MONROE - Count Monroe senior middle linebacker Joe Hughes in Monona Grove senior quarterback Alec Ogden's corner when it comes to picking a state player of the year.
Ogden scored six touchdowns to power the Silver Eagles to a 42-0 win to spoil the Cheesemakers' homecoming Friday.
"He's a good player," Hughes said of Ogden. "He definitely deserves to go to college to play ball."
Ogden completed 14 of 18 passes for 229 yards with four touchdowns. He also rushed for 27 yards and two touchdowns. Ogden engineered six touchdowns on six drives, all in the first half, to build a 42-0 lead.
"I have heard he's the best quarterback in the state," Monroe coach Toby Golembiewski said of Ogden. "I believe it. It would take a really good player and a combination to be better than him. They (Monona Grove) have a really good team. You can't just hang it all on him. If it wasn't for those receivers not dropping the ball and his line blocking for him, he wouldn't be as good."
Monona Grove (6-0, 4-0), ranked ninth in the Associated Press large school division state poll, scored 21 points off two Cheesemakers' turnovers and a turnover on downs.
Monroe (2-4, 1-3 Badger South) had five starters miss the game on offense and four on defense. The Cheesemakers started the season with eight senior starters, but due to injuries that have been decimating, that number has been cut in half.
"We can't escape injuries," Hughes said. "We started the year with about eight senior starters and now we are down to about three or four. We can't keep losing guys and expect to win games."
The Silver Eagles' opening nine-play, 82-yard drive in the first quarter, culminated with Ogden's 30-yard TD pass to Lucas Gerlach. On the Silver Eagles' next possession. Ogden hooked up with Jordan Jenks-Recker on a 60-yard TD pass with 2 minutes, 6 seconds left in the first quarter to make it 14-0.
Disaster struck for Monroe as the Cheesemakers fumbled the snap on the first play of the second quarter and the Silver Eagles recovered at the Cheesemakers' 35-yard line. Four plays later, Ogden connected with Colton Moran on a 9-yard TD pass to extend the Silver Eagles' lead to 21-0.
Even when it looked like the Cheesemakers would make a big play against Ogden, he found a way to dazzle. About midway through the second quarter, Ogden took a snap in shotgun and ran into his running backs for a broken play, then escaped pressure and raced in for an 11-yard TD run to make it 28-0.
The Cheesemakers were haunted by another turnover on the ensuing series. Sophomore quarterback Alex Witt turned to make a handoff, but was bumped by an offensive lineman and the ball came loose. The Silver Eagles recovered the fumble at the Cheesemakers' 26-yard line and took advantage of the golden field position. Ogden would score on a 7-yard scamper moments later.
The Silver Eagles limited the Cheesemakers to 95 yards of total offense. Monroe junior Ethan Kleckler rushed for a team-high 68 yards on 17 carries. Sophomore Nick Bansley rushed for 25 yards on six carries. Witt completed 1 of 5 passes for 7 yards.
"Ethan has been improving week to week and he's been playing on our scout team," Golembiewski said. "With the injuries and not wanting Dempzy Foley playing both ways, he finally got his chance tonight. He took advantage of his opportunity and was formidable."
It looked like the Cheesemakers may get on the scoreboard late in the second quarter after senior John Fuller recovered a fumbled punt by Monona Grove at the Silver Eagles' 39-yard line with 3:42 left. The Cheesemakers' possession ended in a turnover on downs and the Silver Eagles capitalized again.
Ogden tossed a 32-yard TD pass to Moran just before the close of the half to give the Eagles a 42-0 lead at the break. Moran had four receptions for 61 yards and two touchdowns.
Monroe will play at Fort Atkinson next week. To become playoff eligible, teams must go at least .500 in conference. With seven conference games, the Cheesemakers will have to win their final three games to become playoff eligible.
"Our chances of that (playoffs) will be determined by how fast we can get healthy," Golembiewski said. "The guys who left (the game early) may be better. It will be a race to see if we can get back to 100 percent and if they can get enough reps."
Golembiewski commended his senior leaders.
"They do a great job all of them together," he said. "I have had some teams in other years where they may start looking to basketball season, start coming up with injuries and give up. These guys love to play football no matter what the scoreboard says."
