MONROE - Senior quarterback Alex Barenklau didn't need a Monroe football history book to remember the last time the Cheesemakers won the season opener.
"We haven't won our first game in about eight years," Barenklau said after he and the Cheesemakers' defense led the way to a season-opening 17-0 win over Sauk Prairie Friday night. "This is the first step to the playoffs."
Monroe coach Curt Miller has said the Cheesemakers' goal this year is to make a return to the playoffs, but he isn't looking too far ahead.
"Our focus going into this game was this game and to be 1-0," Miller said. "We knew a win tonight could propel us to a great season. Sauk Prairie was thinking the same thing. They were a bubble team for the playoffs last year. It was a big game for both of us. Fortunately, we were able to come out on top."
The Cheesemakers couldn't have scripted a better start. The Cheesemakers' first possession was an 11-play, 54-yard drive culminating in Barenklau's 1-yard TD run on a quarterback sneak. He then beat the Eagles defense to the pylon running in the two-point conversion to give the Cheesemakers an 8-0 lead. The first drive featured a heavy dose of running with sophomore Cody Wolf and senior Trent Wyssbrod.
"We came out and kept running and running," Barenklau said. "We kept running because we were getting 8 to 10 yards a run. Those are the games where you really don't have to throw."
Monroe junior Ryan Hughes recovered an Eagles' fumble at the Cheesemakers' 7-yard line to set up the next scoring opportunity. The Cheesemakers capped a 13-play, 93-yard drive with a 1-yard TD plunge by Hughes that extended the lead to 14-0.
Hughes finished with one touchdown, one sack and one fumble recovery.
"It's a memory made," Hughes said. "It (winning Week 1) was our first goal. It's going to be a special season. We started this season with a different attitude. Now we have the attitude that we were going into it 1-0."
The Cheesemakers' defense showed some attitude and swagger in preserving the shutout. The Cheesemakers recorded five sacks and senior Kevin Klopfenstein and Charlie Kind had interceptions against Sauk Prairie quarterback Jared Schaaf. Monroe junior Brett Zimmerman, Wyssbrod, Hughes and senior Trevor Gorr all had sacks. Monroe bottled up the Eagles' running game and limited them to just three first downs and minus-12 rushing yards in the first half. The Eagles finished with just 116 total yards and 21 on the ground.
"We watched a lot of film and worked hard in practice," Hughes said. "We had the attitude that we were going to stop every play and that attitude worked."
Miller was happy with the aggressive style the defense played stunting and filling gaps.
"It was important our kids stepped up and forced some turnovers," Miller said. "Our defense was aggressive and kept them on their heels. They weren't freebie turnovers."
Klopfenstein kicked a 37-yard field goal on the first possession of the third quarter to give the Cheesemakers a 17-0 lead. That was more than enough cushion for the defense.
Monroe rushed for 220 total yards. Sophomore Cody Wolf led the Cheesemakers with 83 rushing yards on 12 carries. Wyssbrod rushed for 77 yards on 12 carries. Barenklau completed 2 of 4 passes for 27 yards and tossed one interception.
"I was really happy with how hard our backs ran tonight," Miller said. "They all ran physical. We will be able to throw a lot of running backs out there."
The Eagles chewed up the clock and had a long drive late in the third quarter that spanned into the fourth that was aided by a Cheesemaker facemask penalty on fourth-and-1 from the Eagles- 47-yard line. The Cheesemakers looked to have a third interception on a fourth-and-12 from the Eagles' 34-yard line, but a pass interference call wiped out the pick. Gorr sacked Schaaf to end the threat and that led to a turnover on downs.
The Cheesemakers did commit three turnovers. Barenklau threw an interception and fumbled twice on the option.
"On the interception, Charlie Kind fell down and was double covered and I shouldn't have thrown it," he said. "In the option you will have a lot more muffs. We can't have that happen. That was my fault. That's on me to shore that up. If we shore that up, I think we will be pretty good."
The Cheesemakers had several players who left the game due to cramping and other injuries including senior offensive lineman Ethan Adkins, Hughes, Klopfenstein and senior defensive back Bryan Schroeder, but they all returned to the game.
"Everyone of them went back into the game," Miller said. "We came into the game at 100 percent. There is no reason we shouldn't go into next week 100 percent."
Monroe opens up Badger South Conference play Friday, Aug. 31 at Fort Atkinson. The Blackhawks are picked by conference coaches to be a top three team in the league this year.
