NEW GLARUS - Tonight's WIAA Division 4 opening round match up between New Glarus-Monticello and Brodhead-Juda pits two local team with dozens of playmakers against each other.
The Cardinals (7-2, 5-2 Rock Valley South), entering as the underdog, have a strong defense and explosive offense. Brodhead-Juda has rushed for 2,774 yards this season, a 308 yard average per game, thrown for another 464 yards (52 ypg) and has scored 325 points (36.1 per game). Defensively, the Cardinals give up a measly 187 total yards and 14 points per game.
Brodhead-Juda's only two losses came in back-to-back games in weeks seven and eight against Big Foot (9-0, 7-0), the No. 1 ranked team in Division 4, according to the WisSports.net coaches poll, and McFarland (8-1, 6-1), the winner of the Rock Valley North.
The Knights (7-2, 4-1 Capitol South), on the other hand, are averaging 20.1 points per game of offense while allowing 13.4 points on defense. New Glarus-Monticello knocked off conference leader Marshall in the final game of the regular season to force a three-way tie for the conference title.
"We're both really good teams. Brodhead relies heavily on their power running game and we run the wing-T," NGM head coach Jeffrey Eichelkraut said. "We both have really good defenses and our special teams are solid. I thinks it's going to be a good game."
In the playoffs a year ago, the Knights lost in the first round to Prairie du Chien, finishing the season at 5-5. Brodhead-Juda exited the same night in a loss to Kettle Moraine Lutheran, spoiling a fine regular season.
"We're not talking a whole lot about last year," Cardinals head coach Jim Matthys said. "This is a different team. We do have some carry over, but we're going to try and keep the momentum we've got. The kids know that in the playoffs, it's win and move on or lose and go home."
Brodhead-Juda has made the playoffs each of the last 18 seasons and, according to Matthys, are injury-free.
"I think the kids know our tradition here and that helps make things a little exciting," Matthys said.
Senior running back Ethan Douglas leads the Cardinals charge. Douglas has gained 1,041 yards on the ground this season in 133 carries (7.82 per rush), missing a pair of games because of an injury yet still compiling 17 touchdowns. Brayden Fritsch (580 yards, 10 TDs), Gavin Garrett (457 yards, 5 TDs) and Devin Seitz (208 yards on 10 carries, 4 TDs) are more than capable back ups.
"We've put together a plan that will provide them with different looks. We'll add extra support over the top, too, if necessary," Eichelkraut said.
The biggest question mark this season for the Cards has been at quarterback. Matthys has sophomore David Earleywine and senior Travis Hull splitting snaps.
"We've done a little rotating the last couple of games. David's kind of the guy that's done our passing for us this year and Travis brings another dimension of the running game to the offense," Matthys said. "We'll probably continue to use them both again."
Ryan Bright is the unquestioned quarterback for the Knights.
"He really makes their offense go. He does a great job running their offense. And they have other great players too. (Cameron) Jeglum is a good receiver and they have a couple of other running backs out of the backfield," Matthys said. "Both teams are probably going to try and establish a running game. That will be important."
Bright has accumulated 554 rushing yards on 97 carries this season, scoring six times, and has thrown for 653 yards with seven TDs.
The Knights have rushed for 1,893 yards as a team this year, an average of 210 yards per game. Defensively, NGM has allowed 1,615 rushing yards and 641 passing yards, an average of 250 total yards a game.
Despite the hopes of hosting a game in the opening round, Brodhead isn't terribly upset with staying in Green County and instead of traveling an hour or more.
"It's certainly a benefit not to go very far on a school night. But playoff time it doesn't really matter because you're going to be traveling anyway. It doesn't really matter where we're going anyway, everybody is good at this point," Matthys said.
Eichelkraut had trouble putting into words how nice it was to have a home game in the playoffs.
"Words don't describe the feeling. Going back to '01 and '02 when we were 8-1 both years and easily should have hosted, it just makes you appreciate it. If you win you can start preparation right away and not worry about the ride back. And the community is pretty excited. They've invested the money and now with the fruits of hard labor, we get to come home," he said.
"And their is some familiarity with Brodhead-Juda. We don't have to search much to find out how they played. And with both teams being in the same county, we should all be able to travel well and should be able to create an exciting atmosphere."
