PORTAGE - Despite a subpar football season, Monroe sent it's seniors out with an 18-15 victory over Portage (1-8), Wednesday.
"Coming in we wanted to play hard and come down with that win," Monroe senior lineman John Buol said. But obviously in the back of our minds there's that undertone that this is our last game."
The Cheesemakers defense led the charge throughout the game, twice stopping the Panthers at the goal line. That defense, led by junior Nick Walker, stuffed Portage on the game's opening drive. On the ensuing punt after a three-and-out, Monroe blocked the punt, setting up a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line.
On the first play, Monroe quarterback Michael Barrett called his own number on a sneak, putting the Cheesemakers on top early 6-0, just 1 minute, 49 seconds into the season finale. Portage blocked Monroe's extra point attempt.
The Warriors again were forced to punt after just four plays on their next possession, and Barrett and Co. took over at their own 47.
Kevin Frint, Evan Brady and several other players who don't get to see a lot of time on the field stepped up and played a little extra in the season finale. Bryan Tordoff and Ethan Schuttler were just two of several players who had to miss the last game because of injury.
With 3:41 left in the first quarter, running back Dylan Schwitz ran to the left pylon, giving the Cheesemakers a 12-0 lead
"We haven't really scored first since the Fort (Atkinson) game," Monroe head coach Curt Miller said. "I was waiting for (Frint) to have his break out game. He has a lot of talent, but this is his first time playing football. He came out as a senior and worked hard all year long. It was nice to seem him play the way he did."
Early in the second quarter, the Cheesemakers were inside their own 3-yard line after a defensive stand. On the second play, Buol, playing center, snapped the ball over the head of Barrett into the end zone. Barrett fell on the ball, opting the safety over a potential Warriors touchdown.
Portage's next two possessions also ended in turnovers on downs from inside Monroe's 10-yard line.
"I'm going to give a lot of credit to our defense. Twice they stepped up. Walker just blew things up," Miller said. "A goal-line stand is definitely one of the biggest momentum shifters in football."
Monroe took the 12-2 lead into halftime, but by the end of the third quarter, Portage had trimmed the score to 12-9.
"Unfortunately we got a little comfortable and let Portage get back into the game," Miller said.
Barrett and Schwitz stepped up again. With 8:19 left in the game, Barrett took the first play of a drive 21 yards to the Warriors' 35-yard line. Two plays later, Schwitz went 34 yards up the right sideline, reaching the ball over the pylon for his second score of the night.
"It was all for the seniors tonight. It was in my head the entire night that I was playing for them," Schwitz said.
Schwitz ran for 84 yards, and Barrett had 81 of Monroe's 190 rushing yards.
Portage got another score with 3:25 remaining the game, cutting the lead to 18-15 and got the ball back with 50 seconds left.
The Warriors then went 48 yards in nine plays. With :09 left on the scoreboard and Portage lined up for a 37-yard field goal to tie the game, Miller called a time out. When play resumed, a Cheesemaker tipped the kick attempt and the ball wobbled wide right by just a few feet, ending the game.
"I thought it went in. I thought we were going to play some overtime football in the rain. But that felt good," Miller said.
Buol, who played in his last high school game, was sad to see it all end, but glad he got one last win.
"Now that it's over, it's bittersweet. We know we won, but we don't get to come back to practice with our family tomorrow," Buol said.
Before letting his team break out of one final huddle, Miller thanked his seniors for their hard work and dedication and informed the underclassmen that the team was now 1-0 headed into the 2010 season. The coaching staff hopes the optimism and final win will help boost the program's confidence a year from now.
"It was huge to get a win," Miller said. "We wanted to send the seniors out on a good note and wanted it to be a stepping stone for next year."
"Coming in we wanted to play hard and come down with that win," Monroe senior lineman John Buol said. But obviously in the back of our minds there's that undertone that this is our last game."
The Cheesemakers defense led the charge throughout the game, twice stopping the Panthers at the goal line. That defense, led by junior Nick Walker, stuffed Portage on the game's opening drive. On the ensuing punt after a three-and-out, Monroe blocked the punt, setting up a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line.
On the first play, Monroe quarterback Michael Barrett called his own number on a sneak, putting the Cheesemakers on top early 6-0, just 1 minute, 49 seconds into the season finale. Portage blocked Monroe's extra point attempt.
The Warriors again were forced to punt after just four plays on their next possession, and Barrett and Co. took over at their own 47.
Kevin Frint, Evan Brady and several other players who don't get to see a lot of time on the field stepped up and played a little extra in the season finale. Bryan Tordoff and Ethan Schuttler were just two of several players who had to miss the last game because of injury.
With 3:41 left in the first quarter, running back Dylan Schwitz ran to the left pylon, giving the Cheesemakers a 12-0 lead
"We haven't really scored first since the Fort (Atkinson) game," Monroe head coach Curt Miller said. "I was waiting for (Frint) to have his break out game. He has a lot of talent, but this is his first time playing football. He came out as a senior and worked hard all year long. It was nice to seem him play the way he did."
Early in the second quarter, the Cheesemakers were inside their own 3-yard line after a defensive stand. On the second play, Buol, playing center, snapped the ball over the head of Barrett into the end zone. Barrett fell on the ball, opting the safety over a potential Warriors touchdown.
Portage's next two possessions also ended in turnovers on downs from inside Monroe's 10-yard line.
"I'm going to give a lot of credit to our defense. Twice they stepped up. Walker just blew things up," Miller said. "A goal-line stand is definitely one of the biggest momentum shifters in football."
Monroe took the 12-2 lead into halftime, but by the end of the third quarter, Portage had trimmed the score to 12-9.
"Unfortunately we got a little comfortable and let Portage get back into the game," Miller said.
Barrett and Schwitz stepped up again. With 8:19 left in the game, Barrett took the first play of a drive 21 yards to the Warriors' 35-yard line. Two plays later, Schwitz went 34 yards up the right sideline, reaching the ball over the pylon for his second score of the night.
"It was all for the seniors tonight. It was in my head the entire night that I was playing for them," Schwitz said.
Schwitz ran for 84 yards, and Barrett had 81 of Monroe's 190 rushing yards.
Portage got another score with 3:25 remaining the game, cutting the lead to 18-15 and got the ball back with 50 seconds left.
The Warriors then went 48 yards in nine plays. With :09 left on the scoreboard and Portage lined up for a 37-yard field goal to tie the game, Miller called a time out. When play resumed, a Cheesemaker tipped the kick attempt and the ball wobbled wide right by just a few feet, ending the game.
"I thought it went in. I thought we were going to play some overtime football in the rain. But that felt good," Miller said.
Buol, who played in his last high school game, was sad to see it all end, but glad he got one last win.
"Now that it's over, it's bittersweet. We know we won, but we don't get to come back to practice with our family tomorrow," Buol said.
Before letting his team break out of one final huddle, Miller thanked his seniors for their hard work and dedication and informed the underclassmen that the team was now 1-0 headed into the 2010 season. The coaching staff hopes the optimism and final win will help boost the program's confidence a year from now.
"It was huge to get a win," Miller said. "We wanted to send the seniors out on a good note and wanted it to be a stepping stone for next year."
