BRODHEAD - After waiting three weeks to host their first game of the season, the Brodhead-Juda Cardinals gave their fans something to cheer about Friday.
Coming off a stellar win in Week 3 over Beloit Turner, the Cardinals (4-0, 2-0 Rock Valley South) used a sound running game to pound out an impressive 40-7 Week 4 crossover win over East Troy (0-4, 0-2 Rock Valley North).
"I think we came out, offense especially, and did what we had to do," Brodhead-Juda head coach Jim Matthys said. "(East Troy) didn't do anything differently than we really expected. It's a little different (after switching conferences) because you don't know them as well - you don't know their coaches."
The Cardinals started the game with a six-play defensive stand to force a Trojan punt. However, Brodhead-Juda coughed up the ball on its fifth play from scrimmage, despite marching 40 yards. East Troy then ran off nine plays, marching only 22 yards and punted the ball through the end zone.
From there, it was all Brodhead.
Junior running back Ethan Douglas ripped off runs of 11, 8, 27, 1 and 1 yards (to go with 15 yards on three carries by Vincent Mazzarisi) before plunging into the end zone on a third-and-goal from the 2-yard line with just six seconds left in the first half.
East Troy started another march down the field, but an overthrown screen pass deep in Cardinal territory fell right into the hands of junior lineman Eric Wahl, who took the interception to Brodhead's 37-yard line.
The Cardinals marched down the field, matching traps and counters with sweeps and swing passes. Mazzarisi then broke free off the right side of the line on the sixth play of the drive for a 24-yard touchdown run.
"A lot of it obviously goes to our offensive line. They did a great job. They got off the ball and went out to own the line of scrimmage, which I think they did tonight," Matthys said.
On East Troy's first play from scrimmage on its next drive, running back Jordan Jacobs fumbled the possession away at the Trojans' 34-yard line with 4:07 remaining in the half. On first down, senior quarterback Beau Benner hit Danny Douglas on a slant route for 17 yards. Douglas, running up and across the field, adjusted his body on the fly with a Trojan player hanging on his back to make the catch.
The next play, Mazzarisi ran off the left side for a 19-yard touchdown run with 3:37 to play in the second.
Trailing 21-0, East Troy was forced to punt on a three-and-out, but a communication error by the Cardinals' punt return team left a cover man wide open for the Trojans. On the light pass on 4th-and-2, Brodhead's Devin Seitz managed to adjust his pursuit route and jump high enough into the air to tip the ball away.
On the fourth play of Brodhead's drive, Ethan Douglas busted open a 32-yard run but was tackled at the 3-yard line. With the clock winding down in the half, the Cardinals took their time before Douglas waltzed into the end zone on the next play, leaving just 24 seconds on the clock. That's where it stood at halftime, 27-0 Cardinals.
To start the second half, Brodhead drove down much of the field before coughing up its second turnover. Benner lofted a rushed pass down the left side of the field, and the Trojans Cory Zaeske picked him off.
East Troy marched down the field in 12 plays and scored on a seven-yard run by Jacobs to close the gap to 27-7.
Brodhead-Juda answered right back. Seitz returned the ensuing kickoff 56 yards to the Trojans' 30-yard line. Four plays later, Douglas scored his third touchdown of the game to push the score to 33-7.
East Troy's next possession ended on a turnover on downs, and Brodhead would once again strike gold.
Brenner kept the ball on an option and dashed 67 yards down to the Trojans' 22-yard line. Five players later, Douglas capped his four-touchdown night and ending the scoring for the rest of the game with 5:07 to play.
Douglas led all rushers with 136 yards on 17 carries. Mazzarisi gained 124 on 15 carries. Benner, who was 4-for-7 for 43 yards passing also had four carries for 95 yards. In all, the Cardinals racked up 426 yards of total offense on 46 plays compared to East Troy's 238 yards on just 57 plays.
"Our offense is pretty balanced. We did a pretty decent job throwing the ball, too. We threw the ball when we wanted to and not when we had to. And that certainly helps," Matthys said.
The Cardinals will get back on the bus next week, marking their fourth away game in five weeks, to take on Palmyra-Eagle (2-2, 1-1 RVC South).
