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Ranked Cadets a tough task for Bulldogs
MFL MarMac Football 2026
The MFL MarMac football team includes (front, left to right) Rylan Schroeder, Blake Schutte, Hunter Johnson, Cameron Hagensick, Kashton Decker, Ashton Phillips, Gage Paulus; (second row) Archie Carlson, Hayden Scherf, Daxton Diemel, Richie Schulz, Tristan Foels, Greysen Osmundson, Blake Roe, Tristan Hoopes, Tyler Pecinovsky, manager Bentley Henkes; (third row) Benjamin Kite, Mason Hollar, Draven Stuckman, Kaden Strong, Tyce Wikner, Taco Thompson, Easton Lange, Noah Troester, Marcus Stoddard; (fourth row) Kolten Strong, Trevor Pecinovsky, Christian Escobar, Colton Landt, Derek Nading, Cael Lightfoot, Hudson Kimball, Owen Mullarkey, River Sharp, Jaxton Thompson; (back row) assistant coach Nelson Converse, head coach Dan Anderson and assistant coaches Trey Burnikel, Karter Decker and Brandon Burke. Not pictured is Parker Muras. - photo by Audrey Posten

Heading into MFL MarMac’s football season opener against Crestwood on Aug. 28, head coach Dan Anderson acknowledged the ranked Class 2A, upperclassmen-heavy Cadets would be a tough opponent.

They proved that Friday night, shutting the Bulldogs out 50-0 while racking up 362 total yards of offense across the air and ground.

The Cadet defense forced two MFL MarMac turnovers—a fumble and an interception—along with four tackles for loss. The Bulldogs mustered 179 yards of total offense—131 of which came via the rushing attack. Sophomore Tyce Wikner led the team with 50 yards on 16 carries, followed by sophomore Daxton Diemel with 45 yards on 14 touches. Senior Blake Schutte ran the ball five times for 24 yards.

Bulldog sophomore quarterback Easton Lange completed seven of 14 passes for 48 yards, including a 22-yard completion to Wikner.

Schutte was MFL MarMac’s top tackler, with 6 overall. Five were solo efforts and a pair of them for a loss. Junior Noah Troester recorded 5 tackles, senior Kashton Decker 3.5 and junior Taco Thompson 3.

The Bulldogs look to brush off the loss this week, when they host Clayton Ridge for the Sept. 4 home opener. The Eagles come into the match-up 1-0 after defeating North Cedar 68-8 last week. The teams played for the first time since 2022 last season, also in a non-district game, which Clayton Ridge won 47-14.