This story is sponsored by: American Family Insurance-Randy LeMoine Agency
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
The Stratford football program is no stranger to Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, home of the WIAA State Football Championships.
For the ninth time in the past 19 seasons that the title games have been held (there were no games in 2020), Stratford will be there.
The Tigers (10-2-1) will take on Mondovi (12-1) in the Division 6 championship at 1 p.m. Thursday in search of their eighth state title.
Stratford won state titles in 1987 and six in a row from 2003-08. This will mark the third time in the past four complete seasons Stratford has made it back to Madison, losing in the Division 5 finals to St. Mary’s Springs 20-17 in 2018 and 22-13 to Lake Country Lutheran in 2019.
Since starting the season 0-1-1, Stratford has won 10 of 11, including four straight in the playoffs. The Tigers shut out Cumberland 54-0 and Cadott 42-0, dominated Grantsburg 27-7, and earned a thrilling 20-14 overtime victory over Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs in the state semifinals last Friday.
Stratford has allowed less than 10 points nine times this season, giving up an average of just 9.5 points per game.
The Tigers have turned to an effective running game the past two contests, relying on junior running back Koehler Kilty, who carried the ball 39 times for 236 yards against Grantsburg and 34 times for 174 yards in the win over St. Mary’s Springs. Kilty has racked up 1,685 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns thus far this season.
Junior Gavin Leonhardt has caught a touchdown pass in each of the Tigers’ four playoff wins, and also had a rushing touchdown, a punt return for a score and an interception for TD.
Mondovi, whose only loss of the season came to Division 7 state finalist Eau Claire Regis 37-14 back on Sept. 30, is equally stout on defense. The Buffaloes have allowed just 9 points per game.
Mondovi boasts a pair of 1,000-yard rushers. Running back Dawson Rud had 1,715 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns, while quarterback Jaron Falkner has piled up 1,088 on the ground and 19 scores while also throwing for 1,280 yards and nine TDs.
Mondovi is making just its second trip to the state finals. The Buffaloes lost the Division 4 title game to Columbus 26-19 in 1990.
The game will be televised on Bally Sports Wisconsin. Tickets are $11 and should be purchased at wiaawi.org/tickets.