MIDDLETON - There was little the Brodhead-Juda Cardinals couldn't do as they advanced to the state championship Saturday by routing the Big Foot Chiefs 32-14 at Breitenbach Stadium.
Cardinals' Coach Jim Matthys said his team is going to be ready for its game against Kewaunee this week.
"This is an opportunity for us," he said. "We're not done. We're going to go up there to win a game."
Matthys was an assistant coach the last time Brodhead-Juda made it to the state championship game in 2003. This time he'll be the head coach.
If Saturday's game was any indication of how Brodhead-Juda played, the Cardinals' opponent has its work cut out for them.
"These kids played a heck of game," Matthys said. "They amazed me."
Matthys was talking about how his team dominated their conference rival on both sides of the ball.
Brodhead-Juda's rushing tandem of senior Alex Wallace and junior Jesse DeLorme combined for 243 yards on the ground as the Cardinals' offensive line opened holes for them up the middle and around the ends. Wallace rushed the ball 19 times for 138 yards, while DeLorme carried the ball 21 times for 105 yards.
"I wasn't surprised we ran the ball the way we did," Wallace said after the game. "They (Big Foot) came out to stop our running game, but we still ran against them."
Senior quarterback David Earleywine also turned in a big performance for Brodhead-Juda, throwing for one touchdown, a 17-yard pass to Mike Peterson, and running for two scores. Earleywine completed four-of-seven passes for 96 yards, including a 62-yard pass to Wallace which led to another touchdown run in the second quarter.
The Cardinals lost to the Chiefs 21-20 earlier this season, but Saturday belonged to Brodhead-Juda.
"We were able to move the ball when we played them earlier, but we just couldn't cash in," Matthys said.
In the first quarter it looked as if Big Foot would be too much for Brodhead-Juda.
After a short punt put the Chiefs on the Brodhead-Juda 43-yard line, Big Foot marched down the field on a seven-play, three-minute drive to take an early lead following a 23-yard run by senior running back Jordan Gottman. Gottman led Big Foot in rushing with 69 yards on 14 carries.
After a kickoff into the end zone, Brodhead-Juda had to move 80 yards against a strong wind to tie the game.
Relying on their running game, the Cardinals methodically moved down the field using Wallace's speed and Delorme's power to pick up yardage, until DeLorme ran up the middle for a touchdown.
"They call (DeLorme) the pain train," Wallace said after the game.
The Chiefs weren't able to stop the Cardinals as Brodhead-Juda consumed almost six minutes from the clock on its way to its first score.
Big Foot led by one after the extra point failed.
In the second quarter, Brodhead-Juda was able to utilize the wind after stopping Big Foot with 8:23 to play.
On second and 7, Earleywine connected with Wallace on their 62-yard pass play. DeLorme's second score of the game gave Brodhead-Juda a 12-7 lead.
Brodhead-Juda added to its lead with nine seconds left until halftime when Earleywine hit Peterson in the end zone to give Brodhead a 19-7 halftime lead.
Only a fumble in the second quarter on the Chiefs' 23 yard line kept the Cardinals out of the end zone in the second quarter.
In the third quarter, the Chiefs showed why they were undefeated in their conference this year. During the season the Chiefs recorded three shut-out victories and in two other games they held their opponents to less than seven points.
Brodhead-Juda moved the ball 79 yards from its own 20 midway through the third quarter, but the Chiefs defense stiffened and stopped Wallace just short of the goal line with just over 4:30 to play in the third.
Big Foot, which had relied on the run for most of the game, decided it was time to pass. The Chiefs had two things going for them - the wind at their backs and some separation between their receivers and the Cardinals' defensive backs. Unfortunately for the Chiefs, accuracy was a problem as three incomplete passes forced them to punt the ball from their own end zone.
Brodhead-Juda took advantage of a poor punt to start its third quarter touchdown drive from the Big Foot 28 yard line. Five plays later, Earleywine finished the drive with a 3-yard run to put Brodhead-Juda ahead 25-7.
Late in the third quarter and into the fourth, the Chiefs were finally able to get their offense to work. With the help of an interference call that nullified an interception, the Chiefs 13-play, 65-yard drive culminated in Gottman's second rushing touchdown.
With just over 10 minutes to play, Cardinals' fans were noticeably nervous with their team leading by 11 in the fourth quarter.
Brodhead-Juda's offensive line took over the game, making holes in the Big Foot defensive line for Wallace and DeLorme to pick up chunks of yardage. Earleywine finished the 76-yard drive with another 3-yard run to the end zone to put the game away.
Long-time Brodhead-Juda assistant coach Steve Wallace said he's looking forward to going to the state championship with his son, Alex, as a player.
