By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

Two local teams can clinch spots in the WIAA playoffs with victories this Friday as the high school football season rolls on to Week 7.

Spencer/Columbus Catholic and Auburndale each stand one conference win away from qualifying for the postseason and can assure themselves of spots with wins.

Marshfield, on the other hand, cannot afford another loss in order to extend its streak to 19 straight years of making it to the playoffs.

Here is a look at the Week 7 matchups featuring the four local teams:

MARSHFIELD TIGERS AT HORTONVILLE POLAR BEARS

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday

Site: Akin Field, Hortonville High School

Radio: WDLB-AM 1450 and wdlbwosq.com

Records: Marshfield 2-4, 1-3 Valley Football Association – South Division; Hortonville 4-2, 3-1 VFA South.

Last week: Marshfield rallied from a 16-point deficit to tie the game early in the fourth quarter but could not stop Wisconsin Rapids on its ensuing possession and dropped a 26-19 decision to the Raiders last Friday at Wisconsin Rapids. Kegan Fassler caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from Derek Coffren, Carlos Cortes had a 2-yard touchdown run, and Coffren threw a pair of two-point conversion passes to push Marshfield into a 19-19 tie 24 seconds into the fourth. Rapids went back ahead, driving 74 yards with 14 consecutive running plays, capped by quarterback’s Jayson Wiernik’s 3-yard touchdown run. Hortonville won at Oshkosh West 31-17. Mitch Gerhartz had 150 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns for the Polar Bears.

This week’s matchup: Hortonville uses a balanced attack led by Gerhartz on the ground and quarterback Jake Sommers. Gerhart has 597 yards rushing and eight touchdowns in the Polar Bears’ four conference games. Sommers threw for a season-high 214 yards last week. Marshfield got its first 100-yard rushing performance of the season last week as Isaac Cline had 105 yards on 17 carries. This is the first season for Hortonville in the VFA. Marshfield last played the Polar Bears in the 2010 WIAA Division 2 playoffs, winning at Hortonville 49-23.

SPENCER/COLUMBUS CATHOLIC ROCKETS AT ALTOONA RAILROADERS

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday

Site: Altoona High School

Records: Spencer/Columbus 4-2 overall and Cloverbelt Conference; Altoona 2-4, 2-3 Cloverbelt Conference.

Last week: Spencer/Columbus had its three-game winning streak snapped, losing 20-6 against Eau Claire Regis during Columbus Catholic’s homecoming game at Beell Stadium in Marshfield last Saturday. The Rockets had 261 total yards but only scored once, a 28-yard touchdown run by Mitch Susa late in the first quarter. Regis rallied with three unanswered touchdowns, two coming in the final 4:10 of the game. Susa led the Rockets with 68 yards rushing and 47 yards receiving. Altoona lost a shootout to Pittsville, 46-36, in a nonconference game last Friday at home.

This week’s matchup: Spencer/Columbus’ defense had been stout against the run all season until Regis put up 313 yards on 52 carries last week. Altoona brings a strong run game led by Connor Olson, who already has 971 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. Quarterback Micah Burch has also had success for Altoona compiling 789 yards passing and eight touchdowns. The Rockets average 221 yards rushing per game. Spencer/Columbus can clinch a playoff spot with a victory.

AUBURNDALE APACHES AT PITTSVILLE PANTHERS

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday

Site: Pittsville High School

Radio: WOSQ-FM 92.3 and wdlbwosq.com

Records: Auburndale 4-1, 3-1 Marawood Conference; Pittsville 2-4, 1-4 Marawood Conference.

Last week: Auburndale had a bye, giving it two weeks to prepare for a Panthers team that exploded for six touchdowns in a 46-36 nonconference win at Altoona last Friday. Nathan Dupee rushed for 249 yards and had four touchdowns to lead the way for Pittsville.

This week’s matchup: Pittsville has been shut out three times this season and scored only once in a lopsided loss to Chequamegon, but the Panthers have scored 91 points in their two victories. Dupee leads the Panthers’ ground game with 789 yards, and he has scored 10 of the Panthers’ 12 touchdowns this season. Auburndale quarterback Wyatt Weiler leads the team in both rushing and passing with 287 yards on the ground and 253 yards through the air in the Apaches’ four conference games. Auburndale can clinch a WIAA playoff spot with a victory.

RIB LAKE/PRENTICE HAWKS AT STRATFORD TIGERS

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday

Site: Tiger Stadium, Stratford

Records: Rib Lake/Prentice 1-5, 0-4 Marawood Conference; Stratford 3-3, 2-2 Marawood Conference.

Last week: Stratford stumbled on the road last week, falling to Chequamegon 19-6. Quarterback Michael Bargender threw for 126 yards but had three interceptions. Stratford ran for 147 yards on 40 carries, the fourth time this season the Tigers failed to average at least 4 yards per carry. Jake Reif had 70 yards receiving and 53 yards rushing. Rib Lake/Prentice allowed more than 35 points for the fourth time this season, losing at home to Marathon 43-6.

This week’s matchup: Rib Lake/Prentice ranks last in the Marawood in both offense (142 yards per game) and defense (338 yards allowed per game). Kam Bornbach, who has 237 rushing yards on the season, and Reif, 198 yards, will look to ignite the Tigers’ ground game against a Hawks’ defense that has allowed 1,200 yards rushing in four conference games.

(Hub City Times Sports Reporter Paul Lecker is also the publisher of  MarshfieldAreaSports.com).