MONROE - Cheesemaker football coach Curt Miller recalls eight No. 1 and No. 2 seeds being upset in the playoffs last year. He believes Monroe can be the next Cinderella team this year when the postseason kicks off Friday night.
Monroe (4-4) has won three straight games going into the playoffs and will play at Mount Horeb-Barneveld at 7 p.m. on Friday. The Cheesemakers are in the playoffs for the first time since 2003, but they aren't just satisfied to be there.
"There is no kid or coach content with what we have done," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "We are happy to be in the field, but we expect to do our best. No one will be happy with a loss Friday night. I have no doubt the kids believe we belong. The kids just have to believe we can get it done. They (Mount Horeb-Barneveld) are not invincible."
Mount Horeb-Barneveld runs a prolific spread offense and have averaged 30 points per game. The big playmaker for the Vikings is quarterback Kale Pustina, who has completed 62.2 percent of his passes for 1,879 yards with 13 TDs and five interceptions. Running back Daylon Bowar has rushed for 1,040 yards (130 per game) and has scored 16 touchdowns.
"They run (the spread) very well," Miller said. "They have a good balance between the run and the pass. We used to run the spread so we are used to what people try to do."
Evansville-Albany (6-2), the Rock Valley North Conference champion, will host McFarland (5-3). Evansville-Albany senior Michael Johnson is 10th in the state in rushing yards (1,470) and has scored 20 touchdowns.
The first Evansville-Albany co-op spanned 15 years until the Rock Valley Conference voted to break it up in 2000. The co-op was renewed this season after a 12-year hiatus.
Division 4
Brodhead-Juda (5-3) rolls into the playoffs on a five-game winning streak and will host Campbellsport on Saturday.
If the Cardinals defeat Campbellsport, a rematch with conference rival and No. 1-seeded Big Foot awaits.
"There was going to be someone at the No. 1 seed," Brodhead-Juda coach Jim Matthys said. "If you are going to make it to the state championship you will have to beat some good teams along the way. We have been fortunate that we have been there a couple of times the last couple of years."
Campbellsport finished fourth in the Eastern Washington Conference. They run a split wishbone option attack.
"We have to be disciplined," Matthys said of tackling the fullback, quarterback and running back. "It's really similar to what we have seen from Palmyra-Eagle and Clinton. I think it helps that we have seen it."
Brodhead-Juda senior running back Hunter Colden has rushed for 486 yards and scored 10 TDs to lead the Cardinals. Reeve Lincoln has six TDs and Derek Turner has five TDs. Senior Cole Bauman is the leading receiver (19 catches for 263 yards and two TDs).
New Glarus-Monticello (6-2) is on the opposite side of the bracket from the Cardinals. The Glarner Knights will play at Nekoosa (5-3) Friday night. Nekoosa, the South Central Conference champions, is averaging 29 points per game. The explosive player for Nekoosa is running back Codey Ysquierdo who has rushed for 943 yards and 12 TDs. Brett Merrit has also rushed for 460 yards and seven TDs.
Division 6
Darlington has lost two of its last three games heading into the postseason. The Redbirds will have the challenge of playing No. 1 seed Deerfield (8-0), which won the Trailways Large Conference, on Saturday.
History is on Darlington's side, though. The Redbirds (4-4) have gone 4-0 in the playoffs the last 10 years against teams from the Trailways Large Conference including a 29-12 win against Deerfield in 2005.
"We are certainly not in awe of them," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "You are not going to see many teams as physical as Iowa-Grant or faster than Cuba City. I feel like we have a good chance. We just have to play better. I feel like we have the strength. We just have to impose that strength on them."
Deerfield quarterback Brandon Ehrke has completed 70.5 percent of his passes, and he has 911 passing yards with 16 TDs and just three interceptions. Deerfield's Nick Jensen has caught seven TD passes and Cole Erickson is the leading receiver with 14 catches for 314 yards and four TDs.
