MONROE - When Monroe senior Ryan Hughes scooped up a fumble late in the second quarter and raced about 50 yards for a touchdown, it appeared to be the big play the Cheesemakers needed to ignite an upset.
Instead of a potential tied game at halftime, officials ruled Fort Atkinson running back Tyler Zaspel's knee was down. Fort Atkinson junior Brett Behselich tossed a 15-yard TD pass to Clay Gerds to give the Blackhawks a two-touchdown lead and they rolled to a 28-6 win over Monroe in the Cheesemakers' final home game this season Friday, Oct. 11. It was a heartbreaking 14-point swing.
"I thought the play was definitely a fumble on the field," Monroe senior Charlie Kind said. "It definitely was a big play. I know Ryan was upset by it. You just have to keep playing and not worry about that stuff. It's just one or two plays that can change the momentum of a game and we just didn't make them tonight."
Monroe coach Curt Miller said he saw Hughes return a fumble for a touchdown and didn't hear a whistle.
"I don't know how that got messed up, but that was a fumble," Miller said.
Fort Atkinson's Zaspel rushed for 174 yards on 31 carries and had two touchdowns and an 86-yard interception return for a touchdown. With the win, Fort Atkinson improves to 7-1 and is the only team to beat Reedsburg, the Badger North Conference leaders.
The Cheesemakers (0-8, 0-5 Badger South) had a golden scoring opportunity with a 20-play, 54-yard drive in the second quarter that chewed up 8 minutes. The drive ended when the Blackhawks blocked Blake Duffy's 43-yard field goal attempt.
"At this time in the season, when you have a drive like that when you don't score points, it's as much of a letdown as it would be a moral victory," Miller said.
Kind came through with a key interception in the third quarter to give the Cheesemakers a scoring opportunity. The Cheesemakers cashed in with a 13-play, 48-yard drive, that was capped off by freshman Tyler Elmer's 4-yard TD pass to junior Jake Flannery on fourth-and-goal.
"They had been running the same passing play during the game," Kind said. "I saw it and jumped the route and I was able to intercept it. That was a big play that helped change the momentum."
Flannery was excited to come through in the clutch and cash in on the turnover.
"The play was designed for Charlie (Kind)," Flannery said. "Tyler told me if I was open on a quick look he would pass it to me."
The Blackhawks answered with an eight-play, 56-yard drive, culminating in Zaspel's 11-yard TD run to give the Blackhawks a 21-6 lead early in the fourth quarter. Zaspel put the game away with an 86-yard interception return in the fourth quarter.
Monroe junior Seth Calaway rushed for 68 yards on 16 carries to lead the Cheesemakers. Calaway did most of his damage after Fort Atkinson's Camron Wolter was ejected for a blind-side block hit on Monroe junior Cody Wolf in the first half that knocked him out of the game. Elmer was 4 of 19 passing for 38 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Flannery had three catches for 17 yards and one touchdown.
The Cheesemakers forced three turnovers - two fumbles and one interception. Monroe senior Grant Keith recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter, but the Cheesemakers weren't able to cash in on the turnover.
"We played our best game of the year," Flannery said. "They (Fort Atkinson) are one of the best teams in the conference. It's nice to see we can compete against teams like that."
Due to injuries the Cheesemakers started two freshmen - Elmer at quarterback and Dylan Beaver on the offensive line. The Cheesemakers had two sophomores and two juniors also starting on the offensive line with Elmer. The Cheesemakers are focused on finishing the season strong and are looking to beat Oregon to help springboard them into the offseason.
"There is no question that would be a nice way to start next year," Miller said. "I really believe the future is bright and the kids believe that. It will take an effort in the offseason. Oregon has played as competitive as anyone. They will be playing for a win too."
Instead of a potential tied game at halftime, officials ruled Fort Atkinson running back Tyler Zaspel's knee was down. Fort Atkinson junior Brett Behselich tossed a 15-yard TD pass to Clay Gerds to give the Blackhawks a two-touchdown lead and they rolled to a 28-6 win over Monroe in the Cheesemakers' final home game this season Friday, Oct. 11. It was a heartbreaking 14-point swing.
"I thought the play was definitely a fumble on the field," Monroe senior Charlie Kind said. "It definitely was a big play. I know Ryan was upset by it. You just have to keep playing and not worry about that stuff. It's just one or two plays that can change the momentum of a game and we just didn't make them tonight."
Monroe coach Curt Miller said he saw Hughes return a fumble for a touchdown and didn't hear a whistle.
"I don't know how that got messed up, but that was a fumble," Miller said.
Fort Atkinson's Zaspel rushed for 174 yards on 31 carries and had two touchdowns and an 86-yard interception return for a touchdown. With the win, Fort Atkinson improves to 7-1 and is the only team to beat Reedsburg, the Badger North Conference leaders.
The Cheesemakers (0-8, 0-5 Badger South) had a golden scoring opportunity with a 20-play, 54-yard drive in the second quarter that chewed up 8 minutes. The drive ended when the Blackhawks blocked Blake Duffy's 43-yard field goal attempt.
"At this time in the season, when you have a drive like that when you don't score points, it's as much of a letdown as it would be a moral victory," Miller said.
Kind came through with a key interception in the third quarter to give the Cheesemakers a scoring opportunity. The Cheesemakers cashed in with a 13-play, 48-yard drive, that was capped off by freshman Tyler Elmer's 4-yard TD pass to junior Jake Flannery on fourth-and-goal.
"They had been running the same passing play during the game," Kind said. "I saw it and jumped the route and I was able to intercept it. That was a big play that helped change the momentum."
Flannery was excited to come through in the clutch and cash in on the turnover.
"The play was designed for Charlie (Kind)," Flannery said. "Tyler told me if I was open on a quick look he would pass it to me."
The Blackhawks answered with an eight-play, 56-yard drive, culminating in Zaspel's 11-yard TD run to give the Blackhawks a 21-6 lead early in the fourth quarter. Zaspel put the game away with an 86-yard interception return in the fourth quarter.
Monroe junior Seth Calaway rushed for 68 yards on 16 carries to lead the Cheesemakers. Calaway did most of his damage after Fort Atkinson's Camron Wolter was ejected for a blind-side block hit on Monroe junior Cody Wolf in the first half that knocked him out of the game. Elmer was 4 of 19 passing for 38 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Flannery had three catches for 17 yards and one touchdown.
The Cheesemakers forced three turnovers - two fumbles and one interception. Monroe senior Grant Keith recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter, but the Cheesemakers weren't able to cash in on the turnover.
"We played our best game of the year," Flannery said. "They (Fort Atkinson) are one of the best teams in the conference. It's nice to see we can compete against teams like that."
Due to injuries the Cheesemakers started two freshmen - Elmer at quarterback and Dylan Beaver on the offensive line. The Cheesemakers had two sophomores and two juniors also starting on the offensive line with Elmer. The Cheesemakers are focused on finishing the season strong and are looking to beat Oregon to help springboard them into the offseason.
"There is no question that would be a nice way to start next year," Miller said. "I really believe the future is bright and the kids believe that. It will take an effort in the offseason. Oregon has played as competitive as anyone. They will be playing for a win too."
