MONROE - Senior running back Cody Wolf still has a goal of rushing for 1,000 yards this season even though Monroe won't be a playoff team.
Wolf moved closer to his goal rushing for 209 yards on 31 carries and scored three touchdowns to power Monroe to a 21-7 non-conference win over Sauk Prairie Friday. Wolf now has 963 rushing yards on the season.
"It feels great any time you can get the 'W,'" Wolf said. "The focus is always to come in and try to pound the ball. Football is a team game, but being so close to 1,000 yards, I want to rush for 1,000 yards."
The Cheesemakers' defense was up to the challenge of shutting down the Eagles. The Cheesemakers had three interceptions by sophomore Carter Sawdey, senior Desmond Ford and senior Jake Flannery and forced the Eagles into two turnovers on downs.
"We have confidence in ourselves," said Ford, who had one interception and five tackles. "Our coaches told us just to man up and go out and make plays and that is what we did."
With the win, Monroe (3-5, 0-5 Badger South) snapped a five-game losing streak. The Cheesemakers are looking to win their final two home games and the first one is down. Monroe will host Fort Atkinson Friday, Oct. 17 in the regular season finale.
"It means a lot," Ford said of the win. "We know we are not going to make the playoffs, but we need to finish with a bang. We have to make the most of what we have left."
The Cheesemakers made the most of their drives in the second quarter. Monroe sophomore quarterback Tyler Elmer hooked up with Wolf on a 15-yard shovel TD pass. The scoring drive was set up by Elmer's 20-yard pass to sophomore Alex Tordoff on third-and-10 from the Eagles' 36-yard line.
Ford had a key interception and returned it 53 yards to set up a scoring opportunity for the Cheesemakers late in the second quarter. The interception by Ford thwarted a drive in the red zone.
"We saw a double reverse," Ford said of the interception. "The line did a good job of getting pressure. He threw a bad pass and I just made a play."
Two plays later, it appeared Elmer had connected with junior Jaron Kuester on a 24-yard TD pass with 13.6 seconds left in the second quarter. Kuester hauled in the pass, but the ball came out when he came down in the end zone. The Eagles then blocked a field goal try by freshman Dempzy Foley.
Even though Monroe didn't score at the end of the second quarter, it jump-started the Cheesemakers.
"We used that as fuel for the second half," Wolf said of not scoring at the end of the second quarter. "In the second half, we just wanted to pound the ball and run it down their throat."
It didn't take long for the Cheesemakers to set the tone in the second half. The Cheesemakers racked up 309 total yards, including 245 rushing yards. The Cheesemakers' 14-play, 80-yard drive to open the third quarter was capped off by Wolf's 11-yard TD run to give the Cheesemakers a 14-0 lead with 5:15 to go in the third quarter. The Cheesemakers dominated the second half limiting the Eagles to just three plays in the third quarter.
"Just about every game is won up front," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "Our line played hard and physical up front on both sides of the ball. Cody has been our biggest offensive weapon. He's been better because of the nice offensive line in front of him.
"The thing about football is every time you step on the field you want to give it everything you have. I told them after the game if we were in the Badger North we would be a playoff team right now."
After forcing a turnover on downs about midway through the fourth quarter, the Cheesemakers took advantage of their opportunity. The Cheesemakers' six-play, 81-yard drive, culminated in Wolf's 37-yard TD run to give the Cheesemakers a 21-0 lead.
Sauk Prairie junior Autsin Powell broke loose for a 61-yard TD run with 4:54 left in the fourth quarter. When it appeared Sauk Prairie's onsides kick didn't go 10 yards, an official ruled the Cheesemakers touched the ball first and the Eagles recovered the kick. The Cheesemakers' defense stepped up and forced a turnover on downs.
"It was nice to see our defensive backs have a great game," Miller said. "I thought we had to play aggressive and we did on all ends of the defense."
Elmer completed 6-of-10 passes for 64 yards with one touchdown. Tordoff had three receptions for 34 yards and Flannery had two catches for 15 yards.
