WIAA First-Round Playoffs
All games at 7 p.m. Friday
Division 3: Pewaukee (5-4) at Evansville-Albany (9-0)
Division 4: Brodhead-Juda (4-5) at River Valley (8-1)
Division 5: New Glarus-Monticello (3-6) at Spencer-Columbus Catholic (9-0)
Division 6: Pardeeville (5-4) at Darlington (9-0)
Division 6: Kickapoo-LaFarge (3-6) at Pecatonica-Argyle (9-0)
Division 7: Black Hawk (6-3) at Burlington Catholic Central (9-0)
EVANSVILLE - Whether it's walking to get sub sandwiches and a couple bottles of Gatorade before the game, or stretching, praying or holding hands as they walk on the field, the four starters from Albany on the Evansville-Albany football team take pride in the position they are in entering the first round of the WIAA playoffs Friday.
"I think to have this opportunity it shows kids from Albany you always have the chance to be a part of something special," junior linebacker Brock Gilkes said. "We take pride being from Albany, a small town and being able to contribute to the Evansville-Albany team. Coming from Albany and being able to compete on a varsity stage, we are all honored by that."
Gilkes is one of four starters from Albany that will take the field when the Blue Devils host Pewaukee in a Division 3 game Friday. The other starters from Albany for the Blue Devils are senior Andrew Berra (defensive end), junior Noah Pagel (defensive tackle) and sophomore Jeb Beck (offensive tackle).
"Having so many starters from Albany makes us feel like we are part of the team," Berra said, who has 30 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and four sacks. "I feel like some think we are a small town that can't compete against a large school like them (Pewaukee). I think we can if we stay focused and work on the fundamentals we have a chance."
Whether it's a practice day or a game day, they gather outside Albany High School to ride on a school bus every day to Evansville. During those bus rides they look over game plans and schemes and talk football. It's a time each day they get to unwind and bounce ideas off each other.
"We have talked about what we need to do to get better," Gilkes said. "We discuss when we need to be in the weight room. These are the times we will be able to hold on to forever."
Four years ago, before Albany renewed its cooperative agreement with Evansville, Albany youth football players played in Belleville. Since the co-op with Evansville was renewed, the Blue Devils have won three of four conference titles.
"We struggled in youth football in our last year," Berra said. "I feel like it worked out well going to Evansville. Albany adds a very nice touch to EA football. I never imagined that it could ever amount to this when we started. You make it a much bigger thing. We have accomplished a lot this season."
The Blue Devils' defense is giving up just 10.1 points per game and is limiting teams to 83 rushing yards per game.
"Coach (Jay) Hrdlicka, our defensive coordinator, always preaches every week our goal is to win a conference title and be the best team on the field," Gilkes said. "Each week that is at the top of our list."
The Blue Devils won the Rock Valley North Conference title but now are looking to flex their defense muscle in the postseason. Pewaukee runs a wing-T offense similar to Brodhead-Juda, Evansville-Albany coach Ron Grovesteen said. Berra is a reigning all-conference player at defensive end last year. Both Pagel and Gilkes are in their first year as starters.
"They are doing a great job," Grovesteen said of Pagel and Gilkes. "It takes a team effort to get it done. It's a big game for us against a Milwaukee school. We will have to continue to stop the run. I think we just tackle. That is what we hang our hat on. We want to be good tacklers."
At offensive tackle, Beck has been one vital cog in a line that has helped the Blue Devils average 283.5 rushing yards per game. As a sophomore starter, Beck had high expectations for this season.
"I thought we would be a good team and make the playoffs," Beck said. "I never thought we would be 9-0. I put a lot of pressure on myself early on just going up against older guys with more experience on the line."
Beck isn't using the fact that the Blue Devils received a No. 3 seed despite being unbeaten as extra motivation.
"We are not an overly big enrollment team," Beck said. "I think (some teams) may be overlooking us a little bit. It's not what we are focusing on. We are thinking about playing as a team and getting it done."
Before every game, the Blue Devils line up for stretching in the formation of a star on the field.
"It's just tradition," Gilkes said. "Coach is always big on tradition."
"I think to have this opportunity it shows kids from Albany you always have the chance to be a part of something special," junior linebacker Brock Gilkes said. "We take pride being from Albany, a small town and being able to contribute to the Evansville-Albany team. Coming from Albany and being able to compete on a varsity stage, we are all honored by that."
Gilkes is one of four starters from Albany that will take the field when the Blue Devils host Pewaukee in a Division 3 game Friday. The other starters from Albany for the Blue Devils are senior Andrew Berra (defensive end), junior Noah Pagel (defensive tackle) and sophomore Jeb Beck (offensive tackle).
"Having so many starters from Albany makes us feel like we are part of the team," Berra said, who has 30 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and four sacks. "I feel like some think we are a small town that can't compete against a large school like them (Pewaukee). I think we can if we stay focused and work on the fundamentals we have a chance."
Whether it's a practice day or a game day, they gather outside Albany High School to ride on a school bus every day to Evansville. During those bus rides they look over game plans and schemes and talk football. It's a time each day they get to unwind and bounce ideas off each other.
"We have talked about what we need to do to get better," Gilkes said. "We discuss when we need to be in the weight room. These are the times we will be able to hold on to forever."
Four years ago, before Albany renewed its cooperative agreement with Evansville, Albany youth football players played in Belleville. Since the co-op with Evansville was renewed, the Blue Devils have won three of four conference titles.
"We struggled in youth football in our last year," Berra said. "I feel like it worked out well going to Evansville. Albany adds a very nice touch to EA football. I never imagined that it could ever amount to this when we started. You make it a much bigger thing. We have accomplished a lot this season."
The Blue Devils' defense is giving up just 10.1 points per game and is limiting teams to 83 rushing yards per game.
"Coach (Jay) Hrdlicka, our defensive coordinator, always preaches every week our goal is to win a conference title and be the best team on the field," Gilkes said. "Each week that is at the top of our list."
The Blue Devils won the Rock Valley North Conference title but now are looking to flex their defense muscle in the postseason. Pewaukee runs a wing-T offense similar to Brodhead-Juda, Evansville-Albany coach Ron Grovesteen said. Berra is a reigning all-conference player at defensive end last year. Both Pagel and Gilkes are in their first year as starters.
"They are doing a great job," Grovesteen said of Pagel and Gilkes. "It takes a team effort to get it done. It's a big game for us against a Milwaukee school. We will have to continue to stop the run. I think we just tackle. That is what we hang our hat on. We want to be good tacklers."
At offensive tackle, Beck has been one vital cog in a line that has helped the Blue Devils average 283.5 rushing yards per game. As a sophomore starter, Beck had high expectations for this season.
"I thought we would be a good team and make the playoffs," Beck said. "I never thought we would be 9-0. I put a lot of pressure on myself early on just going up against older guys with more experience on the line."
Beck isn't using the fact that the Blue Devils received a No. 3 seed despite being unbeaten as extra motivation.
"We are not an overly big enrollment team," Beck said. "I think (some teams) may be overlooking us a little bit. It's not what we are focusing on. We are thinking about playing as a team and getting it done."
Before every game, the Blue Devils line up for stretching in the formation of a star on the field.
"It's just tradition," Gilkes said. "Coach is always big on tradition."
