at Wisconsin Rapids (3-1, 2-1 VFA South) next Friday at 7 p.m.
Tigers 34, Wildcats 13
Oshkosh West 7 0 0 6 – 13
Marshfield 7 7 14 6 – 34
First Quarter
M – Nathan McGrath 6 pass from Ryan Krueger (Mason Coffren kick), 8:20.
OW – Jacob Zentner 62 pass from Ben Kohl (Reed Yoder kick), 6:24.
Second Quarter
M – Braden Bohman 1 run (Coffren kick), 9:39.
Third Quarter
M – McGrath 26 pass from Krueger (Coffren kick), 6:45.
M – Braden Bohman 13 run (Coffren kick), 2:27.
Fourth Quarter
OW – Kohl 2 run (kick missed), 9:20.
M – Braden Bohman 22 run (kick missed), 3:54.
Team Statistics
First downs: Oshkosh West 4; Marshfield 21.
Rushing (att-yards): OW 14-33; M 51-300.
Passing (comp-att-yards-int): OW 11-22-134-1; M 10-20-114-0.
Penalties (no.-yards): OW 3-13; M 7-53.
Punting (no.-avg.): OW 8-37.1; M 4-33.5
Fumbles (total-lost): OW 0-0; M 1-1.
Individual Statistics
Rushing: OW, Andrew Thiele 6-18, Ben Kohl 5-9, Carson Faust 3-6. M, Braden Bohman 36-251, Brant Bohman 7-37, Ryan Krueger 7-11, Caden Pearce 1-1.
Passing: OW, Kohl 10-20-132-1, Jake Ketter 1-2-4-0. M, Krueger 9-19-107-0, Collin Fravert 1-1-7-0.
Receiving: OW, Logan Henke 3-32, Thiele 3-19, Tyler Whiteley 2-12, Faust 2-11, Zentner 1-62. M, Zackary Schmidt 3-32, Andy Goettl 3-21, Nathan McGrath 2-32, Christian Welch 1-12, Hunter Hanson 1-7.
Fumble recoveries (defense): OW, Tyler Summerville.
Interceptions (defense): M, Braden Bohman.
Punting: OW, No. 16 (no name provided) 7-37.1, Kohl 1-37.0. M, Mason Coffren 4-44.5.
Records: Oshkosh West 1-3, 1-2 Valley Football Association South Division; Marshfield 2-2, 1-2 VFA South.