The Stratford Tigers and Tomahawk Hatchets will face off in a Division 5 Sectional Final in Tomahawk on Friday.
Stratford Tigers
9-2 1st place CWC-Large
Playoff Wins: 41-9 vs Richland Center, 28-21 vs Prairie du Chien
Losses: 26-19 vs Mosinee, 14-0 vs Edgar
Stratford is looking to win its 4th straight state championship, winning 2 D6 titles before moving up to D5 last year and winning another one there.
The Stratford Tigers have been on a roll as they have gotten healthy. The Tigers dropped their first two games of the year after losing several key players to injury, but have since rattled off 9 wins in a row, including a 34-21 win over Amherst.
The Tigers were forced to lean early in the season on the arm of Brady Berg, who has completed 53.6% of his passes for 1364 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. Berg’s primary targets have been Coltan Breit, who caught 26 passes for 583 yards and 9 touchdowns, and Zander Zawislan, who caught 20 passes for 366 yards and 8 touchdowns.
All-Conference running back Brooks Vanderhoof missed the first few games, but in limited action has still carried the ball for 944 yards and 11 touchdowns. In Vanderhoof’s absence, the Tigers were able to show off their deep stable of running backs, with Aaron Knetter running for 451 yards and 3 touchdowns and Koltan Haupt running for 333 yards and a touchdown.
Tomahawk Hatchets
10-1 T-1st Place GNC
Playoff Wins: 41-14 vs Omro, 34-12 vs Spencer/Columbus Cath.
Loss: 21-14 vs Mosinee
The Hatchets are playing in a Level 3/Sectional Final game for only the second time in school history and looking to punch their first ticket to the State Semifinals/Level 4.
The Hatchets are led by a trio of running backs, with Max Larson rushing for 700 yards and 8 touchdowns, Tiegan Sarazin rushing for 640 yards and 7 touchdowns, and Rex Reilly rushing for 503 yards and 9 touchdowns.
An injury forced the Hatchets to start sophomore quarterback Jett Reilly for the second half of the season. He completed 47.4% of his passes for 288 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. He has also ran the ball for 352 yards and 3 touchdowns. His top target is Jonah Dickens, who has caught 19 passes for 382 yards and 9 touchdowns.
