MONROE - Reedsburg's triple-option offense offered some unique challenges in preparation, but the Monroe High School football team showed its offense isn't the only vaunted part of its team.
Monroe senior Carter Sawdey had two interceptions, and the Cheesemakers forced three turnovers in bottling up the Beavers for a 21-0 win in a WIAA Division 3 first-round playoff game Friday night.
"It's great," Sawdey said of winning the program's first playoff game since 2003. "We haven't won a playoff game in a long time. Our defense played really well up front. We knew when they did pass the ball we had to make the most of it and get after the ball. We did that tonight."
Top-seeded Monroe (10-0) advances to host fourth-seeded Fort Atkinson (6-4) next week. Fort Atkinson ousted Evansville-Albany 49-21 Friday.
The Cheesemakers edged Fort Atkinson 24-21 on a field goal as time expired in the final game of the regular season Oct. 14.
On Friday, the Cheesemakers limited the Beavers to 147 total yards, which included 128 rushing yards.
Reedsburg (4-6) looked to chew the clock and dominate the ball in the first half.
"I call it the underdog offense when they try to run the clock down and limit the number of possessions," Monroe coach Toby Golembiewski said. "If they were going to win or lose they were going to limit the number of possessions. They never got into striking distance for a field goal or touchdown. I thought we got great play-calling from coach (Tom) Witt, and the defense stepped up when they needed to. It's not easy when you don't see that (triple option) every week. That is why they have had success in the playoffs and because they have some talented kids and a great program."
After a scoreless first quarter, Monroe got its offense rolling in the second quarter. The Cheesemakers scored on an 11-play, 78-yard drive, culminating in senior running back Cole Murray's 1-yard touchdown plunge.
"That finally got the ice broken," Golembiewski said.
The Cheesemakers forced three fumbles on defense, but the Beavers dodged bullets each time by recovering them.
Monroe put some pressure on midway through the second half. Monroe senior Tyler Elmer's punt hit a Reedsburg blocker and senior Mitch Bartlet recovered at the Cheesemakers' 45-yard line. Elmer hooked up with junior Brayden Zettle on a 27-yard pass. Four plays later, the Cheesemakers' drive stalled when Murray was stuffed on fourth-and-1 from the Beaver's 9-yard line. The Cheesemakers escaped any damage after the turnover on downs when Sawdey had his first interception of a Reedsburg quarterback Colin Crolius' pass with 51 seconds to go to preserve Monroe's 7-0 lead at the half.
The Cheesemakers looked to put the game away with a nine-play, 85-yard drive, capped off by senior Jacob Kind, who scored on a 4-yard run to give the Cheesemakers a 14-0 lead with 2:48 left in the third quarter. The big play of the drive was Kind's 41-yard run.
The Cheesemakers racked up 345 total yards, including 282 on the ground. Kind rushed for 84 yards on 15 carries and scored one touchdown. Murray rushed for 73 yards on 12 carries and had one touchdown. Senior fullback Isaac Allen, who entered the game with 1,097 rushing yards, was shut down by the Beavers and limited to 57 yards on eight carries.
"If I was a defensive coach and on their team, I would key on Isaac, too," Elmer said. "If not he will shred you. Jake had a couple of big runs on the drive. That was a big momentum boost (Kind's touchdown). Knowing our defense came out strong is big, too."
Elmer completed 4 of 6 passes for 63 yards. He added 65 rushing yards on four carries and scored one touchdown.
"When we throw the ball we can move it quicker," Elmer said. "When we face better teams as we go on in the playoffs they will know how to shut down our running backs and line, and we will have to throw the ball more."
Elmer had a 59-yard TD run on a naked bootleg on the Cheesemakers' last offensive play with 19 seconds to go in the fourth quarter. With the Cheesemakers' line blocking down, Elmer faked a handoff and put the ball on his hip and raced around the end to the right near the Monroe sideline for the touchdown.
"The offensive line didn't know what play we were going to run," Elmer said. "They didn't know I was going to keep it. Only coach and I knew I was going to keep it. We talked a couple of weeks ago and teams were not honoring my fake. It felt really good to cap the game with a touchdown."
It will give Fort Atkinson another play to gear up for in the rematch against the Cheesemakers next week.
