WIAA Football Playoffs, Level 3
No. 1 seed Lodi (10-1) at Brodhead-Juda (9-2), Saturday, 2 p.m.
BRODHEAD - As Brodhead-Juda prepares for the WIAA Division 4 Level 3 playoff game against Lodi Saturday, coach Jim Matthys understands winning playoff games isn't as easy as the Cardinals have made it look.
Brodhead-Juda (9-2) has steamrolled through the first two rounds, outscoring New Glarus-Monticello and Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau 76-3.
"At this point, we can't afford to look past Saturday," Matthys said. "We have started to play our best football we have all year right now and it's a good time for it."
Even though the Cardinals get to play No. 1 seed Lodi (10-1), the Capitol North Conference champions, at home, Matthys is aware the deeper the Cardinals get in the playoffs, the bigger the test. Lodi's only loss was 7-0 to McFarland in the season opener.
"The last couple of games, we have been fortunate to get out to some big leads," Matthys said. "If we give up points, we have to be patient and stick with the game plan."
The game plan is expected to revolve around slowing a Blue Devils' offense averaging 30.5 points and 231.6 rushing yards per game. Lodi running back Tyler Caldwell spearheads the Blue Devils' I-formation attack with 1,673 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. The Blue Devils have a balanced offense with quarterback Lucas Stronach, who has passed for 1,169 yards with 14 TDs and just two interceptions. Stronach also can make plays running the ball and has scored nine touchdowns on the ground.
"In the playoffs, our defense has set the tone for our offense," Matthys said. "It will definitely take our defense to shut them down to beat them. There is no question we won the first two playoff games because our offense and defensive lines rose to the occasion and played at an elite level. They are the reason why we are where we are at."
Matthys said Lodi is big and has a good running game.
"We will probably be a little smaller," he said. "My first impression of them is they are solid. They don't make mistakes. They are not flashy. They will pound it right at you."
Forcing turnovers on defense and eliminating miscues on offense could be the deciding factor.
"Pressure is the key," Matthys said. "If they are throwing, we have to have pressure on the quarterback. In high school football, if you can put pressure on them and make them have to make quick, snappy decisions, it likely leads to mistakes."
The Cardinals also have a potent running attack that averages 296.3 yards a game. Brodhead-Juda senior running back Ethan Douglas has rushed for 1,257 yards and scored 19 touchdowns. There's no secret that Douglas is the Cardinals' No. 1 option on offense. However, senior quarterback Travis Hull, who has split time with sophomore David Earleywine this year, has given the Cardinals a boost in the playoffs. His running ability adds another dimension.
"He's a senior and you win with seniors," Matthys said. "Travis runs the option a little better. At this time of year, it's what we needed. We needed a little option in our game plan. Obviously, everyone keys on Ethan. We needed to do something to take the attention away from him."
Brodhead-Juda (9-2) has steamrolled through the first two rounds, outscoring New Glarus-Monticello and Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau 76-3.
"At this point, we can't afford to look past Saturday," Matthys said. "We have started to play our best football we have all year right now and it's a good time for it."
Even though the Cardinals get to play No. 1 seed Lodi (10-1), the Capitol North Conference champions, at home, Matthys is aware the deeper the Cardinals get in the playoffs, the bigger the test. Lodi's only loss was 7-0 to McFarland in the season opener.
"The last couple of games, we have been fortunate to get out to some big leads," Matthys said. "If we give up points, we have to be patient and stick with the game plan."
The game plan is expected to revolve around slowing a Blue Devils' offense averaging 30.5 points and 231.6 rushing yards per game. Lodi running back Tyler Caldwell spearheads the Blue Devils' I-formation attack with 1,673 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. The Blue Devils have a balanced offense with quarterback Lucas Stronach, who has passed for 1,169 yards with 14 TDs and just two interceptions. Stronach also can make plays running the ball and has scored nine touchdowns on the ground.
"In the playoffs, our defense has set the tone for our offense," Matthys said. "It will definitely take our defense to shut them down to beat them. There is no question we won the first two playoff games because our offense and defensive lines rose to the occasion and played at an elite level. They are the reason why we are where we are at."
Matthys said Lodi is big and has a good running game.
"We will probably be a little smaller," he said. "My first impression of them is they are solid. They don't make mistakes. They are not flashy. They will pound it right at you."
Forcing turnovers on defense and eliminating miscues on offense could be the deciding factor.
"Pressure is the key," Matthys said. "If they are throwing, we have to have pressure on the quarterback. In high school football, if you can put pressure on them and make them have to make quick, snappy decisions, it likely leads to mistakes."
The Cardinals also have a potent running attack that averages 296.3 yards a game. Brodhead-Juda senior running back Ethan Douglas has rushed for 1,257 yards and scored 19 touchdowns. There's no secret that Douglas is the Cardinals' No. 1 option on offense. However, senior quarterback Travis Hull, who has split time with sophomore David Earleywine this year, has given the Cardinals a boost in the playoffs. His running ability adds another dimension.
"He's a senior and you win with seniors," Matthys said. "Travis runs the option a little better. At this time of year, it's what we needed. We needed a little option in our game plan. Obviously, everyone keys on Ethan. We needed to do something to take the attention away from him."
