BRODHEAD - Brodhead-Juda (9-2) enters the WIAA Division 4 state quarterfinal at Lakeside Lutheran Saturday on a nine-game winning streak and a history of success against the Warriors.
The only team hotter than the Cardinals may be Lakeside Lutheran (10-1) which has won 10 straight games since losing the season opener to Jefferson 28-21.
"Every step in the playoffs gets tougher and tougher with less and less margin for error," Brodhead-Juda coach Jim Matthys said.
This will be the third playoff game between the Cardinals and Warriors in the last seven years. Brodhead-Juda beat Lakeside Lutheran 49-14 in the Level 2 playoffs in 2007 and knocked off the Warriors 46-6 in 2005. Matthys isn't drawing many conclusions from those previous matchups as a formula for beating Lakeside Lutheran, which has the same coach.
"I don't think you ever have a blueprint because kids are different," Matthys said of beating the Warriors. "Their strengths are different than the last time we played them. We are not the same team as the last time we played. I think a lot can change in five or six years."
Matthys said one area that has changed is Lakeside Lutheran is bigger on the offensive line than in the past and will look to play smashmouth football with a double wing offense.
Lakeside Lutheran senior running back Drew Davis has rushed for 1,273 yards and 18 touchdowns. He has 303 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
"They are a balanced offense," Matthys said. "He's certainly the focal point and the key."
However, the Warriors have other playmakers, including quarterback Tyler Doyle, who has passed for 1,594 yards with 21 touchdowns and three interceptions. Doyle is completing 66 percent of his passes and the Cardinals will look to shut down the run to make the Warriors one dimensional. Lakeside Lutheran's leading receiver is Caleb Gartner who has 26 receptions for 592 yards and nine touchdowns. In a Level 2 playoff win last week over Racine St. Catherine's, the Cardinals' defense limited quarterback Cary Thomas to just 9-of-25 passing and Brandon Bauman came up with two clutch interceptions.
The Cardinals are giving up 17 points per game and have forced 17 turnovers in 11 games. Bauman leads the Cardinals with four interceptions. DeLorme leads the Cardinals with 70 tackles and senior Joey Jordan has 64 tackles. Jordan leads the team with seven tackles for loss.
Matthys said that many teams that run a double wing offense don't have the talent at quarterback and receiver like the Warriors have to compliment the running game.
"I think at this point every team we play is balanced or else they would not have made it to this point," he said.
What hasn't changed is the Cardinals' power rushing attack that averages 305 yards per game. Brodhead-Juda senior Jesse DeLorme has rushed for 1,332 yards and 23 touchdowns. The Cardinals, which are averaging 38.2 points per game, also have capable playmakers in running backs Trenton Jordan (663 rushing yards, 5 TDs) and Jaron Harding (661 rushing yards, 8 TDs). The Cardinals have an identity as a power running team.
"It's certainly what we do," Matthys said. "We want to establish the run early."
Brodhead-Juda senior quarterback David Earleywine has passed for 1,056 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. Earleywine has completed 62 percent of his passes and has been able to make plays with play action passes when other teams stack the line to slow down the Cardinals' running attack. He has added 124 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
"I think he's having as good if not a better year than last year as far as managing the game," Matthys said. "He's certainly been better as a running quarterback."
The Cardinals have four players with 13 or more catches led by senior Levi Frost (18 receptions for 257 yards and four touchdowns).
Big game experience will be on the Cardinals' side even though they don't have home field advantage. The seniors on the Brodhead-Juda football team will play in their 11th playoff game on Saturday. Two years ago, the Cardinals reached the Level 3 playoffs and last year they lost the Division 4 state championship 41-21 to Kewaunee.
"The guys have been here before," Matthys said. "That's impressive for one class. That is another season and a half on top of the regular season games."
The only team hotter than the Cardinals may be Lakeside Lutheran (10-1) which has won 10 straight games since losing the season opener to Jefferson 28-21.
"Every step in the playoffs gets tougher and tougher with less and less margin for error," Brodhead-Juda coach Jim Matthys said.
This will be the third playoff game between the Cardinals and Warriors in the last seven years. Brodhead-Juda beat Lakeside Lutheran 49-14 in the Level 2 playoffs in 2007 and knocked off the Warriors 46-6 in 2005. Matthys isn't drawing many conclusions from those previous matchups as a formula for beating Lakeside Lutheran, which has the same coach.
"I don't think you ever have a blueprint because kids are different," Matthys said of beating the Warriors. "Their strengths are different than the last time we played them. We are not the same team as the last time we played. I think a lot can change in five or six years."
Matthys said one area that has changed is Lakeside Lutheran is bigger on the offensive line than in the past and will look to play smashmouth football with a double wing offense.
Lakeside Lutheran senior running back Drew Davis has rushed for 1,273 yards and 18 touchdowns. He has 303 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
"They are a balanced offense," Matthys said. "He's certainly the focal point and the key."
However, the Warriors have other playmakers, including quarterback Tyler Doyle, who has passed for 1,594 yards with 21 touchdowns and three interceptions. Doyle is completing 66 percent of his passes and the Cardinals will look to shut down the run to make the Warriors one dimensional. Lakeside Lutheran's leading receiver is Caleb Gartner who has 26 receptions for 592 yards and nine touchdowns. In a Level 2 playoff win last week over Racine St. Catherine's, the Cardinals' defense limited quarterback Cary Thomas to just 9-of-25 passing and Brandon Bauman came up with two clutch interceptions.
The Cardinals are giving up 17 points per game and have forced 17 turnovers in 11 games. Bauman leads the Cardinals with four interceptions. DeLorme leads the Cardinals with 70 tackles and senior Joey Jordan has 64 tackles. Jordan leads the team with seven tackles for loss.
Matthys said that many teams that run a double wing offense don't have the talent at quarterback and receiver like the Warriors have to compliment the running game.
"I think at this point every team we play is balanced or else they would not have made it to this point," he said.
What hasn't changed is the Cardinals' power rushing attack that averages 305 yards per game. Brodhead-Juda senior Jesse DeLorme has rushed for 1,332 yards and 23 touchdowns. The Cardinals, which are averaging 38.2 points per game, also have capable playmakers in running backs Trenton Jordan (663 rushing yards, 5 TDs) and Jaron Harding (661 rushing yards, 8 TDs). The Cardinals have an identity as a power running team.
"It's certainly what we do," Matthys said. "We want to establish the run early."
Brodhead-Juda senior quarterback David Earleywine has passed for 1,056 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. Earleywine has completed 62 percent of his passes and has been able to make plays with play action passes when other teams stack the line to slow down the Cardinals' running attack. He has added 124 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
"I think he's having as good if not a better year than last year as far as managing the game," Matthys said. "He's certainly been better as a running quarterback."
The Cardinals have four players with 13 or more catches led by senior Levi Frost (18 receptions for 257 yards and four touchdowns).
Big game experience will be on the Cardinals' side even though they don't have home field advantage. The seniors on the Brodhead-Juda football team will play in their 11th playoff game on Saturday. Two years ago, the Cardinals reached the Level 3 playoffs and last year they lost the Division 4 state championship 41-21 to Kewaunee.
"The guys have been here before," Matthys said. "That's impressive for one class. That is another season and a half on top of the regular season games."