The Cardinals (7-2, 5-2 Rock Valley South), entering as the underdog, have a strong defense and explosive offense. Brodhead-Juda has rushed for 2,774 yards this season, a 308 yard average per game, thrown for another 464 yards (52 ypg) and has scored 325 points (36.1 per game). Defensively, the Cardinals give up a measly 187 total yards and 14 points per game.
Brodhead-Juda's only two losses came in back-to-back games in weeks seven and eight against Big Foot (9-0, 7-0), the No. 1 ranked team in Division 4, according to the WisSports.net coaches poll, and McFarland (8-1, 6-1), the winner of the Rock Valley North.
The Knights (7-2, 4-1 Capitol South), on the other hand, are averaging 20.1 points per game of offense while allowing 13.4 points on defense. New Glarus-Monticello knocked off conference leader Marshall in the final game of the regular season to force a three-way tie for the conference title.
"We're both really good teams. Brodhead relies heavily on their power running game and we run the wing-T," NGM head coach Jeffrey Eichelkraut said. "We both have really good defenses and our special teams are solid. I thinks it's going to be a good game."
In the playoffs a year ago, the Knights lost in the first round to Prairie du Chien, finishing the season at 5-5. Brodhead-Juda exited the same night in a loss to Kettle Moraine Lutheran, spoiling a fine regular season.
"We're not talking a whole lot about last year," Cardinals head coach Jim Matthys said. "This is a different team. We do have some carry over, but we're going to try and keep the momentum we've got. The kids know that in the playoffs, it's win and move on or lose and go home."
Brodhead-Juda has made the playoffs each of the last 18 seasons and, according to Matthys, are injury-free.
"I think the kids know our tradition here and that helps make things a little exciting," Matthys said.
Senior running back Ethan Douglas leads the Cardinals charge. Douglas has gained 1,041 yards on the ground this season in 133 carries (7.82 per rush), missing a pair of games because of an injury yet still compiling 17 touchdowns. Brayden Fritsch (580 yards, 10 TDs), Gavin Garrett (457 yards, 5 TDs) and Devin Seitz (208 yards on 10 carries, 4 TDs) are more than capable back ups.
"We've put together a plan that will provide them with different looks. We'll add extra support over the top, too, if necessary," Eichelkraut said.
The biggest question mark this season for the Cards has been at quarterback. Matthys has sophomore David Earleywine and senior Travis Hull splitting snaps.
"We've done a little rotating the last couple of games. David's kind of the guy that's done our passing for us this year and Travis brings another dimension of the running game to the offense," Matthys said. "We'll probably continue to use them both again."
Ryan Bright is the unquestioned quarterback for the Knights.
"He really makes their offense go. He does a great job running their offense. And they have other great players too. (Cameron) Jeglum is a good receiver and they have a couple of other running backs out of the backfield," Matthys said. "Both teams are probably going to try and establish a running game. That will be important."
Bright has accumulated 554 rushing yards on 97 carries this season, scoring six times, and has thrown for 653 yards with seven TDs.
The Knights have rushed for 1,893 yards as a team this year, an average of 210 yards per game. Defensively, NGM has allowed 1,615 rushing yards and 641 passing yards, an average of 250 total yards a game.
Despite the hopes of hosting a game in the opening round, Brodhead isn't terribly upset with staying in Green County and instead of traveling an hour or more.
"It's certainly a benefit not to go very far on a school night. But playoff time it doesn't really matter because you're going to be traveling anyway. It doesn't really matter where we're going anyway, everybody is good at this point," Matthys said.
Eichelkraut had trouble putting into words how nice it was to have a home game in the playoffs.
"Words don't describe the feeling. Going back to '01 and '02 when we were 8-1 both years and easily should have hosted, it just makes you appreciate it. If you win you can start preparation right away and not worry about the ride back. And the community is pretty excited. They've invested the money and now with the fruits of hard labor, we get to come home," he said.
"And their is some familiarity with Brodhead-Juda. We don't have to search much to find out how they played. And with both teams being in the same county, we should all be able to travel well and should be able to create an exciting atmosphere."
