MILTON - When given the chance Friday night, the Monroe football team didn't back away from a challenge.
With the game on the line, Monroe coach Curt Miller called a running play right at defensive end and Nebraska recruit A.J. Natter of Milton. With junior Ryan Hughes throwing a lead block, senior Trent Wyssbrod scored the game-winning 4-yard run to give the Cheesemakers a thrilling 20-13 win over the Red Hawks.
"We had been running away from him most of the game," Miller said of the 6-foot-6-inch Natter. "We ran at him and Ryan Hughes had a lead block and put a big Division I Nebraska recruit on his back."
With the win, Monroe (3-4, 2-3 Badger South) is on the verge of qualifying for the playoffs. The Cheesemakers can become playoff eligible if they beat Stoughton in Monroe next week.
The Cheesemakers trailed 13-7 to start the fourth quarter but scored 14 points in the final quarter to pull out the win.
Monroe senior Alex Barenklau hooked up with senior Kevin Klopfenstein on a 79-yard pass in the second quarter to set up the Cheesemakers' first score: a 1-yard TD run by Barenklau to give the Cheesemakers a 7-6 lead.
After an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by the Red Hawks in the second quarter, the stage was set for the Cheesemakers' rally.
Barenklau had a 2-yard TD run about midway through the fourth quarter and Klopfenstein made the extra point to tie the game at 13. Barenklau was 10-of-19 passing for 220 yards and one interception. He had two touchdown runs. Wyssbrod rushed for 61 yards on 15 carries and scored one touchdown. Klopfenstein had three catches for 105 yards.
The Cheesemakers also had to overcome a lot of adversity in the game, having given up three turnovers (two fumbles and one interception) in the game.
Much credit can be given to the Cheesemakers' defense, which gave up just seven offensive points.
"Our defense played stellar," Miller said. "They were on their A-game."
Now Monroe is gearing up for a showdown with Stoughton to end the regular season. Both teams need a win to reach .500 in the conference and to become playoff eligible.
"It's set up perfectly," Miller said. "We had to win to make this last game more meaningful. We are both in the same situation. We both have the same thing at stake and on the line."
With the game on the line, Monroe coach Curt Miller called a running play right at defensive end and Nebraska recruit A.J. Natter of Milton. With junior Ryan Hughes throwing a lead block, senior Trent Wyssbrod scored the game-winning 4-yard run to give the Cheesemakers a thrilling 20-13 win over the Red Hawks.
"We had been running away from him most of the game," Miller said of the 6-foot-6-inch Natter. "We ran at him and Ryan Hughes had a lead block and put a big Division I Nebraska recruit on his back."
With the win, Monroe (3-4, 2-3 Badger South) is on the verge of qualifying for the playoffs. The Cheesemakers can become playoff eligible if they beat Stoughton in Monroe next week.
The Cheesemakers trailed 13-7 to start the fourth quarter but scored 14 points in the final quarter to pull out the win.
Monroe senior Alex Barenklau hooked up with senior Kevin Klopfenstein on a 79-yard pass in the second quarter to set up the Cheesemakers' first score: a 1-yard TD run by Barenklau to give the Cheesemakers a 7-6 lead.
After an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by the Red Hawks in the second quarter, the stage was set for the Cheesemakers' rally.
Barenklau had a 2-yard TD run about midway through the fourth quarter and Klopfenstein made the extra point to tie the game at 13. Barenklau was 10-of-19 passing for 220 yards and one interception. He had two touchdown runs. Wyssbrod rushed for 61 yards on 15 carries and scored one touchdown. Klopfenstein had three catches for 105 yards.
The Cheesemakers also had to overcome a lot of adversity in the game, having given up three turnovers (two fumbles and one interception) in the game.
Much credit can be given to the Cheesemakers' defense, which gave up just seven offensive points.
"Our defense played stellar," Miller said. "They were on their A-game."
Now Monroe is gearing up for a showdown with Stoughton to end the regular season. Both teams need a win to reach .500 in the conference and to become playoff eligible.
"It's set up perfectly," Miller said. "We had to win to make this last game more meaningful. We are both in the same situation. We both have the same thing at stake and on the line."
