SPRING GREEN - Brodhead-Juda football coach B.J. Bockhop had a season opener he will never forget.
The Cardinals knocked off River Valley 17-14.
"It's a great win for the program and staff," Bockhop said. "It's always nice to get that first win of the year, especially against an opponent like River Valley we haven't beat in five years."
The Blackhawks had a turnover on a botched snap on a punt that led to the Cardinals' first score. Brodhead-Juda senior running back Tyler Updike cashed in on the golden field position punching in a 1-yard TD. Brodhead-Juda senior Brady Bueschel kicked a 31-yard field goal in the first quarter to extend the lead to 10-0.
Brodhead-Juda senior Jordan Kraak scored on a 9-yard TD run in the second quarter to give the Cardinals a 17-7 lead at halftime. The Cardinals forced three turnovers and Updike had an interception.
"Our defense played just phenomenal," Bockhop said.
Platteville 28, Darlington 15
PLATTEVILLE - Big plays at inopportune times caught up with Darlington in its season opener Friday night against Platteville. The Redbirds lost 28-15 despite strong games from running backs Myles Leahy and Jason Singer, who each rushed for more than 100 yards.
Darlington led 8-7 at halftime and kept the game close for much of the third quarter before a touchdown by Platteville stole all of the momentum away from the Redbirds.
Darlington coach Scott Zywicki singled out a halfback pass in the second half executed by Platteville's offense and two of his team's own fumbled snaps as critical points in the game.
"They hit us with some big plays and we were unable to capitalize on our opportunities," Zywicki said. "We got inside the 20 three times and didn't score. So it was their ability to make big plays and our inability to finish what we started."
Despite the outcome, Zywicki said he was happy about his teams "ability to move the ball between the 30s" and the efforts from Leahy and Singer.
Zywicki said that going forward, his team is going to need to "simplify some things," especially on the defensive side of the ball.
"We just did not know where we needed to be at certain times. ... So we're going to have to make it as least complicated as we can," he said. "We're not doing well with defensive changes, so we're going to have to make sure the players are aware (of what they need to do)."
Evansville-Albany 30, Union Grove 21
EVANSVILLE - Evansville-Albany running back Ryan Cashore ran for 94 yards and scored three touchdowns to lead Evansville-Albany to a 30-21 non-conference win over Union Grove in the season opener.
The Blue Devils got on the board in the first quarter when quarterback Matt Sperry tossed a 5-yard TD pass to senior Isaiah Shell.
Cashore scored on runs of 7 and 5-yards. The 5-yard TD run in the third quarter gave the Blue Devils a 22-21 lead. He iced the game with an 11-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. Sperry was 6 of 15 passing for 86 yards and one touchdown.
Iowa-Grant 43,
N.G-Monticello 23
LIVINGSTON - New Glarus-Monticello lost a non-conference season opener to Iowa-Grant 43-23 Friday, Aug. 23.
The Cardinals knocked off River Valley 17-14.
"It's a great win for the program and staff," Bockhop said. "It's always nice to get that first win of the year, especially against an opponent like River Valley we haven't beat in five years."
The Blackhawks had a turnover on a botched snap on a punt that led to the Cardinals' first score. Brodhead-Juda senior running back Tyler Updike cashed in on the golden field position punching in a 1-yard TD. Brodhead-Juda senior Brady Bueschel kicked a 31-yard field goal in the first quarter to extend the lead to 10-0.
Brodhead-Juda senior Jordan Kraak scored on a 9-yard TD run in the second quarter to give the Cardinals a 17-7 lead at halftime. The Cardinals forced three turnovers and Updike had an interception.
"Our defense played just phenomenal," Bockhop said.
Platteville 28, Darlington 15
PLATTEVILLE - Big plays at inopportune times caught up with Darlington in its season opener Friday night against Platteville. The Redbirds lost 28-15 despite strong games from running backs Myles Leahy and Jason Singer, who each rushed for more than 100 yards.
Darlington led 8-7 at halftime and kept the game close for much of the third quarter before a touchdown by Platteville stole all of the momentum away from the Redbirds.
Darlington coach Scott Zywicki singled out a halfback pass in the second half executed by Platteville's offense and two of his team's own fumbled snaps as critical points in the game.
"They hit us with some big plays and we were unable to capitalize on our opportunities," Zywicki said. "We got inside the 20 three times and didn't score. So it was their ability to make big plays and our inability to finish what we started."
Despite the outcome, Zywicki said he was happy about his teams "ability to move the ball between the 30s" and the efforts from Leahy and Singer.
Zywicki said that going forward, his team is going to need to "simplify some things," especially on the defensive side of the ball.
"We just did not know where we needed to be at certain times. ... So we're going to have to make it as least complicated as we can," he said. "We're not doing well with defensive changes, so we're going to have to make sure the players are aware (of what they need to do)."
Evansville-Albany 30, Union Grove 21
EVANSVILLE - Evansville-Albany running back Ryan Cashore ran for 94 yards and scored three touchdowns to lead Evansville-Albany to a 30-21 non-conference win over Union Grove in the season opener.
The Blue Devils got on the board in the first quarter when quarterback Matt Sperry tossed a 5-yard TD pass to senior Isaiah Shell.
Cashore scored on runs of 7 and 5-yards. The 5-yard TD run in the third quarter gave the Blue Devils a 22-21 lead. He iced the game with an 11-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. Sperry was 6 of 15 passing for 86 yards and one touchdown.
Iowa-Grant 43,
N.G-Monticello 23
LIVINGSTON - New Glarus-Monticello lost a non-conference season opener to Iowa-Grant 43-23 Friday, Aug. 23.
