By Tom Reck
MARSHALL, Ill. — Marshall and Maroa-Forsyth football teams meet in the biggest game of the season for both teams so far today at Bush Field in Marshall.
The 11-1 Lions and 10-2 Trojans clash at 1:30 p.m. in one of the Illinois Class 2A semifinal games with the winner earning a place in the championship game next week. That’ll be a bigger game for both.
Marshall has won 11 in a row and is seeded No. 4 in the upper bracket. The Lions avenged their lone defeat last week by beating Casey, the top-seeded team in the bracket.
Marshall is seeking its first trip to the finals.
Maroa-Forsyth defeated Central A&M; 21-6 to gain the semifinals and defeated the same team 42-35 earlier in the season. The Trojans are the No. 6 seed and have won five in a row, losing to Decatur St. Teresa 28-21 in the fourth game and to Tuscola 28-0 in the seventh game. Tuscola is in the Class 1A semifinals.
Maroa-Forsyth won the 2A championship in 2006.
Josh Jostes was the coach of the championship team and is in his 10th season as the Maroa-Forsyth coach.
“We’re an experienced team with 15 seniors. Our season has had ups and downs. We’re playing our best football now,” he said this week.
His team has outscored opponents 386-164, rushing for 2,347 yards and passing for 1,788.
M-F senior Dalton Coventry has rushed for 793 yards and 14 touchdowns. Toby Propst has rushed for 439 yards and eight touchdowns.
Coventry also leads the Trojans in tackles with 126. Tyler Marsh is second with 75.
Sophomore Logan Stelzriede has completed 94 passes for 1,343 yards and 13 touchdowns. Wyatt Washburn has caught 60 passes for 940 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Marshall has outscored its opponents 336-116, rushing for 2,439 yards and passing for 1,230.
Marshall senior Taylor Duncan has passed for 1,230 yards and 15 touchdowns and rushed for 902 yards and 17 touchdowns — scoring both of the team’s touchdowns last week at Casey.
He also has 33 tackles and has picked off three passes while punting 31 times for an average of 33.13 yards.
Sophomore Andre Strohm has rushed for 1,090 yards, seeing limited action due to back spasms last week, and 10 touchdowns.
Leading receivers are Jacob Duncan (13 catches for 437 yards), Dustin Morey (19 for 330 yards), Jordan Grooms (19 for 330), and Austin Wetnight (18 for 228).
Jared Boyll leads the team in tackles with 105 and two sacks followed by Dalton Sanders with 97 to go with 16 sacks. Tyler Bishop has 73 tackles and five sacks while Trey Troudeau has 49 tackles with 11.5 sacks and Strohm has 53 tackles.
Marshall coach Todd Evers says he felt the Lions had a shot at a title run going into the playoffs. “After last week, not only the players but the community feel we have a shot,” he said.
“Maroa-Forsyth is a very formidable opponent and to win this game would make this season even more special. The Trojans run a very complex spread offense and will do some things we have not seen. [Coventry] is a big physical back,” he said.
He said Maroa-Forsyth has a lot of speed and athleticism on defense, very similar to second-round playoff opponent Williamsville.
Coach Jostes says Duncan is a very good quarterback. “If we don’t contain him, it will be a long day for the Trojans,” he said.
He said both the defense and offense have been playing better in the playoffs. “It’s been fun,” he said.
The winner of the game at Marshall will face either Morrison or Gibson City in the final game. They are the top two seeds in the lower bracket.
Marshall vs. Maroa-Forsyth at a glance
Team Record Points for Points against
Maroa-Forsyth 10-2 386 16
Marshall 11-1 337 116
Individual leaders
Rushing — Maroa-Forsyth: Dalton Coventry 112-793 yards, Toby Propst 84-439, Justin Barnes 91-363, Dustin Hoffman 34-227, Logan Stelzriede 63-192; Marshall: Andre Strohm 142-1,090, Taylor Duncan 192-902, Jacob Duncan 15-129, Lee Combs 23-120
Passing — Maroa-Forsyth: Logan Stelzriede 94-161-4 for 1,343 yards, 13 touchdowns, Barnes 25-44-2-3 for 281 yards, three touchdowns; Marshall: Taylor Duncan 82-163-7 for 1,230 yards, 15 touchdowns
Receiving — Maroa-Forsyth: Wyatt Washburn 60-940 yards, 10 touchdowns, Joe Hockaday 21-167 yards, one touchdown, Blake Stelzriede 10-137 yards, one touchdown, Dustin Hoffman 9-175 yards, two touchdowns; Marshall: Jacob Duncan 13-437 yards, five touchdowns, Dustin Morey 19-330 yards, three touchdowns, Austin Wetnight 18-228 yards, two touchdowns.
