MONROE - It may be too early to call the Monroe football team's 42-14 home-opening win over Baraboo on Friday night a statement game, but the defense rose to the occasion.
The Cheesemakers (2-0) bottled up the Thunderbirds and forced three turnovers - two fumbles and an interception by senior Brent Edmunds. They limited the Thunderbirds to 39 total yards, including 2 total rushing yards and 4 yards in the first half. Monroe junior Hayden Arneson had one sack, and senior Jared Amacher and sophomore Brady Buol combined for a second sack.
"That is quite a statement," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "I can't say enough about our defense. We controlled the tempo of the game on both sides of the ball."
Monroe starts the season 2-0 for the second straight year. After defeating Portage and Baraboo to open last season, the Cheesemakers lost five consecutive games in the Badger South Conference. How will this year be different?
"We haven't even talked about the word playoffs," Miller said. "We are looking to take it one game at a time. Last year, we were happy to be 2-0. I feel like our opponents have been better this year and so are we. I feel very confident going into Stoughton next week."
Each time the Cheesemakers needed a big play, junior Jacob Kind delivered. Monroe junior quarterback Tyler Elmer completed 3 of 3 passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns including a 38-yard TD pass to Kind.
"We made big plays when we needed to," Elmer said. "That is what we practice. Jake is a scorer. If we need a big play on defense he makes it and if we need a big play on offense he makes it. He's just a playmaker."
It didn't take the Cheesemakers long to set the tone. Monroe senior Jaron Kuester rumbled for a 47-yard TD on the first possession to give the Cheesemakers a 7-0 lead. On their third possession, the Cheesemakers cashed in on a nine-play, 68-yard drive, capping it off with senior Cam Shaw's 10-yard TD run.
Kuester rushed for 81 yards on nine carries and scored two touchdowns.
The Cheesemakers racked up 378 total yards, including gashing the Thunderbirds for 272 on the ground. Shaw rushed for 76 yards on 16 carries and scored two touchdowns. Kind ran for 66 yards on 11 carries and had two receptions for 69 yards and one touchdown.
"Jake is a nice weapon," Miller said. "He always makes something happen when he gets his hands on the ball. They are all weapons in our scheme behind the big guys up front."
Shaw understands the time the team spent lifting weights in the offseason is paying off.
"We worked really hard in the offseason, and we came in ready to play and win," Shaw said. "Each week we want to be 1-0."
Elmer tossed a 38-yard TD pass to Kind with 8 minutes, 50 seconds left in the second quarter to give the Cheesemakers a 19-0 lead.
About the only downfall for the Cheesemakers was when the Thunderbirds answered with junior Tyrese Seefeldt's 93-yard punt return for a touchdown. The Cheesemakers responded with a 12-play, 77-yard drive, culminating in Shaw ramming in a 1-yard TD plunge to extend the lead to 27-7 with 42 seconds to go before the half. The Cheesemakers dodged a bullet on the drive when the Thunderbirds appeared to have returned an Elmer fumble 30 yards for a touchdown, which could have cut the lead to 20-14. Instead, officials wiped out the touchdown due to a defensive holding penalty on the Thunderbirds.
Monroe had six fumbles on a soggy field, but the one that was overturned was a pivotal play. Miller said the near fumble and ensuing touchdown took a lot of wind out of the Thunderbirds' sails.
Miller wasn't proud of the six turnovers, but during a downpour, he was excited none of the turnovers were game-changers.
"In a game like this sometimes that will happen," Miller said. "We obviously have to clean that up. It's part of a rainy game. None of the turnovers changed the outcome of the game."
Elmer tossed a 37-yard TD pass to junior Alex Tordoff about midway through the third quarter. Kuester scored his second touchdown on a 2-yard late in the third quarter to extend the Cheesemakers' lead to 42-7.
After committing eight penalties for 87 yards in the season opener last week, the Cheesemakers were flagged for six penalties for 50 yards against the Thunderbirds.
Monroe hosts Stoughton in its first Badger South Conference game Sept. 4.
"We worked really hard in the offseason and lifted a lot of big weights," Elmer said. "Most people don't know how much of a difference that makes. We came into the season with the right mindset."
