MONROE - Tears ran down Monroe senior running back Cody Wolf's face. They were tears of joy as Wolf got caught up in emotion after rushing for 339 yards and scoring five touchdowns to lead Monroe to a 35-28 win over Fort Atkinson in the regular season finale Friday.
It was Wolf's last home game and he made it one to remember.
"It feels great to go out with a bang," Wolf said as he hugged teammates after the win.
One of the goals for the Cheesemakers' offensive line was to get Wolf 1,000 rushing yards. He finished the season with 1,302 yards and 17 TDs.
"Football is a team sport. I always set goals. I do it for the big guys up front. It's for the coaches and the community," Wolf said.
The Cheesemakers' offense was clicking on all cylinders early on. Wolf capped off the first drive with an 11-yard TD run 1 minute, 40 seconds into the game. Fort Atkinson (1-8) answered with junior Eli Rawinski scoring on an 8-yard run. The Blackhawks took a 14-7 lead on Brett Behselich's 18-yard TD pass to Dylan Bernard.
It was a shootout early on. The Cheesemakers' defense gave up 392 total yards, but forced three turnovers, which led to 14 points. Monroe senior Alex Borowitz, who had six tackles, came up with an interception early in the second quarter to set up the next scoring opportunity. The Cheesemakers (4-5) cashed in on the short field with Wolf's 4-yard TD run to tie the game at 14 early in the second quarter.
The Cheesemakers also got interceptions from sophomore Carter Sawdey and senior Jake Flannery. Flannery's interception iced the game in the fourth quarter.
"I knew they (Fort Atkinson) would probably throw it deep to No. 12 (Clay Gerds). He has been their playmaker all year. It was a great way to end my career at Monroe High with an interception."
Sawdey intercepted a pass at the Cheesemakers' own 4-yard line on fourth-and-4 for the Blackhawks from the Cheesemakers' 9-yard line in the second quarter. Wolf then cutback and bolted for a 96-yard TD run to give the Cheesemakers a 21-14 lead.
"I was reading their backers all night," Wolf said. "They weren't blitzing. I knew the cutback would be there. I had the opportunity and I took it."
The Blackhawks seven-play, 72-yard drive late in the second quarter, culminated in Fort Atkinson's Behselich hooking up with Preston Strasburg on a 9-yard TD pass to tie the game at 21. Strasburg, who rushed for 79 yards on 16 carries also had a touchdown run. The Cheesemakers marched 61 yards in seven plays in about one minute to regain the lead before the half. Monroe sophomore quarterback Tyler Elmer connected with Wolf on a 10-yard TD pass to give the Cheesemakers a 28-21 lead at the half.
"They played hard, fast and we won the battle up front," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "I think we were great on offense."
Miller was excited to see Wolf break the 1,300 yard barrier. It's a milestone he wants Wolf and the team to cherish.
"It's been a while," Miller said of how long it's been since the Cheesemakers had a 1,000-yard rusher in a single season. "It's a tribute to him (Wolf), the work he has put in as well as the kids up front."
The Cheesemakers used sophomore Kyle Walter, a starting defensive tackle on the offensive line and used one less wide receiver. Running behind a bigger offensive set paid dividends for the Cheesemakers.
"We have a set where a bigger kid comes in for a wide receiver," Miller said. "We were running the ball so well we stayed with it."
Wolf rushed for 339 yards on 36 carries and averaged 9.4 yards per run.
The Cheesemakers' defense came up big to start the third quarter. The Blackhawks drove down to the Cheesemakers' 8-yard line, but that was where the drive sputtered. The Blackhawks, who had 10 penalties for 80 yards, were called for a false start. Facing fourth-and-11 from the Cheesemakers' 13-yard line, the Cheesemakers stymied the Blackhawks to force a turnover on downs. Four plays later, Wolf broke loose for a 71-yard TD run to give the Cheesemakers a 35-21 lead.
Elmer completed 4 of 5 passes for 26 yards with one touchdown. Behselich was 16 of 29 passing for 186 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.
The Cheesemakers finished the season strong just like they started. Monroe had a two-game winning streak at the start of the season and a two-game winning streak at the end. The Cheesemakers overcame a five-game losing streak to finish two conference wins away from becoming playoff eligible.
