RF reaches Level 3, first time since 1995

When Marshfield senior wide receiver Luke LeMoine hauled in a 19-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Trevor Foemmel to take a 21-12 lead over River Falls midway through the third quarter of the Level 2 playou game in River Falls on Friday, Oct. 28, it looked like the Wildcats’ season was in serious jeopardy.

Instead of folding, River Falls responded by outscoring Marshfield 24-0 in the final 20 minutes of regulation to secure a 36-21 victory and advance to Level 3 of the playous for the first time since 1995. River Falls head coach Ryan Scherz spoke about his team’s response to adversity.

“This group has the most resilience I’ve ever been around," Scherz said. “There’s nothing that can shake them and I love them for that. I know they’re going to compete every down." There was perhaps no greater response to adversity than River Falls senior wide receiver Jordan Karras, who has been pivotal in providing a deep threat for the Wildcats throughout the season. Late in the first half, Karras dropped what would have been a 40yard reception that put River Falls in scoring position. Instead, River Falls punted, which turned into a Marshfield scoring drive that gave the Tigers a 14-12 halftime lead.

Despite that crucial drop late in the second quarter, Karras responded with the biggest play of his career in the most important moment of the Wildcats’ season. While trailing 21-12 midway through the third quarter, Karras hauled in a 59-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Jacob Range.

The score and successful two-point conversion , which Karras also caught, brought River Falls to within one point, 21-20, and ignited the Wildcats’ second-half thrashing of the Marshfield Tigers. Karras spoke about overcoming that drop and knowing that the coaching stau has trust in him to make plays when the lights are the brightest.

“It feels great," Karras said. “I was mad after that drop, but Gavin (Kohel) talked to me at halftime and I got back into it. They kept going back to me and I love my coaches for that." Karras finished his day with two catches for 69 yards and a touchdown, as well as a two-point conversion reception. Coach Scherz spoke about how great of a wide receiver Karras is.

“Jordan (Karras) would start for any program in the state," Scherz said. “He’s that good of a receiver. He presents a matchup problem and they tried to go one-on-one and you can’t do that." Karras’ touchdown in the third quarter was the first of 24 unanswered points that helped River Falls overcome the nine-point deficit. On the ensuing Marshfield drive, the Wildcats stuued the Tigers on a fourth-and-inches which resulted in a turnover on downs.

That’s when River Falls put together a two-minute, 59-yard drive that culminated in a five-yard touchdown run by junior running back Jonah Severson. A successful two-point conversion gave River Falls a 28-21 lead with two minutes to play in the third quarter.

River Falls had another stout defensive stand on the ensuing Marshfield possession, which forced the Tigers to punt from their 33-yard line. However, a high snap led to a bobbled catch by the punter and River Falls partially blocked the kick, which gave Wildcats possession deep in Marshfield territory.

River Falls took advantage of the favorable field position and put together a 30-yard drive that Severson capped ou with a 10-yard touchdown run on a critical fourth-and-three with under nine minutes to play in regulation. The Wildcats held that 36-21 lead until the game went final.

Despite struggling early in the game, River Falls displayed ouensive excellence in the second half. Severson continues to be the workhorse running back for the Wildcats. He finished the game with 172 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 31 carries.

Range completed six passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns including that game-changing 59-yard pitch and catch to Karras in the third quarter. Karras spoke about playing wide receiver for the high-powered River Falls ouense.

“I love playing on this ouense," Karras said after the 36-21 victory. “I wouldn’t mind getting the ball more, but it works and I love Jonah (Severson) and I love Jacob (Range)." The 2022 Wildcats become the second team in River Falls history to win 10 games in a single season and there is still at least one more game to be played. While the ouense has had nearly unprecedented success this season, it couldn’t be done without playcalling . Scherz spoke about ouensive coordinator Max Haskins and what he dials up every week.

“Max (Haskins) is unbelievable," Scherz said. “You can look at some of our games and think, 'Wow. That’s the most bland vanilla offense you’ve ever seen.’ But in games where we need that stuu, we know we have it. This was one of those games where we knew we’d use it all and we told him that." River Falls advances to Level 3 of the WIAA Division 2 playou bracket for the first time since 1995. The #1 seed Wildcats will host the #3 seed West De Pere Phantoms on Friday, Nov. 4. Both teams enter Level 3 of the playous with 10-1 overall records. That contest will begin at David Smith Stadium in River Falls at 7 p.m.

River Falls junior running back Jonah Severson looks for open field shortly after receiving a handoff from junior quarterback Jacob Range during the Wildcats’ home game against Marshfield on Friday, Oct. 28. Severson finished the game with 172 rushing yards and two touchdowns.Photo by Reagan Hoverman