NEW GLARUS - Brodhead-Juda didn't face much of a challenge in knocking off New Glarus-Monticello on the road, Tuesday.
Five different Cardinals' players scored at least one touchdown, including three by senior Jake Covert, as Brodhead-Juda got past the opening round of the WIAA Division 4 playoffs, 47-0.
The Cardinals held the Knights to a three-and-out on the opening possession of the game. Sophomore Trent Jordan then showed off some razzle-dazzle, returning the punt 47 yards, giving Brodhead-Juda great field position inside the New Glarus-Monticello 25 yard line.
Three plays later, senior quarterback Travis Hull connected with Covert on a screen pass for a score with 8 minutes, 8 seconds left in the first.
"It was an unbelievable feeling," Covert said. "I have to give credit to our line, they opened holes for me and our runners all game. To get a win like this - words can't describe it."
Six minutes later, Hull connected with a wide open Michael Peterson on a deep slant for a 76-yard score.
"We wanted to establish a running game before a passing game. But (the Knights) were coming hard in the mud so we went to play action and it worked out for us," Brodhead-Juda head coach Jim Matthys said.
As aggressive as the offense was, the Cardinals defense was even stronger. Brodhead-Juda stifled the Knights' running and passing attack all game. New Glarus-Monticello gained 84 total yards of offense and senior quarterback Ryan Bright was sacked, hit and crumbled throughout the game, collecting -23 yards on 11 carries, including an interception.
"If we play aggressive, we can play as good of defense as anyone else," Matthys said.
Despite the loss, Bright said his team can still be proud of its season.
"Coming into the game we had all the confidence in the world. But Brodhead is a great team, a physical team," Bright said. "But our group of guys have nothing to be ashamed of. We've never played a home playoff game before. To be the first team to do that, people will remember that for years to come."
Four of Brodhead-Juda's six first half possessions started in NGM territory, two from inside the 25-yard line.
"Field position is important no matter what," Matthys said.
Ethan Douglas, who gained 80 yards on 16 carries, picked up an 11-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, and Brayden Fritsch scored on a 14-yard run before halftime. Fritsch gained 21 yards on three carries before leaving the game with a leg injury.
The Times confirmed this morning that Fritsch suffered a broken ankle and will miss the rest of the postseason.
Blair Chapman ran for 74 yards on five carries in Fritsch's place.
"I told our kids they have to hold their heads high. You're not going to come back from 28 if you don't score," NGM coach Jeffrey Eichelkraut said. "We had to get a stop defensively and you had to get a score."
The game only got worse for the Knights in the second half. Trailing 28-0 at the break, Covert opened the game even more, scoring twice on runs of 2 and 15 yards. Jesse Delorme closed out the scoring on a 1-yard dive with 2:43 left in the game.
"We knew they were a good team. We thought we would match up OK. But they were really physical and took it to us," Eichelkraut said.
Through it all, it was Bright, the unquestioned leader of NGM, who stayed on the field hit after hit, continuing to ask for the ball in hopes of making something happen.
"You've got to have guts to play football. You got to set the tone and play with your heart. That's the only way I've known how to play since I started football," said Bright, who was the last player to leave the field.
"I took him out after he got hit hard on a punt and he looked at me, asking what was going on," Eichelkraut said. "He's a great player and on top of that is a super individual. He's meant a lot to us, as have all of these seniors. This team has become a family."
Brodhead-Juda will now take on Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau at home Saturday, Oct. 31.
Five different Cardinals' players scored at least one touchdown, including three by senior Jake Covert, as Brodhead-Juda got past the opening round of the WIAA Division 4 playoffs, 47-0.
The Cardinals held the Knights to a three-and-out on the opening possession of the game. Sophomore Trent Jordan then showed off some razzle-dazzle, returning the punt 47 yards, giving Brodhead-Juda great field position inside the New Glarus-Monticello 25 yard line.
Three plays later, senior quarterback Travis Hull connected with Covert on a screen pass for a score with 8 minutes, 8 seconds left in the first.
"It was an unbelievable feeling," Covert said. "I have to give credit to our line, they opened holes for me and our runners all game. To get a win like this - words can't describe it."
Six minutes later, Hull connected with a wide open Michael Peterson on a deep slant for a 76-yard score.
"We wanted to establish a running game before a passing game. But (the Knights) were coming hard in the mud so we went to play action and it worked out for us," Brodhead-Juda head coach Jim Matthys said.
As aggressive as the offense was, the Cardinals defense was even stronger. Brodhead-Juda stifled the Knights' running and passing attack all game. New Glarus-Monticello gained 84 total yards of offense and senior quarterback Ryan Bright was sacked, hit and crumbled throughout the game, collecting -23 yards on 11 carries, including an interception.
"If we play aggressive, we can play as good of defense as anyone else," Matthys said.
Despite the loss, Bright said his team can still be proud of its season.
"Coming into the game we had all the confidence in the world. But Brodhead is a great team, a physical team," Bright said. "But our group of guys have nothing to be ashamed of. We've never played a home playoff game before. To be the first team to do that, people will remember that for years to come."
Four of Brodhead-Juda's six first half possessions started in NGM territory, two from inside the 25-yard line.
"Field position is important no matter what," Matthys said.
Ethan Douglas, who gained 80 yards on 16 carries, picked up an 11-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, and Brayden Fritsch scored on a 14-yard run before halftime. Fritsch gained 21 yards on three carries before leaving the game with a leg injury.
The Times confirmed this morning that Fritsch suffered a broken ankle and will miss the rest of the postseason.
Blair Chapman ran for 74 yards on five carries in Fritsch's place.
"I told our kids they have to hold their heads high. You're not going to come back from 28 if you don't score," NGM coach Jeffrey Eichelkraut said. "We had to get a stop defensively and you had to get a score."
The game only got worse for the Knights in the second half. Trailing 28-0 at the break, Covert opened the game even more, scoring twice on runs of 2 and 15 yards. Jesse Delorme closed out the scoring on a 1-yard dive with 2:43 left in the game.
"We knew they were a good team. We thought we would match up OK. But they were really physical and took it to us," Eichelkraut said.
Through it all, it was Bright, the unquestioned leader of NGM, who stayed on the field hit after hit, continuing to ask for the ball in hopes of making something happen.
"You've got to have guts to play football. You got to set the tone and play with your heart. That's the only way I've known how to play since I started football," said Bright, who was the last player to leave the field.
"I took him out after he got hit hard on a punt and he looked at me, asking what was going on," Eichelkraut said. "He's a great player and on top of that is a super individual. He's meant a lot to us, as have all of these seniors. This team has become a family."
Brodhead-Juda will now take on Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau at home Saturday, Oct. 31.