The Redbirds have averaged five turnovers a game over the last three games, which is something Zywicki hopes to remedy.
"When you do that, you put yourself behind the eight-ball and it's hard to win against really good teams," Zywicki said. "We haven't played a complete game the last three weeks. Defensively, we have to keep them inside. They are kind of like Lancaster. They have some great athletes and speed."
Pecatonica-Argyle (6-2) was on a roll averaging 30.4 points a game until Black Hawk blasted them 50-10 in the regular season finale. The Vikings' high powered offense will look to get back on track with a first round playoff game at Iowa-Grant Friday night.
The Vikings are led by senior quarterback Jon Hendrickson, who has completed 63.6 percent of his passes for 1,433 yards with 19 TDs and just three interceptions. Dillon Conwell is the leading receiver for the Vikings (42 receptions for 594 yards and nine TDs). Nathan Loyd (17-406 yards and seven TDs) along with junior Alec Treuthardt (six TDs) are also weapons in the passing game. Treuthardt is the leading rusher with 587 yards and four TDs.
Division 7
Black Hawk, as the No. 4 seed, will host their first round game. They take on 5th-seeded Catholic Central Friday night.
The Hilltoppers have two Division I prospects in offensive lineman Calvin Kempken (6-4, 280 pounds) and senior running back Grant Alderman, who is a University of Illinois baseball recruit.
Catholic Central has been to state three of the last four years and won state titles in 2008 and 2009.
The Warriors are well aware of them, though, as Black Hawk lost a heartbreaker to the Hilltoppers 35-34 in the Level 2 playoffs last year.
"We pretty much expect to play Catholic Central every year," Black Hawk coach Cory Milz said. "In the end, if you want to get to the state championship game, you have to beat the good teams."
Alderman has rushed for 890 yards and 11 TDs. Catholic Central quarterback Carson Meinholz has passed for 1,060 yards with 11 TDs. He has added 450 rushing yards and scored six touchdowns.
"They have destroyed the last two teams they have played," Milz said. "They have averaged 15 yards per carry. We have to eliminate the big plays. We have to have a bend-but-don't-break philosophy."
Monroe (4-4) has won three straight games going into the playoffs and will play at Mount Horeb-Barneveld at 7 p.m. on Friday. The Cheesemakers are in the playoffs for the first time since 2003, but they aren't just satisfied to be there.
"There is no kid or coach content with what we have done," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "We are happy to be in the field, but we expect to do our best. No one will be happy with a loss Friday night. I have no doubt the kids believe we belong. The kids just have to believe we can get it done. They (Mount Horeb-Barneveld) are not invincible."
Mount Horeb-Barneveld runs a prolific spread offense and have averaged 30 points per game. The big playmaker for the Vikings is quarterback Kale Pustina, who has completed 62.2 percent of his passes for 1,879 yards with 13 TDs and five interceptions. Running back Daylon Bowar has rushed for 1,040 yards (130 per game) and has scored 16 touchdowns.
"They run (the spread) very well," Miller said. "They have a good balance between the run and the pass. We used to run the spread so we are used to what people try to do."
Evansville-Albany (6-2), the Rock Valley North Conference champion, will host McFarland (5-3). Evansville-Albany senior Michael Johnson is 10th in the state in rushing yards (1,470) and has scored 20 touchdowns.
The first Evansville-Albany co-op spanned 15 years until the Rock Valley Conference voted to break it up in 2000. The co-op was renewed this season after a 12-year hiatus.
Division 4
Brodhead-Juda (5-3) rolls into the playoffs on a five-game winning streak and will host Campbellsport on Saturday.
If the Cardinals defeat Campbellsport, a rematch with conference rival and No. 1-seeded Big Foot awaits.
"There was going to be someone at the No. 1 seed," Brodhead-Juda coach Jim Matthys said. "If you are going to make it to the state championship you will have to beat some good teams along the way. We have been fortunate that we have been there a couple of times the last couple of years."