"It's a great way for his last season to end," Steve Wallace said. "As a dad it's nice to have your son playing well."
Cardinals' Coach Jim Matthys said his team is going to be ready for its game against Kewaunee this week.
"This is an opportunity for us," he said. "We're not done. We're going to go up there to win a game."
Matthys was an assistant coach the last time Brodhead-Juda made it to the state championship game in 2003. This time he'll be the head coach.
If Saturday's game was any indication of how Brodhead-Juda played, the Cardinals' opponent has its work cut out for them.
"These kids played a heck of game," Matthys said. "They amazed me."
Matthys was talking about how his team dominated their conference rival on both sides of the ball.
Brodhead-Juda's rushing tandem of senior Alex Wallace and junior Jesse DeLorme combined for 243 yards on the ground as the Cardinals' offensive line opened holes for them up the middle and around the ends. Wallace rushed the ball 19 times for 138 yards, while DeLorme carried the ball 21 times for 105 yards.
"I wasn't surprised we ran the ball the way we did," Wallace said after the game. "They (Big Foot) came out to stop our running game, but we still ran against them."
Senior quarterback David Earleywine also turned in a big performance for Brodhead-Juda, throwing for one touchdown, a 17-yard pass to Mike Peterson, and running for two scores. Earleywine completed four-of-seven passes for 96 yards, including a 62-yard pass to Wallace which led to another touchdown run in the second quarter.
The Cardinals lost to the Chiefs 21-20 earlier this season, but Saturday belonged to Brodhead-Juda.
"We were able to move the ball when we played them earlier, but we just couldn't cash in," Matthys said.
In the first quarter it looked as if Big Foot would be too much for Brodhead-Juda.
After a short punt put the Chiefs on the Brodhead-Juda 43-yard line, Big Foot marched down the field on a seven-play, three-minute drive to take an early lead following a 23-yard run by senior running back Jordan Gottman. Gottman led Big Foot in rushing with 69 yards on 14 carries.
After a kickoff into the end zone, Brodhead-Juda had to move 80 yards against a strong wind to tie the game.
Relying on their running game, the Cardinals methodically moved down the field using Wallace's speed and Delorme's power to pick up yardage, until DeLorme ran up the middle for a touchdown.
"They call (DeLorme) the pain train," Wallace said after the game.
The Chiefs weren't able to stop the Cardinals as Brodhead-Juda consumed almost six minutes from the clock on its way to its first score.
Big Foot led by one after the extra point failed.
In the second quarter, Brodhead-Juda was able to utilize the wind after stopping Big Foot with 8:23 to play.
On second and 7, Earleywine connected with Wallace on their 62-yard pass play. DeLorme's second score of the game gave Brodhead-Juda a 12-7 lead.
Brodhead-Juda added to its lead with nine seconds left until halftime when Earleywine hit Peterson in the end zone to give Brodhead a 19-7 halftime lead.
Only a fumble in the second quarter on the Chiefs' 23 yard line kept the Cardinals out of the end zone in the second quarter.
In the third quarter, the Chiefs showed why they were undefeated in their conference this year. During the season the Chiefs recorded three shut-out victories and in two other games they held their opponents to less than seven points.
Brodhead-Juda moved the ball 79 yards from its own 20 midway through the third quarter, but the Chiefs defense stiffened and stopped Wallace just short of the goal line with just over 4:30 to play in the third.
Big Foot, which had relied on the run for most of the game, decided it was time to pass. The Chiefs had two things going for them - the wind at their backs and some separation between their receivers and the Cardinals' defensive backs. Unfortunately for the Chiefs, accuracy was a problem as three incomplete passes forced them to punt the ball from their own end zone.
Brodhead-Juda took advantage of a poor punt to start its third quarter touchdown drive from the Big Foot 28 yard line. Five plays later, Earleywine finished the drive with a 3-yard run to put Brodhead-Juda ahead 25-7.
Late in the third quarter and into the fourth, the Chiefs were finally able to get their offense to work. With the help of an interference call that nullified an interception, the Chiefs 13-play, 65-yard drive culminated in Gottman's second rushing touchdown.
With just over 10 minutes to play, Cardinals' fans were noticeably nervous with their team leading by 11 in the fourth quarter.
Brodhead-Juda's offensive line took over the game, making holes in the Big Foot defensive line for Wallace and DeLorme to pick up chunks of yardage. Earleywine finished the 76-yard drive with another 3-yard run to the end zone to put the game away.
Long-time Brodhead-Juda assistant coach Steve Wallace said he's looking forward to going to the state championship with his son, Alex, as a player.
"It's a great way for his last season to end," Steve Wallace said. "As a dad it's nice to have your son playing well."
