The West Bend-Mallard football team is setting their eyes on the 2024 season after wrapping up 2023 with a 7-3 record and a playoff win in the first round for the second consecutive season.
The Wolverines navigated a tough schedule with an offense that hummed to the tune of 49.1 points per game, scoring at least 58 points five times, including a 64-26 postseason win over Riceville, before a heartbreaking 36-34 loss to state quarterfinalist CAM in the 2nd round of the playoffs. The three losses for the Wolverines came against the past three eight-player state champions (CAM 2021, Remsen St. Mary’s 2022, Bishop Garrigan 2023).
The 14-6 record over the past two seasons is the best two year stretch for the Wolverines since back to back 10-2 seasons in 2013 and 2014. To continue that trend in 2024, West Bend-Mallard will need to replace a large senior class of nine players, after also graduating a large class of 11 players in 2022.
Head Coach Tyson Wirtz feels the program has been able to re-load due in part to the culture that has been established by players of the previous years, and consistency amongst the coaching staff.
The Wolverines come into the season with a smaller roster than last year with 23 players, but Wirtz feels there is still plenty of talent.
Part of the reloading process will be breaking in a new signal caller under center, after the graduation of Landon Montag. Montage passed for 810 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2023, while setting Wolverine single season records with 1536 yards and 29 touchdowns on the ground. Montag also holds the Wolverine career rushing yardage record of 3114.
Although the quarterback position will be some big shoes to fill, the Wolverines have a couple of upperclassmen taking reps at the position, with seniors Austin Schmidt and Cole Fehr according to Wirtz.
West Bend-Mallard’s success in the running game is due in part to the play up front, as the Wolverines have prided themselves on their line play on both sides of the ball. Graduated are Jaxon Zaugg, who set the Wolverine record with 21.5 tackles for loss last season and excelled on both the offensive and defensive line, and Cortlyn Schupbach, a two way starter who tallied 40 tackles and 11 TFLs. Senior Clint Fehr will be an anchor at the center position, as Wirtz feels he will lead the way for the rest of the unit.
Clint Fehr and the rest of the Wolverines up front will look to lead the way for lead returning rusher Cole Fehr, who averaged 7.2 yards per carry as a junior last season on his way to 993 yards and 14 touchdowns.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Wolverines bring plenty of experience back amongst the linebackers and secondary, plus a freshman class Wirtz feels could contribute if called on.
The biggest thing that stands out about the defense is their physicality according to Wirtz.
The schedule will be tough once again, especially early in the season for the Wolverines, who host Newell-Fonda in the season opener, before hitting the road to face the last two state champions with district rival Bishop Garrigan and Remsen St. Mary’s. Wirtz wants to see his team in a place where they are competitive on a weekly basis.
