Marshfield Tigers land six in first team, Goettl is Coach of the Year

By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

MARSHFIELD — The Marshfield football team earned a share of the conference title and landed six players on the first team of the 2017 All-Valley Football Association (VFA) West Division Team, which was voted on by the conference coaches.

Marshfield tied Wisconsin Rapids at 5-3 to earn a share of the West championship, the Tigers’ first conference title since sharing the VFA South Division crown with Stevens Point in 2012. Marshfield (6-4) also earned a WIAA playoff berth for the first time since 2013.

Head coach Denny Goettl was also named VFA West Coach of the Year.

Five of the six Tigers on the first team of the VFA West team were unanimous selections, including Linebacker of the Year Jared Johnsrud.

Johnsrud, a senior, was a first-team pick at inside linebacker after compiling 68 tackles and one interception.

Joining Johnsrud on the first-team defense for Marshfield were unanimous picks senior outside linebacker Jon Howlett (70 tackles, 6½ for loss), junior defensive end Alex Steines (38 tackles), and junior safety Nolan Hertel (51 tackles, five passes defended).

Senior defensive lineman Noah Preston (31 tackles) also was on the first team for the Tigers. Marshfield topped the VFA West in total defense, allowing just 262 yards and 13.9 points per game.

Senior offensive lineman Connor Berry was the only Marshfield player on the first team, while eight others earned honorable mention status.

Senior linemen A.J. Leonhardt and Ethan Arndt, junior lineman Sam Haessly, sophomore receiver Isaac Meverden, senior running back Andy Goettl, junior running backs Brant Bohman and Isaiah Baierl, and junior quarterback Ryan Krueger were honorable mention selections for Marshfield.

Senior cornerbacks Skyler Theisen and John Reigel, junior kicker Mason Coffren (21-for-22 extra points, 3-for-4 field goals), and Bohman as a kick return specialist were also honorable choices.

Bohman topped Marshfield in rushing yards (478), receptions (22), return yards (311), and total touchdowns (8). Meverden had 17 catches for 260 yards and four touchdowns, Goettl added 381 total offensive yards, and Krueger had 830 passing yards and 10 touchdowns, and 322 rushing yards and five more touchdowns for Marshfield in conference play.

Stevens Point running back Colton Kizewski (1,408 rushing yards, 16 total touchdowns) was named the Offensive Player of the Year, and Stevens Point defensive lineman Cole Wright (10½ tackles for loss, 4½ sacks) was picked as Defensive Player of the Year.

Paul Lecker is the publisher of MarshfieldAreaSports.com, a contributor to Hub City Times Sports. You can reach him by email at paul@marshfieldareasports.com.