"They were very resilient," Miller said of the Cheesemakers. "There were probably some teams that would have folded after a few losses. These guys never gave up and played with a lot of heart. We have to be proud of our seniors because they deserve this win."
It was Wolf's last home game and he made it one to remember.
"It feels great to go out with a bang," Wolf said as he hugged teammates after the win.
One of the goals for the Cheesemakers' offensive line was to get Wolf 1,000 rushing yards. He finished the season with 1,302 yards and 17 TDs.
"Football is a team sport. I always set goals. I do it for the big guys up front. It's for the coaches and the community," Wolf said.
The Cheesemakers' offense was clicking on all cylinders early on. Wolf capped off the first drive with an 11-yard TD run 1 minute, 40 seconds into the game. Fort Atkinson (1-8) answered with junior Eli Rawinski scoring on an 8-yard run. The Blackhawks took a 14-7 lead on Brett Behselich's 18-yard TD pass to Dylan Bernard.
It was a shootout early on. The Cheesemakers' defense gave up 392 total yards, but forced three turnovers, which led to 14 points. Monroe senior Alex Borowitz, who had six tackles, came up with an interception early in the second quarter to set up the next scoring opportunity. The Cheesemakers (4-5) cashed in on the short field with Wolf's 4-yard TD run to tie the game at 14 early in the second quarter.
The Cheesemakers also got interceptions from sophomore Carter Sawdey and senior Jake Flannery. Flannery's interception iced the game in the fourth quarter.
"I knew they (Fort Atkinson) would probably throw it deep to No. 12 (Clay Gerds). He has been their playmaker all year. It was a great way to end my career at Monroe High with an interception."
Sawdey intercepted a pass at the Cheesemakers' own 4-yard line on fourth-and-4 for the Blackhawks from the Cheesemakers' 9-yard line in the second quarter. Wolf then cutback and bolted for a 96-yard TD run to give the Cheesemakers a 21-14 lead.
"I was reading their backers all night," Wolf said. "They weren't blitzing. I knew the cutback would be there. I had the opportunity and I took it."
The Blackhawks seven-play, 72-yard drive late in the second quarter, culminated in Fort Atkinson's Behselich hooking up with Preston Strasburg on a 9-yard TD pass to tie the game at 21. Strasburg, who rushed for 79 yards on 16 carries also had a touchdown run. The Cheesemakers marched 61 yards in seven plays in about one minute to regain the lead before the half. Monroe sophomore quarterback Tyler Elmer connected with Wolf on a 10-yard TD pass to give the Cheesemakers a 28-21 lead at the half.
"They played hard, fast and we won the battle up front," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "I think we were great on offense."
Miller was excited to see Wolf break the 1,300 yard barrier. It's a milestone he wants Wolf and the team to cherish.
"It's been a while," Miller said of how long it's been since the Cheesemakers had a 1,000-yard rusher in a single season. "It's a tribute to him (Wolf), the work he has put in as well as the kids up front."
The Cheesemakers used sophomore Kyle Walter, a starting defensive tackle on the offensive line and used one less wide receiver. Running behind a bigger offensive set paid dividends for the Cheesemakers.
"We have a set where a bigger kid comes in for a wide receiver," Miller said. "We were running the ball so well we stayed with it."
Wolf rushed for 339 yards on 36 carries and averaged 9.4 yards per run.
The Cheesemakers' defense came up big to start the third quarter. The Blackhawks drove down to the Cheesemakers' 8-yard line, but that was where the drive sputtered. The Blackhawks, who had 10 penalties for 80 yards, were called for a false start. Facing fourth-and-11 from the Cheesemakers' 13-yard line, the Cheesemakers stymied the Blackhawks to force a turnover on downs. Four plays later, Wolf broke loose for a 71-yard TD run to give the Cheesemakers a 35-21 lead.
Elmer completed 4 of 5 passes for 26 yards with one touchdown. Behselich was 16 of 29 passing for 186 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.
The Cheesemakers finished the season strong just like they started. Monroe had a two-game winning streak at the start of the season and a two-game winning streak at the end. The Cheesemakers overcame a five-game losing streak to finish two conference wins away from becoming playoff eligible.
"They were very resilient," Miller said of the Cheesemakers. "There were probably some teams that would have folded after a few losses. These guys never gave up and played with a lot of heart. We have to be proud of our seniors because they deserve this win."
