C-SC football team to play Saturday to honor freshman QB killed in motor vehicle crash

CANTON, Mo. — The Culver-Stockton College football coaches and administration have decided the best way to pay tribute to freshman quarterback Tony Wrobel, who was killed in a motor vehicle crash Tuesday night, is by fighting for one more victory.

So the Wildcats have every intention of playing Saturday’s home and regular-season finale against Clarke University at Ellison Poulton Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

“Our expectation, as we sit here right now, is we will play Saturday as scheduled,” C-SC athletic director Pat Atwell said Wednesday afternoon. “We’re still trying to determine how to properly honor Tony on Saturday. I talked to the Clarke AD, the (Heart of America Athletic Conference) commissioner and our coaches and we feel like we’ll play Saturday.”

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the 18-year-old Wrobel was driving a 2008 Honda Accord southbound in the northbound lane of US 61 about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday when a 2017 Volvo tractor trailer hit the Accord.

Wrobel was pronounced dead at the scene by the Lewis County Coroner. The driver of the semi, who was from Minnesota, was 35 years old and not injured.

“It’s difficult for our coaches and for everyone,” Atwell said. “We have a lot of help on campus from our counselors and our chaplain and those in student affairs. There’s a lot of people helping, but it’s tough on everybody.”

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Wrobel had not played in a game this season and was expected to redshirt. The Wildcats are 2-8 overall and 2-3 in the Heart North Division.

“Our coaches feel the best way to pay tribute is by going out there and competing,” Atwell said. “We’ll work on the proper way to celebrate his life on Saturday.”