Local players, coaches participating
Five area football players and a coach will participate in this weekend's Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-Star Game. Participants are:
- Jim Matthys, Brodhead-Juda head coach.
- Alex Wallace, Brodhead-Juda RB/DB.
- Nick Jacobson, Brodhead-Juda OL/DL.
- Alex Erickson, Darlington QB/DB.
- Colton Hackett, Darlington OL/LB.
- Dallas Boley, New Glarus-Monticello OL/DL.
OSHKOSH - Five former area high school football players will put on the pads one more time to play in the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-Star game Saturday at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh's Titan Stadium.
The former standout high school football players who will play on the Division 4-7 South team include Brodhead-Juda's Nick Jacobson, Brodhead-Juda's Alex Wallace, Darlington's Alex Erickson, Darlington's Colton Hackett and New Glarus-Monticello's Dallas Boley.
"It's pretty easy to coach them," said Brodhead coach Jim Matthys, who is serving as the South All-Star head coach. "You hear a lot about the talent of kids in the area and you never get a chance to watch them play. You get a chance to come here to see how good they are and why their programs are so successful."
Jacobson was a first team all-state defensive end and Wallace was a second team all-state defensive back for the Cardinals, who were the WIAA Division 4 state runner-up. Brodhead-Juda lost in the state title game to Kewaunee 41-21 last year.
Wallace, who is going to play football at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point as a running back, was thrilled to be playing in the game.
"Coach (Matthys) keeps telling me they only pick the best of the best in the South," Wallace said. "There are probably 30 or 40 other guys who could be here. It's an honor to be on the All-Star team."
Erickson was one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the area last year, helping guide the Redbirds to a 12-1 season and the state semifinals, where Darlington lost to eventual state champion Brillion 35-14. Erickson rushed for 1,114 yards and scored 22 touchdowns. He passed for 1,240 yards and 13 TDs. Erickson was named the SWAL Conference Offensive Player of the Year and Hackett was named the conference's lineman of the year.
The Brodhead-Juda trio is in a position they didn't think they would be in.
"I told them we have another chance to be on the field again for a game," Matthys said. "We never thought we would be on the field again together after the state championship game. We will give it all we have on Saturday."
Matthys said both Jacobson and Wallace are great football players.
"It's been four years of hard work," Matthys said. "This is some of the pay off for their hard work."
The players have been at Oshkosh since Sunday going through three-a-day practices and will have a banquet dinner tonight before the game at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Wallace didn't envision having three-a-day practices again until college football practice started.
"You have to cram everything into a week," he said. "It's what you have to do to get ready."
The former standout high school football players who will play on the Division 4-7 South team include Brodhead-Juda's Nick Jacobson, Brodhead-Juda's Alex Wallace, Darlington's Alex Erickson, Darlington's Colton Hackett and New Glarus-Monticello's Dallas Boley.
"It's pretty easy to coach them," said Brodhead coach Jim Matthys, who is serving as the South All-Star head coach. "You hear a lot about the talent of kids in the area and you never get a chance to watch them play. You get a chance to come here to see how good they are and why their programs are so successful."
Jacobson was a first team all-state defensive end and Wallace was a second team all-state defensive back for the Cardinals, who were the WIAA Division 4 state runner-up. Brodhead-Juda lost in the state title game to Kewaunee 41-21 last year.
Wallace, who is going to play football at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point as a running back, was thrilled to be playing in the game.
"Coach (Matthys) keeps telling me they only pick the best of the best in the South," Wallace said. "There are probably 30 or 40 other guys who could be here. It's an honor to be on the All-Star team."
Erickson was one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the area last year, helping guide the Redbirds to a 12-1 season and the state semifinals, where Darlington lost to eventual state champion Brillion 35-14. Erickson rushed for 1,114 yards and scored 22 touchdowns. He passed for 1,240 yards and 13 TDs. Erickson was named the SWAL Conference Offensive Player of the Year and Hackett was named the conference's lineman of the year.
The Brodhead-Juda trio is in a position they didn't think they would be in.
"I told them we have another chance to be on the field again for a game," Matthys said. "We never thought we would be on the field again together after the state championship game. We will give it all we have on Saturday."
Matthys said both Jacobson and Wallace are great football players.
"It's been four years of hard work," Matthys said. "This is some of the pay off for their hard work."
The players have been at Oshkosh since Sunday going through three-a-day practices and will have a banquet dinner tonight before the game at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Wallace didn't envision having three-a-day practices again until college football practice started.
"You have to cram everything into a week," he said. "It's what you have to do to get ready."
