MONROE - Monroe football coach Curt Miller showcased a new 3-5 defense in the season opener Friday. The Cheesemakers played toe-to-toe with one of the top teams in the Badger North until DeForest delivered a knockout punch, handing the Cheesemakers a 21-0 loss.
Monroe trailed DeForest 7-0 with a little more than 4 minutes left in the fourth quarter Friday night. DeForest senior quarterback Ryan Sands hooked up with Erick Stewart on a 36-yard TD pass with about 4 minutes, 10 seconds to propel the Norskies to a 14-0 lead.
"If you would have watched us last week in the scrimmage against New Glarus-Monticello, you would not have thought we would have been within seven points against DeForest at the end of the fourth quarter," Miller said. "I was happy to be in the position we were in. With this new defense, there will be a learning curve."
Sands completed 12 of 22 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns. Miller was well aware of Stewart, who was a Badger North all-conference receiver last year.
"He's a very talented receiver," Miller said of Stewart, who had 4 catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns. "We knew we would have our hands full with him. Their quarterback eluded a sack. It could have been a 10-yard loss. I think the Sands-Stewart combination will be seen a lot this season."
Monroe sophomore quarterback Alex Barenklau completed 8 of 18 passes for 64 yards and two interceptions in his first varsity start. DeForest senior Nathan Butler intercepted a Barenklau pass late in the fourth quarter and returned it 45-yards for a touchdown.
The Norskies opened the game with a seven-play drive culminating in Sands' 10-yard TD pass to Stewart. The Norskies converted their first four third downs and were 5-for-7 on converting third downs in the first half. The Cheesemakers bottled up the Norskies on offense for most of the second half limiting them to a 1-for-5 third down conversion rate.
The Cheesemakers defense led by senior linebacker Cameron Wahl stepped up and made some critical plays to keep the Cheesemakers in the game. After Barenklau threw an interception midway through the first quarter, the Cheesemakers stepped up with a big stop.
The Norskies faced fourth-and-10 from the Cheesemakers' 24-yard line, but Monroe stopped an 8-yard screen pass to Brandon Garczynski just short of the first-down marker.
"He is a kid that has been in the system," Miller said of Wahl. "He's our leader out there. Our kids played fantastic defensively."
The Norskies had a nine-play, 70-yard drive late in the second quarter stall when the Cheesemakers came up with a goal line stand. With the Norskies facing third-and goal from the Cheesemakers' 1-yard line, Monroe sophomore Trevor Gorr recovered a fumbled pitch on the sweep.
"We were all flying around out there," Wahl said. "(Nick) Walker kept on taking on double teams and I kept scraping over the top."
Wahl said the most challenging part of the new defense is the outside linebackers having dual responsibilities stopping the run and getting into pass coverage.
"We are coming together a lot better than I thought we would," Wahl said.
The Cheesemakers' offense picked up its rhythm late in the second quarter. Wahl had a 3-yard run to convert a third down-and-1 play from the Cheesemakers' 27-yard line and junior Jon Becker had a 3-yard run to convert a second third and-3 from their own 36. However, the Cheesemakers' best drive stalled near midfield with two sacks by DeForest.
The Norskies missed a golden scoring opportunity right before halftime when Steve Hoffman missed a 37-yard field goal.
The leading receiver for Monroe was Alex Dahlk with three receptions for 25 yards. The Cheesemakers were limited to just 15 total rushing yards.
Miller wasn't satisfied. He sees Barenklau getting even better with each game.
"He did a great job for his first varsity start," Miller said. "I hope this is the effort we get every week."
Monroe trailed DeForest 7-0 with a little more than 4 minutes left in the fourth quarter Friday night. DeForest senior quarterback Ryan Sands hooked up with Erick Stewart on a 36-yard TD pass with about 4 minutes, 10 seconds to propel the Norskies to a 14-0 lead.
"If you would have watched us last week in the scrimmage against New Glarus-Monticello, you would not have thought we would have been within seven points against DeForest at the end of the fourth quarter," Miller said. "I was happy to be in the position we were in. With this new defense, there will be a learning curve."
Sands completed 12 of 22 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns. Miller was well aware of Stewart, who was a Badger North all-conference receiver last year.
"He's a very talented receiver," Miller said of Stewart, who had 4 catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns. "We knew we would have our hands full with him. Their quarterback eluded a sack. It could have been a 10-yard loss. I think the Sands-Stewart combination will be seen a lot this season."
Monroe sophomore quarterback Alex Barenklau completed 8 of 18 passes for 64 yards and two interceptions in his first varsity start. DeForest senior Nathan Butler intercepted a Barenklau pass late in the fourth quarter and returned it 45-yards for a touchdown.
The Norskies opened the game with a seven-play drive culminating in Sands' 10-yard TD pass to Stewart. The Norskies converted their first four third downs and were 5-for-7 on converting third downs in the first half. The Cheesemakers bottled up the Norskies on offense for most of the second half limiting them to a 1-for-5 third down conversion rate.
The Cheesemakers defense led by senior linebacker Cameron Wahl stepped up and made some critical plays to keep the Cheesemakers in the game. After Barenklau threw an interception midway through the first quarter, the Cheesemakers stepped up with a big stop.
The Norskies faced fourth-and-10 from the Cheesemakers' 24-yard line, but Monroe stopped an 8-yard screen pass to Brandon Garczynski just short of the first-down marker.
"He is a kid that has been in the system," Miller said of Wahl. "He's our leader out there. Our kids played fantastic defensively."
The Norskies had a nine-play, 70-yard drive late in the second quarter stall when the Cheesemakers came up with a goal line stand. With the Norskies facing third-and goal from the Cheesemakers' 1-yard line, Monroe sophomore Trevor Gorr recovered a fumbled pitch on the sweep.
"We were all flying around out there," Wahl said. "(Nick) Walker kept on taking on double teams and I kept scraping over the top."
Wahl said the most challenging part of the new defense is the outside linebackers having dual responsibilities stopping the run and getting into pass coverage.
"We are coming together a lot better than I thought we would," Wahl said.
The Cheesemakers' offense picked up its rhythm late in the second quarter. Wahl had a 3-yard run to convert a third down-and-1 play from the Cheesemakers' 27-yard line and junior Jon Becker had a 3-yard run to convert a second third and-3 from their own 36. However, the Cheesemakers' best drive stalled near midfield with two sacks by DeForest.
The Norskies missed a golden scoring opportunity right before halftime when Steve Hoffman missed a 37-yard field goal.
The leading receiver for Monroe was Alex Dahlk with three receptions for 25 yards. The Cheesemakers were limited to just 15 total rushing yards.
Miller wasn't satisfied. He sees Barenklau getting even better with each game.
"He did a great job for his first varsity start," Miller said. "I hope this is the effort we get every week."
