The history of this playoff confrontation goes back to 1996, the first year that Marshfield ever qualified for the playoffs. Actually, this was a level 3 game.  Everest was the regular season WVC champion. Marshfield had defeated Eau Claire North and a tough Middleton team to gain the right to play in the third round. The Tigers were led by Quarterback Joe Buss, who had set a number of passing records for the Tigers that year. Everest came out victorius in a game that Marshfield was able to play with the Evergreens on a level they had never before attained.

1997 was another WVC championship year for DC Everest, their 3rd in a row. Everest again beat the Marshfield team in the regular season confrontation, and was undefeated for the year. Marshfield had two losses, the second being to Wisconsin Rapids who had beaten them 3-0 in a defensive struggle in Rapids. Of course the rest is history. Marshfield beat Everest that Saturday afternoon in the second level of the playoffs,  for the first time in about 15-20 years, and with victories over Rapids the next week, Sun Prairie and Oak Creek in the State Championship game set Marshfield fans into seventh heaven. I do not tire of watching these games over and over on the VCR.

In 1998, Marshfield had hopes of a repeat. It was not to be. In fact they were beaten by a Rhinelander team in the opening game of 98 that they should have beaten handily. They went on to a 5-4 regular season record which included the annual regular season loss to DC Everest. They qualified for the playoff with a 5-3 conference record and by beating Eau Claire Memorial in level one set up another level two confrontion with DC Everest. They played DC Everest very tough at the Stiem pit, but fell short as DC Everest went on to take the State Championship for themselves.

In 1999, Marshfield knew it was going to be their year. They breezed through the regular season, and if I remember right(if I am going to do these kind of articles I am going to have to get better records) they did not have a game differential less than double digits. This domination continued through the playoffs and DC Everest was beaten by Chippewa Falls in the first level so the confrontation did not occur that year. Unfortunately, Mequon Homestead doused the Tiger flame in the State Championship game and the Tigers had to settle for the Silver ball in 99.

The DC Everest Evergreens had high hopes for a Division 1 State Championship in 2000. They rolled over Appleton East 31-10 in round 1, and shutout Marshfield 24-0 in round 2. But on the evening of Nov. 3, 2000, Green Bay Preble burst the Evergreens bubble with an exciting 20-16 victory sending the DCE team home for the year, with a very respectable 11-1 record. They approached the 2001 season with determination to make it all the way to Madison and come home with the gold trophy.

WisconsinPreps.com had tabbed DC Everest as the No. 1 team in Division 1 in it's pre-season ranking this year. They had also been placed in the No. 6 position in the RivalsHigh.com Midwest Region Ranking. Although they lost some key performers on both sides of the ball, the normal procedure in Evergreenland is to reload. Coach Wayne Steffenhagen's program is known for it's dedication to off-season training and determination to maintain excellence. This tradition has enabled Everest to either tie or win outright the Wisconsin Valley Conference Championship 7 of the last 10 years. They last won the Division 1 championship in 1998 as I said before, also beating Oak Creek.

Going into the regular season matchup this year, both teams were 3-0 DC Everest was ranked No. 1 and Marshfield No. 3 in Division One. Marshfield throughly dominated this game on both sides of the ball, winning 28-7. Marshfield took over the No. 1 position in the rankings, which they promptly lost the next week by falling to Wausau East 13-9 after leading going into the 4th quarter, 9-0. So this sets up the rematch on Saturday in Level 2 playoff action again.

Justin Ryback

Leading the offense for DC Everest will be returning starter Justin Ryback(5-10,167,Sr). He was second in the Wisconsin Valley Conference in passing with a 55/101, 54.5%, 913 yd, 12 TD, 2 INT, 116.5 Rating(conference games only). He was named Honorable Mention All-Conference in 2001. Starting halfback, Allan Thompson(5-8,170,Sr) was 1st team offense all-conference in 2001. He was 2nd in conference rushing with 1069 yards on 119 carries a 8.0 yd/carry average. He scored 13 touchdowns. His running mate in the backfield, Lance Rick(6-0,210,Sr) scored 3 touchdowns on 216 yards in 44 carries. Justin Heinkel(6-1,180,Sr) wide receiver tied for the most reception in the league with 28 for 490 yards and 7 touchdowns. Justin was also a first team All-  Conference Selection. Tight End Kyle Goertz(6-3, 2255,So) caught 5 passes for 86 yards and 1 touchdown.

Justin Heinkel

Offensive Lineman Jon Vissers(6-4,242,Sr) was first team All-Conference in 2001. Guard Ryan Plisch(6-2,250,Jr) was second team All-Conference and center Jesse Trim(6-1,224,Sr) was an Honorable Mention All-Conference selection this year.

