Football: Marathon battles but comes up just short to unbeaten Stratford 10-7 on Friday

The Marathon High School football team has worked it's way into the discussion in the top half of the always-tough Central Wisconsin Conference in 2026. On Friday night, the Red Raiders nearly pulled off the upset of the season in the league vs. Stratford but came up just short in a 10-7 Tigers' victory.

Marathon started almost as fast as you could with a stop of Stratford on the first series of the game. Then, on the first play of their own first offensive series, the Red Raiders got a 70 yard touchdown run from Fred Tylinski to lead 7-0 with about 9 1/2 minutes left in the 1st quarter. However, those would be the only points that Marathon would score.

The Marathon defense would be strong throughout the night and would, just seconds later, intercept Stratford quarterback Kolton Haupt. After the big play on offense, it's was another big play on defense for Fred Tylinski. Tylinski made the interception and gave Marathon the ball on the Stratford 48 but the Raiders couldn't convert the good field position into extending the lead.

Late in the first quarter Stratford got their offense going and drove down the field for their first points of the game. Aaron Knetter ran it in from 5 yards out with :05 left in the quarter and also added a 2-point conversion run to put Stratford up 8-7.

The defenses took over the rest of the way as the only other points would come with just under 3 minutes left in the 3rd quarter as Marathon quarterback Brayson Schneider was sacked in the end zone as defensive back Declan Fisher came on a blitz and got the Schneider just inside the goal line to make it 10-7 Stratford. The Stratford defense would not allow Marathon past the midfield stripe during the 2nd half.

With 4 1/2 minutes left and with all three timeouts remaining, Marathon punted and Stratford started a drive at their own 27 yard line. After one first down, Marathon stuffed a pair of runs and put Stratford in a 3rd and 9 situation with just under 3 minutes left. However, on a pass attempts by Haupt, defensive pass interference was called on Marathon to give the Tigers a critical 1st down. Stratford was then able to gain another first down and run out the clock to close out the win.

The win puts Stratford at 7-0 overall and 5-0 in the conference heading into a likely championship showdown with unbeaten Amherst on the Tigers' home field on Friday. Marathon falls for the 2nd straight week and is now 4-3 overall and 2-3 in the CWC heading into a critical road game at Wittenberg-Birnamwood on Friday.