NEW GLARUS - The Monroe football team's scrimmage on Saturday turned into a game scenario, as the squad fine-tunes in advance of their season opener.
Instead of running 20 plays on offense and defense, Monroe coach Curt Miller said that he and New Glarus-Monticello coach Jeff Eichelkraut agreed to run the last part of the scrimmage like an overtime - with each team getting two possessions from the 25-yard line.
"We didn't suffer any injuries up to that point," Miller said. "We didn't need to jeopardize anyone."
Eichelkraut said at that point in the scrimmage, keeping players healthy outweighed the risk of running more plays.
"I felt like I had seen what I wanted to see," he said.
The highlight of the shortened scrimmage against New Glarus-Monticello was when Monroe senior Jon Becker ripped off a 25-yard TD run on the first play. The Cheesemakers dodged a bullet when offensive lineman Alex Aurit went down with what appeared to be a knee injury.
Miller said that someone rolled on Aurit's leg, but he didn't suffer a knee injury.
"He should be ready to go next week," Miller said when the Cheesemakers play at Mount Horeb-Barneveld on Friday.
With the Cheesemakers running an I-formation and single wing offense, there are several new players getting used to the power running offense.
"They are continuing to get better," Miller said. "We have a lot of new kids playing football. We have a lot of work to do up front. This (the scrimmage) is a great learning tool. The thing about a scrimmage is you don't expect everything to be perfect."
The Cheesemakers' offense had several big plays against Evansville. Monroe junior quarterback Alex Barenklau hooked up with Alex Dahlk on a 10-yard TD pass. Sophomore Ryan Hughes had a 2-yard TD run that was set up by a 15-yard run by Brett Zimmerman.
And senior Cameron Elmer tossed a 25-yard TD pass to Dahlk.
"We have two nice quarterbacks," Miller said. "We have some nice targets at wide receiver. If we can keep getting better on the offensive line, we have the skilled position players who can make some plays."
The Cheesemakers lone touchdown against Sauk Prairie came on Elmer's 10-yard TD pass to Bryan Schroeder. The Cheesemakers' defense gave up four touchdowns to the Eagles. Sauk Prairie ran a lot of option.
Miller said the Cheesemakers haven't worked on option assignments too much in practice.
"We are looking for kids who can play football," Miller said. "We are not worried about schemes in a scrimmage. At this point in the season we want to see everyone in a varsity type competition."
Miller is looking forward to the season opener at Mount Horeb.
"It's a great starting point to find out where we are at," he said. "It will be an excellent test."
Eichelkraut said the Glarner Knight's No. 1 defense neutralized Sauk Prairie's first string offense. The Knights' offense led by senior quarterback Lukas Kolasch scored against the Eagles' No. 1 defense. The Knights' defense gave up a long pass play against Evansville, but Eichelkraut was encouraged by the scrimmage.
"I was excited that we were ready to come out to play football," he said. "I am happy with what we did. There is a lot of things we can build on. You are never satisfied. We have a lot of work to do."
The Knights open the season at Pecatonica-Argyle on Friday.
"They are a very good program and are coached well," Eichelkraut said. "We are looking forward to renewing that rivalry. We have to be ready to roll."
Instead of running 20 plays on offense and defense, Monroe coach Curt Miller said that he and New Glarus-Monticello coach Jeff Eichelkraut agreed to run the last part of the scrimmage like an overtime - with each team getting two possessions from the 25-yard line.
"We didn't suffer any injuries up to that point," Miller said. "We didn't need to jeopardize anyone."
Eichelkraut said at that point in the scrimmage, keeping players healthy outweighed the risk of running more plays.
"I felt like I had seen what I wanted to see," he said.
The highlight of the shortened scrimmage against New Glarus-Monticello was when Monroe senior Jon Becker ripped off a 25-yard TD run on the first play. The Cheesemakers dodged a bullet when offensive lineman Alex Aurit went down with what appeared to be a knee injury.
Miller said that someone rolled on Aurit's leg, but he didn't suffer a knee injury.
"He should be ready to go next week," Miller said when the Cheesemakers play at Mount Horeb-Barneveld on Friday.
With the Cheesemakers running an I-formation and single wing offense, there are several new players getting used to the power running offense.
"They are continuing to get better," Miller said. "We have a lot of new kids playing football. We have a lot of work to do up front. This (the scrimmage) is a great learning tool. The thing about a scrimmage is you don't expect everything to be perfect."
The Cheesemakers' offense had several big plays against Evansville. Monroe junior quarterback Alex Barenklau hooked up with Alex Dahlk on a 10-yard TD pass. Sophomore Ryan Hughes had a 2-yard TD run that was set up by a 15-yard run by Brett Zimmerman.
And senior Cameron Elmer tossed a 25-yard TD pass to Dahlk.
"We have two nice quarterbacks," Miller said. "We have some nice targets at wide receiver. If we can keep getting better on the offensive line, we have the skilled position players who can make some plays."
The Cheesemakers lone touchdown against Sauk Prairie came on Elmer's 10-yard TD pass to Bryan Schroeder. The Cheesemakers' defense gave up four touchdowns to the Eagles. Sauk Prairie ran a lot of option.
Miller said the Cheesemakers haven't worked on option assignments too much in practice.
"We are looking for kids who can play football," Miller said. "We are not worried about schemes in a scrimmage. At this point in the season we want to see everyone in a varsity type competition."
Miller is looking forward to the season opener at Mount Horeb.
"It's a great starting point to find out where we are at," he said. "It will be an excellent test."
Eichelkraut said the Glarner Knight's No. 1 defense neutralized Sauk Prairie's first string offense. The Knights' offense led by senior quarterback Lukas Kolasch scored against the Eagles' No. 1 defense. The Knights' defense gave up a long pass play against Evansville, but Eichelkraut was encouraged by the scrimmage.
"I was excited that we were ready to come out to play football," he said. "I am happy with what we did. There is a lot of things we can build on. You are never satisfied. We have a lot of work to do."
The Knights open the season at Pecatonica-Argyle on Friday.
"They are a very good program and are coached well," Eichelkraut said. "We are looking forward to renewing that rivalry. We have to be ready to roll."
