Monroe at Stoughton
7 p.m. Friday
RECORDS: Monroe 7-0, 4-0 Badger South; Stoughton 5-2, 3-1 Badger South
LAST WEEK: Monroe defeated Oregon 34-14; Stoughton beat Milton 23-20.
LAST MEETING: Stoughton defeated Monroe 33-9
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Monroe - Defensive ends Dylan Beaver and Hayden Arneson could play a big role rushing the quarterback for a Cheesemakers' defense giving up just 10.4 points per game and limiting teams to an average of 106 rushing yards per game. Monroe has thrived at creating turnovers averaging more than one turnover forced per game. Monroe senior Carter Sawdey has a team-high five interceptions. On offense, senior fullback Isaac Allen and senior running back Jacob Kind are both looking to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards this season. Allen is second in the conference with 867 rushing yards and he has scored 14 touchdowns (11 rushing and three receiving). Kind has rushed for 708 yards and has eight touchdowns. He has also returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns.
Stoughton - Senior running back Brady Schipper is third in the conference in rushing yards (822) and is averaging 117.4 rushing yards per game. Running back Jordan DiBenedetto has shown big-play ability with a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown earlier this season. Quarterback Jonathan Malueg has thrown for 748 yards with four touchdowns and eight interceptions this year. He will face a test against a veteran Cheesemakers' secondary that has seven interceptions this year.
If Monroe (7-0, 4-0 Badger South), ranked eighth in the Associated Press medium school state poll, can beat Stoughton on the road Friday, it would assure the Cheesemakers at least a share of the conference title for the first time since 1998.
"I think it's something to add on to the motivation," Monroe coach Toby Golembiewski said. "We have a group of guys who are motivated just because there is a game Friday. All of the talk about conference title shares and outright, I don't think they could even tell you what it means. We had to explain it to them. They really don't have time to worry about it. We want them to focus on each play at a time and keeping up with their school work."
While coaches and players don't want to get bogged down with the implications of a win Friday, the ramifications are captivating. Winning a conference championship gives the Cheesemakers a strong case to host a first-round playoff game and keep an unbeaten season rolling - something few even inside the Monroe lockerroom expected.
"I thought we would make the playoffs," Monroe senior offensive and defensive lineman Hayden Arneson said. "I never thought we would get a conference title. We have put in the work and it has paid off."
There is still more work to do if the Cheesemakers are going to win the Badger South title.
The Vikings utilize a zone running scheme and at times will use shotgun for an offense that averages 21.8 points per game.
Stoughton senior running back Brady Schipper spearheads the offense. Schipper has rushed for 822 yards and eight touchdowns this season. He is averaging 117.4 rushing yards per game and averages 7.3 yards per carry. He is one of several running backs the Cheesemakers will look to bottle up.
"They have fast running backs and return guys and they have good size," Golembiewski said. "We are going to score some points. They may stop us sometimes. They will probably score some points. There is a reason this is being billed a game for the conference. If it gets into a seesaw battle, the team that responds to adversity and doesn't break down or crumble will probably be the one that comes out on top. Both teams will have to respond to adversity at some point."
Stoughton's Jordan DiBenedetto rushed for 73 yards and scored one touchdown last week in the Vikings' 23-20 win over Milton. DiBenedetto also ran back a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown.
Stoughton quarterback Jonathan Malueg has passed for 748 yards with four touchdowns and eight interceptions. The Vikings have connected on several long touchdown passes this year, but Malueg has displayed a propensity to turn the ball over.
Monroe senior Carter Sawdey has been a ballhawk for the Cheesemakers with a team-high five interceptions.
The top wide receiver for the Vikings is Darvell Peeples, who had two receptions for 64 yards last week against the Red Hawks. Peeples has five receptions for 145 yards and three touchdowns this season. DiBenedetto also has caught three touchdowns this year.
Staying disciplined on defense remains the challenge for the Cheesemakers.
"We have to maintain good run fits and have good tackling," Golembiewski said. "Each player has a gap responsibility. Trying to do someone else's job is where we get burned. They need to do their job and fight through a block and make a tackle, sack or knock the ball down."
The Cheesemakers' offense has been humming all season, averaging 35.6 points per game and 337 rushing yards per game. Monroe senior fullback Isaac Allen has led the way leading the Cheesemakers with 867 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. Allen also is the leading receiver with six receptions for 93 yards and three touchdowns.
Senior running back Jacob Kind (708 yards and eight TDs) and senior Cole Murray (580 yards and six TDs) have given the Cheesemakers a three-headed monster in the running game. Kind has displayed a game-breaking ability on special teams with one kickoff return and one punt return for touchdowns.
The Cheesemakers are expecting an odd-man front from the Vikings - either a 3-4 or 5-2 defense. A 3-4 defense features three down lineman and four linebackers. Golembiewski said it's a defense that is most similar to Madison Edgewood.
The Vikings have not played a team that runs the Wing-T offense like the Cheesemakers. In the third game of the season against Edgewood, Kind ran for 195 yards and both he and Allen scored three touchdowns.
"In this trend, it will probably start out as a halfback game at first and then become a fullback game," Golembiewski said.