Coming off a stellar win in Week 3 over Beloit Turner, the Cardinals (4-0, 2-0 Rock Valley South) used a sound running game to pound out an impressive 40-7 Week 4 crossover win over East Troy (0-4, 0-2 Rock Valley North).
"I think we came out, offense especially, and did what we had to do," Brodhead-Juda head coach Jim Matthys said. "(East Troy) didn't do anything differently than we really expected. It's a little different (after switching conferences) because you don't know them as well - you don't know their coaches."
The Cardinals started the game with a six-play defensive stand to force a Trojan punt. However, Brodhead-Juda coughed up the ball on its fifth play from scrimmage, despite marching 40 yards. East Troy then ran off nine plays, marching only 22 yards and punted the ball through the end zone.
From there, it was all Brodhead.
Junior running back Ethan Douglas ripped off runs of 11, 8, 27, 1 and 1 yards (to go with 15 yards on three carries by Vincent Mazzarisi) before plunging into the end zone on a third-and-goal from the 2-yard line with just six seconds left in the first half.
East Troy started another march down the field, but an overthrown screen pass deep in Cardinal territory fell right into the hands of junior lineman Eric Wahl, who took the interception to Brodhead's 37-yard line.
The Cardinals marched down the field, matching traps and counters with sweeps and swing passes. Mazzarisi then broke free off the right side of the line on the sixth play of the drive for a 24-yard touchdown run.
"A lot of it obviously goes to our offensive line. They did a great job. They got off the ball and went out to own the line of scrimmage, which I think they did tonight," Matthys said.
On East Troy's first play from scrimmage on its next drive, running back Jordan Jacobs fumbled the possession away at the Trojans' 34-yard line with 4:07 remaining in the half. On first down, senior quarterback Beau Benner hit Danny Douglas on a slant route for 17 yards. Douglas, running up and across the field, adjusted his body on the fly with a Trojan player hanging on his back to make the catch.
The next play, Mazzarisi ran off the left side for a 19-yard touchdown run with 3:37 to play in the second.
Trailing 21-0, East Troy was forced to punt on a three-and-out, but a communication error by the Cardinals' punt return team left a cover man wide open for the Trojans. On the light pass on 4th-and-2, Brodhead's Devin Seitz managed to adjust his pursuit route and jump high enough into the air to tip the ball away.
On the fourth play of Brodhead's drive, Ethan Douglas busted open a 32-yard run but was tackled at the 3-yard line. With the clock winding down in the half, the Cardinals took their time before Douglas waltzed into the end zone on the next play, leaving just 24 seconds on the clock. That's where it stood at halftime, 27-0 Cardinals.
To start the second half, Brodhead drove down much of the field before coughing up its second turnover. Benner lofted a rushed pass down the left side of the field, and the Trojans Cory Zaeske picked him off.
East Troy marched down the field in 12 plays and scored on a seven-yard run by Jacobs to close the gap to 27-7.
Brodhead-Juda answered right back. Seitz returned the ensuing kickoff 56 yards to the Trojans' 30-yard line. Four plays later, Douglas scored his third touchdown of the game to push the score to 33-7.
East Troy's next possession ended on a turnover on downs, and Brodhead would once again strike gold.
Brenner kept the ball on an option and dashed 67 yards down to the Trojans' 22-yard line. Five players later, Douglas capped his four-touchdown night and ending the scoring for the rest of the game with 5:07 to play.
Douglas led all rushers with 136 yards on 17 carries. Mazzarisi gained 124 on 15 carries. Benner, who was 4-for-7 for 43 yards passing also had four carries for 95 yards. In all, the Cardinals racked up 426 yards of total offense on 46 plays compared to East Troy's 238 yards on just 57 plays.
"Our offense is pretty balanced. We did a pretty decent job throwing the ball, too. We threw the ball when we wanted to and not when we had to. And that certainly helps," Matthys said.
The Cardinals will get back on the bus next week, marking their fourth away game in five weeks, to take on Palmyra-Eagle (2-2, 1-1 RVC South).