The Cheesemakers (2-0) bottled up the Thunderbirds and forced three turnovers - two fumbles and an interception by senior Brent Edmunds. They limited the Thunderbirds to 39 total yards, including 2 total rushing yards and 4 yards in the first half. Monroe junior Hayden Arneson had one sack, and senior Jared Amacher and sophomore Brady Buol combined for a second sack.
"That is quite a statement," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "I can't say enough about our defense. We controlled the tempo of the game on both sides of the ball."
Monroe starts the season 2-0 for the second straight year. After defeating Portage and Baraboo to open last season, the Cheesemakers lost five consecutive games in the Badger South Conference. How will this year be different?
"We haven't even talked about the word playoffs," Miller said. "We are looking to take it one game at a time. Last year, we were happy to be 2-0. I feel like our opponents have been better this year and so are we. I feel very confident going into Stoughton next week."
Each time the Cheesemakers needed a big play, junior Jacob Kind delivered. Monroe junior quarterback Tyler Elmer completed 3 of 3 passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns including a 38-yard TD pass to Kind.
"We made big plays when we needed to," Elmer said. "That is what we practice. Jake is a scorer. If we need a big play on defense he makes it and if we need a big play on offense he makes it. He's just a playmaker."
It didn't take the Cheesemakers long to set the tone. Monroe senior Jaron Kuester rumbled for a 47-yard TD on the first possession to give the Cheesemakers a 7-0 lead. On their third possession, the Cheesemakers cashed in on a nine-play, 68-yard drive, capping it off with senior Cam Shaw's 10-yard TD run.
Kuester rushed for 81 yards on nine carries and scored two touchdowns.
The Cheesemakers racked up 378 total yards, including gashing the Thunderbirds for 272 on the ground. Shaw rushed for 76 yards on 16 carries and scored two touchdowns. Kind ran for 66 yards on 11 carries and had two receptions for 69 yards and one touchdown.
"Jake is a nice weapon," Miller said. "He always makes something happen when he gets his hands on the ball. They are all weapons in our scheme behind the big guys up front."
Shaw understands the time the team spent lifting weights in the offseason is paying off.
"We worked really hard in the offseason, and we came in ready to play and win," Shaw said. "Each week we want to be 1-0."
Elmer tossed a 38-yard TD pass to Kind with 8 minutes, 50 seconds left in the second quarter to give the Cheesemakers a 19-0 lead.
About the only downfall for the Cheesemakers was when the Thunderbirds answered with junior Tyrese Seefeldt's 93-yard punt return for a touchdown. The Cheesemakers responded with a 12-play, 77-yard drive, culminating in Shaw ramming in a 1-yard TD plunge to extend the lead to 27-7 with 42 seconds to go before the half. The Cheesemakers dodged a bullet on the drive when the Thunderbirds appeared to have returned an Elmer fumble 30 yards for a touchdown, which could have cut the lead to 20-14. Instead, officials wiped out the touchdown due to a defensive holding penalty on the Thunderbirds.
Monroe had six fumbles on a soggy field, but the one that was overturned was a pivotal play. Miller said the near fumble and ensuing touchdown took a lot of wind out of the Thunderbirds' sails.
Miller wasn't proud of the six turnovers, but during a downpour, he was excited none of the turnovers were game-changers.
"In a game like this sometimes that will happen," Miller said. "We obviously have to clean that up. It's part of a rainy game. None of the turnovers changed the outcome of the game."
Elmer tossed a 37-yard TD pass to junior Alex Tordoff about midway through the third quarter. Kuester scored his second touchdown on a 2-yard late in the third quarter to extend the Cheesemakers' lead to 42-7.
After committing eight penalties for 87 yards in the season opener last week, the Cheesemakers were flagged for six penalties for 50 yards against the Thunderbirds.
Monroe hosts Stoughton in its first Badger South Conference game Sept. 4.
"We worked really hard in the offseason and lifted a lot of big weights," Elmer said. "Most people don't know how much of a difference that makes. We came into the season with the right mindset."
