EDGAR FOOTBALL KICKS OFF 2020 SEASON ON FRIDAY
By Paul Lecker
For Zaleski Sports
EDGAR – The Edgar High School football team always seems to be in the mix for a Marawood Conference title, and a WIAA state championship for that matter.
This year, veteran head coach Jerry Sinz said his team has those same goals.
Edgar is coming off another impressive season, going 12-2 overall and 4-1 in the Marawood, and ending its season with a hard-fought 6-0 loss to Black Hawk/Warren in the Division 7 state championship game.
The trip to Madison was Edgar’s 13th, and its second-straight Division 7 runner-up finish.
Edgar brings back six all-Marawood performers, including three from a defense that had eight shutouts and allowed just 51 points in 14 games.
Outside linebacker Austin Dahlke, defensive tackle R.J. Knetter and defensive back Kyle Brewster are back for the Wildcats’ defense. Offensively, wide receiver Drew Guden, tackle Max Larson and tight end Brayden Baumgartner also return after garnering all-Marawood honors in 2019.
Konnor Wolf returns at quarterback after throwing for 1,035 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.
Dahlke (428 yards) and Brewster (418 yards) are back in the backfield at running back as the team looks to replace leading rusher Kaleb Hafferman (1,050 yards, 25 touchdowns), who graduated. Aiden Weisenberger will also be in the mix at running back.
“Our goals are to win the Marawood Conference championship and hopefully the Division 7 state championship,” Sinz said. “Also, keeping our team and our opponents healthy all season.”
With the delay of the start of the season and overall concern regarding the health of the student-athletes, this training camp has been like any other. So far, Sinz said he has been pleased with how everything is going.
“(The biggest concerns are) keeping everyone healthy and getting players read for the first game with considerably less on-the-field practice time, and also hoping all of our opponents stay healthy so we can have a game each Friday,” Sinz said. “Our practice attendance has been outstanding, basically perfect every day. We have been staying healthy as well, and our spirit and enthusiasm has been excellent from both the coaching staff and players.”
The Marawood Conference will also have a new look this year after conference realignment across the state. Only Edgar and Marathon remain in the conference for football – Auburndale opted to play 8-man football for this year only and will return in 2021. Colby comes over from the Cloverbelt Conference, while Athens, Abbotsford, Owen-Withee and Thorp join the Marawood from the old Cloverwood.
Edgar opens its season Friday, Sept. 25, at home against Athens.
2020 EDGAR FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Sept. 25 ATHENS
Oct. 2 at Onalaska (nc)
Oct. 9 at Abbotsford
Oct. 16 THORP
Oct. 23 at Portage (nc)
Oct. 30 COLBY
Nov. 6 at Marathon
HOME GAMES IN CAPS, all games begin at 7 p.m.