Campbellsport finished fourth in the Eastern Washington Conference. They run a split wishbone option attack.
"We have to be disciplined," Matthys said of tackling the fullback, quarterback and running back. "It's really similar to what we have seen from Palmyra-Eagle and Clinton. I think it helps that we have seen it."
Brodhead-Juda senior running back Hunter Colden has rushed for 486 yards and scored 10 TDs to lead the Cardinals. Reeve Lincoln has six TDs and Derek Turner has five TDs. Senior Cole Bauman is the leading receiver (19 catches for 263 yards and two TDs).
New Glarus-Monticello (6-2) is on the opposite side of the bracket from the Cardinals. The Glarner Knights will play at Nekoosa (5-3) Friday night. Nekoosa, the South Central Conference champions, is averaging 29 points per game. The explosive player for Nekoosa is running back Codey Ysquierdo who has rushed for 943 yards and 12 TDs. Brett Merrit has also rushed for 460 yards and seven TDs.
Division 6
Darlington has lost two of its last three games heading into the postseason. The Redbirds will have the challenge of playing No. 1 seed Deerfield (8-0), which won the Trailways Large Conference, on Saturday.
History is on Darlington's side, though. The Redbirds (4-4) have gone 4-0 in the playoffs the last 10 years against teams from the Trailways Large Conference including a 29-12 win against Deerfield in 2005.
"We are certainly not in awe of them," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "You are not going to see many teams as physical as Iowa-Grant or faster than Cuba City. I feel like we have a good chance. We just have to play better. I feel like we have the strength. We just have to impose that strength on them."
Deerfield quarterback Brandon Ehrke has completed 70.5 percent of his passes, and he has 911 passing yards with 16 TDs and just three interceptions. Deerfield's Nick Jensen has caught seven TD passes and Cole Erickson is the leading receiver with 14 catches for 314 yards and four TDs.
The Redbirds have averaged five turnovers a game over the last three games, which is something Zywicki hopes to remedy.
"When you do that, you put yourself behind the eight-ball and it's hard to win against really good teams," Zywicki said. "We haven't played a complete game the last three weeks. Defensively, we have to keep them inside. They are kind of like Lancaster. They have some great athletes and speed."
Pecatonica-Argyle (6-2) was on a roll averaging 30.4 points a game until Black Hawk blasted them 50-10 in the regular season finale. The Vikings' high powered offense will look to get back on track with a first round playoff game at Iowa-Grant Friday night.
The Vikings are led by senior quarterback Jon Hendrickson, who has completed 63.6 percent of his passes for 1,433 yards with 19 TDs and just three interceptions. Dillon Conwell is the leading receiver for the Vikings (42 receptions for 594 yards and nine TDs). Nathan Loyd (17-406 yards and seven TDs) along with junior Alec Treuthardt (six TDs) are also weapons in the passing game. Treuthardt is the leading rusher with 587 yards and four TDs.
Division 7
Black Hawk, as the No. 4 seed, will host their first round game. They take on 5th-seeded Catholic Central Friday night.
The Hilltoppers have two Division I prospects in offensive lineman Calvin Kempken (6-4, 280 pounds) and senior running back Grant Alderman, who is a University of Illinois baseball recruit.
Catholic Central has been to state three of the last four years and won state titles in 2008 and 2009.
The Warriors are well aware of them, though, as Black Hawk lost a heartbreaker to the Hilltoppers 35-34 in the Level 2 playoffs last year.
"We pretty much expect to play Catholic Central every year," Black Hawk coach Cory Milz said. "In the end, if you want to get to the state championship game, you have to beat the good teams."
Alderman has rushed for 890 yards and 11 TDs. Catholic Central quarterback Carson Meinholz has passed for 1,060 yards with 11 TDs. He has added 450 rushing yards and scored six touchdowns.
"They have destroyed the last two teams they have played," Milz said. "They have averaged 15 yards per carry. We have to eliminate the big plays. We have to have a bend-but-don't-break philosophy."