Ogden scored six touchdowns to power the Silver Eagles to a 42-0 win to spoil the Cheesemakers' homecoming Friday.
"He's a good player," Hughes said of Ogden. "He definitely deserves to go to college to play ball."
Ogden completed 14 of 18 passes for 229 yards with four touchdowns. He also rushed for 27 yards and two touchdowns. Ogden engineered six touchdowns on six drives, all in the first half, to build a 42-0 lead.
"I have heard he's the best quarterback in the state," Monroe coach Toby Golembiewski said of Ogden. "I believe it. It would take a really good player and a combination to be better than him. They (Monona Grove) have a really good team. You can't just hang it all on him. If it wasn't for those receivers not dropping the ball and his line blocking for him, he wouldn't be as good."
Monona Grove (6-0, 4-0), ranked ninth in the Associated Press large school division state poll, scored 21 points off two Cheesemakers' turnovers and a turnover on downs.
Monroe (2-4, 1-3 Badger South) had five starters miss the game on offense and four on defense. The Cheesemakers started the season with eight senior starters, but due to injuries that have been decimating, that number has been cut in half.
"We can't escape injuries," Hughes said. "We started the year with about eight senior starters and now we are down to about three or four. We can't keep losing guys and expect to win games."
The Silver Eagles' opening nine-play, 82-yard drive in the first quarter, culminated with Ogden's 30-yard TD pass to Lucas Gerlach. On the Silver Eagles' next possession. Ogden hooked up with Jordan Jenks-Recker on a 60-yard TD pass with 2 minutes, 6 seconds left in the first quarter to make it 14-0.
Disaster struck for Monroe as the Cheesemakers fumbled the snap on the first play of the second quarter and the Silver Eagles recovered at the Cheesemakers' 35-yard line. Four plays later, Ogden connected with Colton Moran on a 9-yard TD pass to extend the Silver Eagles' lead to 21-0.
Even when it looked like the Cheesemakers would make a big play against Ogden, he found a way to dazzle. About midway through the second quarter, Ogden took a snap in shotgun and ran into his running backs for a broken play, then escaped pressure and raced in for an 11-yard TD run to make it 28-0.
The Cheesemakers were haunted by another turnover on the ensuing series. Sophomore quarterback Alex Witt turned to make a handoff, but was bumped by an offensive lineman and the ball came loose. The Silver Eagles recovered the fumble at the Cheesemakers' 26-yard line and took advantage of the golden field position. Ogden would score on a 7-yard scamper moments later.
The Silver Eagles limited the Cheesemakers to 95 yards of total offense. Monroe junior Ethan Kleckler rushed for a team-high 68 yards on 17 carries. Sophomore Nick Bansley rushed for 25 yards on six carries. Witt completed 1 of 5 passes for 7 yards.
"Ethan has been improving week to week and he's been playing on our scout team," Golembiewski said. "With the injuries and not wanting Dempzy Foley playing both ways, he finally got his chance tonight. He took advantage of his opportunity and was formidable."
It looked like the Cheesemakers may get on the scoreboard late in the second quarter after senior John Fuller recovered a fumbled punt by Monona Grove at the Silver Eagles' 39-yard line with 3:42 left. The Cheesemakers' possession ended in a turnover on downs and the Silver Eagles capitalized again.
Ogden tossed a 32-yard TD pass to Moran just before the close of the half to give the Eagles a 42-0 lead at the break. Moran had four receptions for 61 yards and two touchdowns.
Monroe will play at Fort Atkinson next week. To become playoff eligible, teams must go at least .500 in conference. With seven conference games, the Cheesemakers will have to win their final three games to become playoff eligible.
"Our chances of that (playoffs) will be determined by how fast we can get healthy," Golembiewski said. "The guys who left (the game early) may be better. It will be a race to see if we can get back to 100 percent and if they can get enough reps."
Golembiewski commended his senior leaders.
"They do a great job all of them together," he said. "I have had some teams in other years where they may start looking to basketball season, start coming up with injuries and give up. These guys love to play football no matter what the scoreboard says."
