This story is sponsored by: Williams-Gray Co.
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
WESTON – Two long runs by Brad Dolezal set up a pair of second-quarter touchdowns and the Marshfield defense did the rest in a 28-6 win over D.C. Everest on Friday in a Wisconsin Valley Conference football game at Stiehm Stadium.
Dolezal had runs of 52 and 37 yards to set up a twof touchdowns in the second quarter as the Tigers built a 14-6 lead. Dolezal finished with 124 yards on just 11 carries.
Marshfield held Everest to 57 yards in the second half to cement the victory.
Marshfield improves to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the WVC. Everest falls to 2-3 and 1-2 in the WVC.
“It doesn’t get any bigger than this, coming over here,” Marshfield coach Denny Goettl said. “This is our first win on the new turf field here at Everest, and we don’t have many wins against Everest anyway. Anytime you can get a win against a team like this, a great team. (D.C. Everest) Coach (Wayne) Steffenhagen is one of my idols. We played with emotion … we came in with a game plan knowing we could move some people and we ran the football a lot better than we had in the past.”
The victory keeps the Tigers in the conversation for the WVC championship, especially after Stevens Point was upset by Wausau West in overtime on Friday. Wisconsin Rapids and Merrill, both undefeated, play each other Saturday.
“The emotion around here is ecstatic,” said junior linebacker Justin Sternweis, who had multiple tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage. “The coaches are running around the field … oh my God.”
D.C. Everest took a 3-0 lead on a 22-yard field goal by Matt Hanson midway through the first quarter.
Marshfield’s offense started slowly, turning the ball over twice on its first three possessions, but a big play by Dolezal got things started.
Dolezal scampered 52 yards on the Tigers’ first play following a missed field goal by the Evergreens. Three plays later, Elliot Ashbeck hit Tyler Rollins on a middle screen pass and the senior tight end ran 24 yards for a touchdown to put Marshfield up 7-3.
Everest responded with another field goal – 31 yards by Jacob Daigle – but Dolezal ignited the Tigers’ offense again with a 37-yard run. On the next play following a timeout, Chris Stemen hit T.J. Vantassel on a screen to the right and Vantassel sprinted 32 yards down the sideline for Marshfield’s second touchdown.
Marshfield scored on consecutive possessions in the second half to put the game away.
The Tigers went 80 yards in 10 plays, keyed by a roughing the passer penalty and a 27-yard pass from Ashbeck to Jake Lisiecki. Dolezal finished the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run.
Sternweis recovered a fumble on Everest’s second play and the Tigers drove in for another score.
Following a pass interference penalty, the Tigers ran four straight rushing plays and Vantassel scored form 2 yards out 52 seconds into the fourth quarter to take a 28-6 lead.
“We lost our leader on defense (linebacker Ross Hasserodt to an injury) and we really came together and did some great things,” Goettl said. “Things are happening. I can see the growing process – it’s getting closer.”
Vantassel added 66 yards on 18 carries as Marshfield ripped off a season-high 215 yards on the ground, but it was the Tigers’ defense that stole the show.
After giving up 178 yards in the first half, the Tigers gave up just four first downs and 57 yards in the second half, forcing three punts and a turnover.
“We have a good defensive line that really moved their offensive line around,” Sternweis said. “Team together, win together. Everybody do their job and know your key and assignment.”
Marshfield hosts Merrill for its homecoming game Friday, Oct. 1 at Beell Stadium.
Tigers 28, Evergreens 6
Marshfield 0 14 7 7 – 28
D.C. Everest 3 3 0 0 – 6
First quarter
DCE – Matt Hanson 22 field goal, 1:57.
Second quarter
M – Tyler Rollins 24 pass from Elliot Ashbeck (Sully Luepke kick), 8:14.
DCE – Jacob Daigle 31 field goal, 3:35.
M – T.J. Vantassel 32 pass from Chris Stemen (Luepke kick), 2:31.
Third quarter
M – Brad Dolezal 3 run (Luepke kick), 1:54.
Fourth quarter
M – Vantassel 2 run (Luepke kick), 11:08.
TEAM STATISTICS
First downs: Marshfield 12, D.C. Everest 13.
Rushing (att-yards): Marshfield 46-215, D.C. Everest 40-146.
Passing (comp-att-yards-int): Marshfield 3-9-83-2, D.C. Everest 5-21-91-0.
Penalties: Marshfield 5-25, D.C. Everest 10-80.
Fumbles (total-lost): Marshfield 2-1, D.C. Everest 3-1.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: M, Brad Dolezal 11-124, T.J. Vantassel 18-66, Cody Tarnowski 8-20, Josh Shupe 5-19, Sean Koran 1-minus 2, Chris Stemen 1-minus 3, Elliot Ashbeck 1-minus 9. DCE, Sam Meyers 24-135, Travis Kohnhorst 6-18, Chris Maki 4-5, Corey Griffin 1-2, Sam Joswiak 1-minus 1, Luke Heller 4-minus 13.
Passing: M, Stemen 1-5-32-2, Ashbeck 2-4-51-0. DCE, Heller 5-20-91-0, Joswiak 0-1-0-0.
Receiving: M, Vantassel 1-32, Jake Lisiecki 1-27, Tyler Rollins 1-24. DCE, Griffin 3-20, Austin Waldvogel 1-43, Brent Esser 1-16.
Punting: M, Sully Luepke 5-40.6 avg. DCE, Joe Rose 5-39.2 avg.
Fumble recoveries (defensive): M, Justin Sternweis. DCE, Josh Matushak.
Interceptions: M, none. DCE, Rose 2.
Records: Marshfield 3-2, 2-1 Wisconsin Valley Conference; D.C. Everest 2-3, 1-2 WVC.