Witt-Birn football team learns lessons in season-opening loss to Stratford

Updated: Sept. 27, 2:50 p.m.

The Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School football team underwent a big early-season test on Friday when the team welcomed new Central Wisconsin Conference-Large Division foe Stratford to town.

Despite Stratford losing almost all of its starters from a team that made it to the Division 5 state title game in 2019, Witt-Birn knew a big challenge still awaited. The Chargers matched an early Tigers score, but couldn’t finish off any other drives during a 35-6 loss.

“I think this lets us know where our standards need to be, versus where we thought they were,” said Witt-Birn coach Bernard Holsey after the game.

“When you go against a team such as this, of that caliber, you’re going against some of the best in the state. And if you don’t match it, things won’t always go your way. We did some good things, but (we had) mental mistakes and some physical mistakes.”

Witt-Birn’s offense hit the field first, ready to take on a Stratford defense that didn’t allow a single point until the fourth level of playoff games during the 2019 season. A pair of runs accounted for just two yards before an incomplete pass brought on the punt team.

The Chargers defense rose to the challenge and forced a three-and-out of its own.

Witt-Birn’s offense picked up six yards on first down, but went backward on second down before an incomplete pass on third. After a short punt, Stratford’s offense took over in Witt-Birn territory.

On the second play of the drive, Stratford’s Colten Schillinger broke free for a 46-yard touchdown for the game’s first points.

Witt-Birn didn’t blink though, answering quickly on the ensuing possession.

Junior receiver Kaden Schmidt got behind the Stratford defense and hauled in a deep pass from junior quarterback Ben Wesolowski. A determined Schmidt outran a couple defenders to complete the 80-yard touchdown.

“That’s a play that we’ve worked on and we kind of knew it was going to work while preparing and watching film,” said Schmidt. “It was a play we had set up looking for a home run play, and we executed and hit the home run on it.”

Just when it looked like the Chargers might have seized momentum, the visiting Tigers swiped it right back, scoring just four offensive plays later.

Stratford then forced another Chargers punt before going on an six-play scoring drive to make it 21-6.

The Chargers offense picked up a first down on their next drive, but a fumbled snap later on killed the drive. Stratford then blocked the punt and took over at the Witt-Birn 8-yard line.

After junior Ben Flak made a big tackle for loss on third-and-goal, the Chargers defense looked to be on its way to a massive stop. Instead, the Tigers attempted their first pass of the day on a well-designed screen play that resulted in a 13-yard touchdown.

Stratford forced another punt and got the ball back at its own 44 with over two minutes to play in the half. Witt-Birn senior David Reid made sure the hosts didn’t allow any more points before halftime though, as he broke through the offensive line and forced a fumble that the Chargers recovered.

The Chargers offense then put together one of their best drives of the game, picking up a pair of first downs and working the ball to the Stratford 4. But another low snap resulted in a big loss and turnover on downs.

The sequence was a sign of things to come in the second half. Witt-Birn’s defense settled in, allowing just one scoring drive and forcing a three-and-out and forcing a turnover on the other two. The Chargers offense moved the ball better in the final half, but drives stalled after penalties and other costly mistakes.

Reid, who recorded a third-down sack to force Stratford to punt on its first possession of the second half, said the visitors “did a good job finding our weaknesses” on both sides of the ball.

The Chargers will look to learn from their mistakes and try and bounce back Friday in a scheduled road contest against Shiocton.

Honoring Egging

After receiving the opening kickoff, Witt-Birn’s offense took a knee and a delay of game penalty in honor of Samuel Egging, who lost his life in an accident in December of 2019.

Egging was a member of the football team.

Stratford 14 13 0 8

Witt-Birn 6 0 0 0

First quarter

S: Colten Schillinger 46-yard run (kick failed), 5:51

WB: Kaden Schmidt 80-yard pass from Ben Wesolowski (kick failed), 4:50

S: Schillinger 24-yard run (Schillinger pass from Max Vanderhoof), 2:08

Second quarter

S: Beau Gross 1-yard run (Schillinger kick good), 9:51

S: Gross 13-yard pass from Vanderhoof (run failed), 4:22

Fourth quarter

S: Kainoa Gouvela 2-yard run (Schillinger run), 11:13

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