"We haven't won our first game in about eight years," Barenklau said after he and the Cheesemakers' defense led the way to a season-opening 17-0 win over Sauk Prairie Friday night. "This is the first step to the playoffs."
Monroe coach Curt Miller has said the Cheesemakers' goal this year is to make a return to the playoffs, but he isn't looking too far ahead.
"Our focus going into this game was this game and to be 1-0," Miller said. "We knew a win tonight could propel us to a great season. Sauk Prairie was thinking the same thing. They were a bubble team for the playoffs last year. It was a big game for both of us. Fortunately, we were able to come out on top."
The Cheesemakers couldn't have scripted a better start. The Cheesemakers' first possession was an 11-play, 54-yard drive culminating in Barenklau's 1-yard TD run on a quarterback sneak. He then beat the Eagles defense to the pylon running in the two-point conversion to give the Cheesemakers an 8-0 lead. The first drive featured a heavy dose of running with sophomore Cody Wolf and senior Trent Wyssbrod.
"We came out and kept running and running," Barenklau said. "We kept running because we were getting 8 to 10 yards a run. Those are the games where you really don't have to throw."
Monroe junior Ryan Hughes recovered an Eagles' fumble at the Cheesemakers' 7-yard line to set up the next scoring opportunity. The Cheesemakers capped a 13-play, 93-yard drive with a 1-yard TD plunge by Hughes that extended the lead to 14-0.
Hughes finished with one touchdown, one sack and one fumble recovery.
"It's a memory made," Hughes said. "It (winning Week 1) was our first goal. It's going to be a special season. We started this season with a different attitude. Now we have the attitude that we were going into it 1-0."
The Cheesemakers' defense showed some attitude and swagger in preserving the shutout. The Cheesemakers recorded five sacks and senior Kevin Klopfenstein and Charlie Kind had interceptions against Sauk Prairie quarterback Jared Schaaf. Monroe junior Brett Zimmerman, Wyssbrod, Hughes and senior Trevor Gorr all had sacks. Monroe bottled up the Eagles' running game and limited them to just three first downs and minus-12 rushing yards in the first half. The Eagles finished with just 116 total yards and 21 on the ground.
"We watched a lot of film and worked hard in practice," Hughes said. "We had the attitude that we were going to stop every play and that attitude worked."
Miller was happy with the aggressive style the defense played stunting and filling gaps.
"It was important our kids stepped up and forced some turnovers," Miller said. "Our defense was aggressive and kept them on their heels. They weren't freebie turnovers."
Klopfenstein kicked a 37-yard field goal on the first possession of the third quarter to give the Cheesemakers a 17-0 lead. That was more than enough cushion for the defense.
Monroe rushed for 220 total yards. Sophomore Cody Wolf led the Cheesemakers with 83 rushing yards on 12 carries. Wyssbrod rushed for 77 yards on 12 carries. Barenklau completed 2 of 4 passes for 27 yards and tossed one interception.
"I was really happy with how hard our backs ran tonight," Miller said. "They all ran physical. We will be able to throw a lot of running backs out there."
The Eagles chewed up the clock and had a long drive late in the third quarter that spanned into the fourth that was aided by a Cheesemaker facemask penalty on fourth-and-1 from the Eagles- 47-yard line. The Cheesemakers looked to have a third interception on a fourth-and-12 from the Eagles' 34-yard line, but a pass interference call wiped out the pick. Gorr sacked Schaaf to end the threat and that led to a turnover on downs.
The Cheesemakers did commit three turnovers. Barenklau threw an interception and fumbled twice on the option.
"On the interception, Charlie Kind fell down and was double covered and I shouldn't have thrown it," he said. "In the option you will have a lot more muffs. We can't have that happen. That was my fault. That's on me to shore that up. If we shore that up, I think we will be pretty good."
The Cheesemakers had several players who left the game due to cramping and other injuries including senior offensive lineman Ethan Adkins, Hughes, Klopfenstein and senior defensive back Bryan Schroeder, but they all returned to the game.
"Everyone of them went back into the game," Miller said. "We came into the game at 100 percent. There is no reason we shouldn't go into next week 100 percent."
Monroe opens up Badger South Conference play Friday, Aug. 31 at Fort Atkinson. The Blackhawks are picked by conference coaches to be a top three team in the league this year.
