MONROE - The Cheesemakers put the ball in the hands of junior quarterback Michael Barrett, yet all but ditched the passing attack Friday night.
Barrett ran a no-huddle option offense to perfection, and Monroe rumbled over Fort Atkinson, 29-14 for its first football win of the season.
"As good as a passer as Michael is, he's a better runner. That's why we run the offense that we do," Monroe head coach Curt Miller said. "He did a great job running that offense today. (And) we figured we could control the line of scrimmage and the football - we have the kids to do that. Our offensive line dug in and looked very good."
Barrett had 112 of the Cheesemakers' 214 rushing yards, but thanked his offensive line for opening up big holes.
"Our offensive line played perfect tonight. I haven't seen them play that well all year," he said.
Things started well for Monroe, which opened the game with a 17-play, 76-yard drive that took 5 minutes and 40 seconds off the game clock. The Cheesemakers used the no-huddle right away, running 15 consecutive rushing plays.
"We caught Fort (Atkinson) off guard. They had no idea (the no-huddle) was coming," Miller said.
Barrett's pass to Ethan Schuttler was dropped in the end zone on the 16th play, but the QB connected with wideout Bryan Tordoff on the next down for a 6-yard touchdown.
"(Barrett) did a great job running the offense. We marched the ball right down the field," Miller said.
Fort Atkinson was offsides on the extra-point, and Miller decided to go for two from the 1 1/2-yard line. Senior H-back Dillon Weckerly pounded the ball into the end zone for the conversion, putting Monroe up 8-0.
The Blackhawks rumbled down the field themselves, riding running back C.J. Zimmerman (33 carries, 140 yards) the entire way. The Cheesemakers' defense stepped up in its own territory and forced a short-yardage punt to get the ball back.
After a 14-play drive that resulted in a Monroe punt, Fort Atkinson had the ball once again at its own 22-yard line. On the Blackhawks' first play of the series, quarterback Nick Sanders was forced out of the pocket, and with Monroe's Mack Brunker in his face, Sanders tossed an interception at about the 35-yard line to Drew Geissbuhler, who followed his blockers for the Pick-6.
The Blackhawks marched down the field on its next possession, and Zimmerman dashed into the end zone with 5:54 remaining in the second quarter.
Barrett and Geissbuhler answered right back. Barrett and running back Dylan Schwitz (20 carries, 85 yards) moved the chains down the field. On 4th-and-5 from Fort's 33, Barrett scrambled and threw up a Hail Mary to the end zone. Diving for the catch on the other end was Geissbuhler. An extra-point from kicker Kevin Frint put the Cheesemakers up 22-7 at halftime.
Monroe accumulated 149 rushing yards and all of its 43 passing yards in the first half, controlling the clock the entire way. The Cheesemakers held the ball for 14:39 in the opening two quarters.
In the second half, Monroe stopped Fort Atkinson twice on fourth down, including with just over a minute to play on a goal-line stand. Monroe's last score came midway through the third quarter. Cory Kundert's punt went out of bounds at the 10, and on the Blackhawks' next play, Zimmerman fumbled the ball and Schuttler ran it back 15 yards for the score.
Fort Atkinson scored its final TD with 2:27 left in the third, as Zimmerman plowed into the end zone from five yards out.
The Blackhawks finished with 281 total yards, 185 on the ground and nearly all 96 passing yards coming in the second half.
"We sort of took the bend-but-don't-break philosophy this weekend. Fortunately we had a couple of big scoring plays defensively," Miller said.
Barrett was pleased by having more freedom in the field.
"It's really easy on me, all I have to do is read the signs and the guys do their jobs," Barrett said.
In the end, Monroe's first win, which came with no turnovers, finished with big smiles.
"We had a good week of practice and just got it done tonight. Next up is Edgewood," Geissbuhler said.
Barrett ran a no-huddle option offense to perfection, and Monroe rumbled over Fort Atkinson, 29-14 for its first football win of the season.
"As good as a passer as Michael is, he's a better runner. That's why we run the offense that we do," Monroe head coach Curt Miller said. "He did a great job running that offense today. (And) we figured we could control the line of scrimmage and the football - we have the kids to do that. Our offensive line dug in and looked very good."
Barrett had 112 of the Cheesemakers' 214 rushing yards, but thanked his offensive line for opening up big holes.
"Our offensive line played perfect tonight. I haven't seen them play that well all year," he said.
Things started well for Monroe, which opened the game with a 17-play, 76-yard drive that took 5 minutes and 40 seconds off the game clock. The Cheesemakers used the no-huddle right away, running 15 consecutive rushing plays.
"We caught Fort (Atkinson) off guard. They had no idea (the no-huddle) was coming," Miller said.
Barrett's pass to Ethan Schuttler was dropped in the end zone on the 16th play, but the QB connected with wideout Bryan Tordoff on the next down for a 6-yard touchdown.
"(Barrett) did a great job running the offense. We marched the ball right down the field," Miller said.
Fort Atkinson was offsides on the extra-point, and Miller decided to go for two from the 1 1/2-yard line. Senior H-back Dillon Weckerly pounded the ball into the end zone for the conversion, putting Monroe up 8-0.
The Blackhawks rumbled down the field themselves, riding running back C.J. Zimmerman (33 carries, 140 yards) the entire way. The Cheesemakers' defense stepped up in its own territory and forced a short-yardage punt to get the ball back.
After a 14-play drive that resulted in a Monroe punt, Fort Atkinson had the ball once again at its own 22-yard line. On the Blackhawks' first play of the series, quarterback Nick Sanders was forced out of the pocket, and with Monroe's Mack Brunker in his face, Sanders tossed an interception at about the 35-yard line to Drew Geissbuhler, who followed his blockers for the Pick-6.
The Blackhawks marched down the field on its next possession, and Zimmerman dashed into the end zone with 5:54 remaining in the second quarter.
Barrett and Geissbuhler answered right back. Barrett and running back Dylan Schwitz (20 carries, 85 yards) moved the chains down the field. On 4th-and-5 from Fort's 33, Barrett scrambled and threw up a Hail Mary to the end zone. Diving for the catch on the other end was Geissbuhler. An extra-point from kicker Kevin Frint put the Cheesemakers up 22-7 at halftime.
Monroe accumulated 149 rushing yards and all of its 43 passing yards in the first half, controlling the clock the entire way. The Cheesemakers held the ball for 14:39 in the opening two quarters.
In the second half, Monroe stopped Fort Atkinson twice on fourth down, including with just over a minute to play on a goal-line stand. Monroe's last score came midway through the third quarter. Cory Kundert's punt went out of bounds at the 10, and on the Blackhawks' next play, Zimmerman fumbled the ball and Schuttler ran it back 15 yards for the score.
Fort Atkinson scored its final TD with 2:27 left in the third, as Zimmerman plowed into the end zone from five yards out.
The Blackhawks finished with 281 total yards, 185 on the ground and nearly all 96 passing yards coming in the second half.
"We sort of took the bend-but-don't-break philosophy this weekend. Fortunately we had a couple of big scoring plays defensively," Miller said.
Barrett was pleased by having more freedom in the field.
"It's really easy on me, all I have to do is read the signs and the guys do their jobs," Barrett said.
In the end, Monroe's first win, which came with no turnovers, finished with big smiles.
"We had a good week of practice and just got it done tonight. Next up is Edgewood," Geissbuhler said.