"It's another play card they have to scout," Elmer said. "If they don't honor my fake on the backside it could be a big play."
Monroe senior Carter Sawdey had two interceptions, and the Cheesemakers forced three turnovers in bottling up the Beavers for a 21-0 win in a WIAA Division 3 first-round playoff game Friday night.
"It's great," Sawdey said of winning the program's first playoff game since 2003. "We haven't won a playoff game in a long time. Our defense played really well up front. We knew when they did pass the ball we had to make the most of it and get after the ball. We did that tonight."
Top-seeded Monroe (10-0) advances to host fourth-seeded Fort Atkinson (6-4) next week. Fort Atkinson ousted Evansville-Albany 49-21 Friday.
The Cheesemakers edged Fort Atkinson 24-21 on a field goal as time expired in the final game of the regular season Oct. 14.
On Friday, the Cheesemakers limited the Beavers to 147 total yards, which included 128 rushing yards.
Reedsburg (4-6) looked to chew the clock and dominate the ball in the first half.
"I call it the underdog offense when they try to run the clock down and limit the number of possessions," Monroe coach Toby Golembiewski said. "If they were going to win or lose they were going to limit the number of possessions. They never got into striking distance for a field goal or touchdown. I thought we got great play-calling from coach (Tom) Witt, and the defense stepped up when they needed to. It's not easy when you don't see that (triple option) every week. That is why they have had success in the playoffs and because they have some talented kids and a great program."
After a scoreless first quarter, Monroe got its offense rolling in the second quarter. The Cheesemakers scored on an 11-play, 78-yard drive, culminating in senior running back Cole Murray's 1-yard touchdown plunge.
"That finally got the ice broken," Golembiewski said.
The Cheesemakers forced three fumbles on defense, but the Beavers dodged bullets each time by recovering them.
Monroe put some pressure on midway through the second half. Monroe senior Tyler Elmer's punt hit a Reedsburg blocker and senior Mitch Bartlet recovered at the Cheesemakers' 45-yard line. Elmer hooked up with junior Brayden Zettle on a 27-yard pass. Four plays later, the Cheesemakers' drive stalled when Murray was stuffed on fourth-and-1 from the Beaver's 9-yard line. The Cheesemakers escaped any damage after the turnover on downs when Sawdey had his first interception of a Reedsburg quarterback Colin Crolius' pass with 51 seconds to go to preserve Monroe's 7-0 lead at the half.
The Cheesemakers looked to put the game away with a nine-play, 85-yard drive, capped off by senior Jacob Kind, who scored on a 4-yard run to give the Cheesemakers a 14-0 lead with 2:48 left in the third quarter. The big play of the drive was Kind's 41-yard run.
The Cheesemakers racked up 345 total yards, including 282 on the ground. Kind rushed for 84 yards on 15 carries and scored one touchdown. Murray rushed for 73 yards on 12 carries and had one touchdown. Senior fullback Isaac Allen, who entered the game with 1,097 rushing yards, was shut down by the Beavers and limited to 57 yards on eight carries.
"If I was a defensive coach and on their team, I would key on Isaac, too," Elmer said. "If not he will shred you. Jake had a couple of big runs on the drive. That was a big momentum boost (Kind's touchdown). Knowing our defense came out strong is big, too."
Elmer completed 4 of 6 passes for 63 yards. He added 65 rushing yards on four carries and scored one touchdown.
"When we throw the ball we can move it quicker," Elmer said. "When we face better teams as we go on in the playoffs they will know how to shut down our running backs and line, and we will have to throw the ball more."
Elmer had a 59-yard TD run on a naked bootleg on the Cheesemakers' last offensive play with 19 seconds to go in the fourth quarter. With the Cheesemakers' line blocking down, Elmer faked a handoff and put the ball on his hip and raced around the end to the right near the Monroe sideline for the touchdown.
"The offensive line didn't know what play we were going to run," Elmer said. "They didn't know I was going to keep it. Only coach and I knew I was going to keep it. We talked a couple of weeks ago and teams were not honoring my fake. It felt really good to cap the game with a touchdown."
It will give Fort Atkinson another play to gear up for in the rematch against the Cheesemakers next week.
"It's another play card they have to scout," Elmer said. "If they don't honor my fake on the backside it could be a big play."