"We ask Tyler to manage the game and complete the balls he has to," Miller said of Elmer. "He did an excellent job."
Wolf moved closer to his goal rushing for 209 yards on 31 carries and scored three touchdowns to power Monroe to a 21-7 non-conference win over Sauk Prairie Friday. Wolf now has 963 rushing yards on the season.
"It feels great any time you can get the 'W,'" Wolf said. "The focus is always to come in and try to pound the ball. Football is a team game, but being so close to 1,000 yards, I want to rush for 1,000 yards."
The Cheesemakers' defense was up to the challenge of shutting down the Eagles. The Cheesemakers had three interceptions by sophomore Carter Sawdey, senior Desmond Ford and senior Jake Flannery and forced the Eagles into two turnovers on downs.
"We have confidence in ourselves," said Ford, who had one interception and five tackles. "Our coaches told us just to man up and go out and make plays and that is what we did."
With the win, Monroe (3-5, 0-5 Badger South) snapped a five-game losing streak. The Cheesemakers are looking to win their final two home games and the first one is down. Monroe will host Fort Atkinson Friday, Oct. 17 in the regular season finale.
"It means a lot," Ford said of the win. "We know we are not going to make the playoffs, but we need to finish with a bang. We have to make the most of what we have left."
The Cheesemakers made the most of their drives in the second quarter. Monroe sophomore quarterback Tyler Elmer hooked up with Wolf on a 15-yard shovel TD pass. The scoring drive was set up by Elmer's 20-yard pass to sophomore Alex Tordoff on third-and-10 from the Eagles' 36-yard line.
Ford had a key interception and returned it 53 yards to set up a scoring opportunity for the Cheesemakers late in the second quarter. The interception by Ford thwarted a drive in the red zone.
"We saw a double reverse," Ford said of the interception. "The line did a good job of getting pressure. He threw a bad pass and I just made a play."
Two plays later, it appeared Elmer had connected with junior Jaron Kuester on a 24-yard TD pass with 13.6 seconds left in the second quarter. Kuester hauled in the pass, but the ball came out when he came down in the end zone. The Eagles then blocked a field goal try by freshman Dempzy Foley.
Even though Monroe didn't score at the end of the second quarter, it jump-started the Cheesemakers.
"We used that as fuel for the second half," Wolf said of not scoring at the end of the second quarter. "In the second half, we just wanted to pound the ball and run it down their throat."
It didn't take long for the Cheesemakers to set the tone in the second half. The Cheesemakers racked up 309 total yards, including 245 rushing yards. The Cheesemakers' 14-play, 80-yard drive to open the third quarter was capped off by Wolf's 11-yard TD run to give the Cheesemakers a 14-0 lead with 5:15 to go in the third quarter. The Cheesemakers dominated the second half limiting the Eagles to just three plays in the third quarter.
"Just about every game is won up front," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "Our line played hard and physical up front on both sides of the ball. Cody has been our biggest offensive weapon. He's been better because of the nice offensive line in front of him.
"The thing about football is every time you step on the field you want to give it everything you have. I told them after the game if we were in the Badger North we would be a playoff team right now."
After forcing a turnover on downs about midway through the fourth quarter, the Cheesemakers took advantage of their opportunity. The Cheesemakers' six-play, 81-yard drive, culminated in Wolf's 37-yard TD run to give the Cheesemakers a 21-0 lead.
Sauk Prairie junior Autsin Powell broke loose for a 61-yard TD run with 4:54 left in the fourth quarter. When it appeared Sauk Prairie's onsides kick didn't go 10 yards, an official ruled the Cheesemakers touched the ball first and the Eagles recovered the kick. The Cheesemakers' defense stepped up and forced a turnover on downs.
"It was nice to see our defensive backs have a great game," Miller said. "I thought we had to play aggressive and we did on all ends of the defense."
Elmer completed 6-of-10 passes for 64 yards with one touchdown. Tordoff had three receptions for 34 yards and Flannery had two catches for 15 yards.
"We ask Tyler to manage the game and complete the balls he has to," Miller said of Elmer. "He did an excellent job."
