WISCONSIN DELLS — The Prairie du Chien High School football team gave itself a chance to advance to the WIAA Division 5 championship game on Friday, but powerhouse Stratford snatched it away.
The Blackhawks (11-2) had an 11-game winning streak snapped by the Tigers (13-0) after Stratford scored a touchdown with 43 seconds remaining to win the semifinal hosted by Wisconsin Dells 26-25 and earn the right to play for the title at Camp Randall Stadium on Thursday.
Mason Hird started the final go-ahead drive for Prairie du Chien with an interception at the Stratford 49-yard line with 3:50 left. The Blackhawks finished that possession when Bryce Lenzendorf took a handoff and ran 7 yards to the end zone with 1:57 remaining.
A penalty moved the two-point conversion attempt back to the 8, and the ensuing pass was incomplete to leave Prairie du Chien’s lead at 25-20.
The Blackhawks then attempted an onside kick that Stratford recovered at its own 45 to begin the winning drive.
A 26-yard pass from Jack Tubbs to Caleb Wrensch gave the Tigers a first down at the Prairie du Chien 19 with 1:18 left, and a sack was followed by a 22-yard scoring pass from Tubbs to Alec Chapel. The Blackhawks had two defenders on the ball, but Chapel pulled it down in the back of the end zone.
Prairie du Chien moved the ball to the Stratford 36 before it faced a final snap, which resulted in an incomplete pass and the Tigers’ 25th straight victory. Stratford is trying to win its third straight championship.