On defense, DC Everest is lead by a pair of tough senior linebackers.  Curt Laffin(6-0,222,Sr), is a very hard hitter and impressed a lot of people around the league with his hard nosed play. Curt was an 1st Team All-Conference player in 2001. Travis Hoffman(5-11,208,Sr) was a 2nd team All-Conference in 2001. NG Eric Hammerly(6-1,220,Jr) was named a 1st team All-Conference Lineman. Matt Merce(6-0,180,Sr) defensive back was second team All-Conference in 2001 along with Eric Shoenherr(6-0,245,Sr) lineman. DE Tyler Sopata was an honorable mention selection in 2001.

Kicker Eric Westlund, first team all-conference in 2001, is one of the top five kickers in the state. Punter Kyle Pagel was named honorable mention All-Conference this year also.

For Marshfield Running Back Corey Geldernick(5-10,180,Sr) was third in  the Wisconsin Valley Conference in rushing wit

h 987 yards in 159 carries a 6.2 yd/carry average. He also scored 14 Touchdowns. He also caught 10 passes for a whopping 203 yards, a 20.3 yard/rec. average and two touchdowns. He was a first team all-conference selection this year.(Geldernick pictured at right) Eric Wendell(5-10,205,Sr) will be at fullback.

Ben King(6-1,175,Sr) will quarterback the Tigers. Ben was named offensive player of the year in the Wisconsin Valley Conference for 2001 and obviously 1st team All-Conference.

Wide Receiver Mike Ott(6-4,185,Sr) has caught the attention of major college scouts around the

country. Mike ran a 4.49 40yd dash at the Northwestern Camp which gave him legitimate Div 1 prospect status. Mike was 1st team All-Conference in 2001. (Pictured to the left,#84) Mike had 19 catches for 203 yards and 2 touchdowns in conference games. Junior Brian DeJarlais(6-3,200,Jr) Tight End was also named 1st team All-Conference. Bryan had 15 receptions for 241 yards and 2 touchdowns in conference action. Wide receivers Shawn Handke(5-8,155,Sr) 10 rec 106 yards and 2 TD's and Lee Foemmel(5-10,170,Sr) 2nd Team All-Confernce with 18 reception 476 yards and 6 touchdowns in conference play, see significant playing time as the play calls are sent in via the "Wide Receiver shuttle".

In the offensive line, Ben "Cookie" Corcoran(6-2,290,Sr) was an All-Conference tackle in 2001. Center Matt Petke(5-11,250,Sr) joined Cookie on the 1st team All-Conference squad. Guard Chris Gulden(5-10,220,Sr)will start at guard along with junior Tyler Davis(6-1,241,Jr). Junior Alan Rasmussen(6-2,254,Jr)will start at the other tackle spot.

On the defensive side, 2001 Unanimous All-Conference 1st team selection DT Brandon Zopfi(6-0,240,Sr) will anchor the defensive line. Clayton O'Kelly(6-0,185,Sr) will start at one defensive end and Doug Nordeen(6-0,175,Sr), another 1st team All-Conference selection will man the other end spot. Brian Krier(6-0,202,Jr), honorable mention All-Conference will be the nose guard, and Erik Gatlin(5-9,280,Sr) will be the other DT. Spliting time with Gatlin at tackle are Tim Rassmussen(6-0,303,Sr), Adam Wirkus(6-0,270,Jr) and Chad Gerlach(6-0,231,Jr). At linebacker juniors, Dane Cordes(5-10,185,Jr) was another 1st team All-Conference selection.  Ben Menaker(5-11,190,Jr) is a solid performer at linebacker. In the defensive backfield, All-Conference 1st team selection Ross Needham(5-9,160,Sr) is at Safety. At the corners, Brian Carter(6-0,175,Sr),named honorable mention All-Conference in 2001 and Dominic Lang(5-9,160,Jr) will be the starters. Luke Franseen(6-0,160,Sr) will play the other safety spot.

The Tigers under offensive coordinator Dennis Goettl have been an exciting team to watch since he took over the job in the mid 90's. Marshfield runs a pro-set, multiple formation offense. They will set up in a power I, split-backs, slot backs, 4 wide and run and pass the ball with equal efficiency. Coach Luedtke calls the defensive signals and always has adjustments that he makes to stiffle the oppositions offensive strategy. Other members of the coaching staff are: Jerry Littmann, Ron Sturomski, Lee Weigel, Len Luedtke Jr., Jim McDonald, Paul Foegen, Scott Klein, Scott Scheuer.

 Saturday's game will be another in the hopefully long line of epic battles between these teams. People in central Wisconsin consider this the real State Championship game, but the winner will have to win 3 more games after this battle to claim rights to the Gold ball.