Monroe at Sauk Prairie
7 p.m. Friday at Sauk Prairie High School in Prairie du Sac
RECORDS: Monroe 1-0; Sauk Prairie 0-1.
LAST WEEK: Monroe defeated Portage 42-13; Sauk Prairie lost to Fort Atkinson 28-7.
LAST MEETING: Monroe defeated Sauk Prairie 29-14 on Oct. 9, 2015.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Monroe - Cole Murray had 149 rushing yards and two TDs and Isaac Allen had 144 rushing yards and two TDs against Portage. Sauk Prairie - QB Jason Holler had 54-yard TD run in opener. Offensive tackle Konnor McNeal at 270 pounds is a force for the Eagles.
MONROE - Coaching high school football in Wisconsin for Monroe coach Toby Golembiewski has a different wrinkle to it when it comes to nonconference games in comparison to his previous coaching gig in Illinois.
When he was the coach at Orangeville High School, Golembiewski knew that winning nonconference games against top programs could tilt the scale in his team's favor when it came time to announce the playoff field. In Wisconsin prep football, nonconference games have little bearing on the postseason. The first goal on every coach and team's list each fall is finishing with at least a .500 record in conference so they can become playoff eligible. When Monroe plays at Sauk Prairie on Friday night, the game won't count in the Badger South Conference standings, but it still has meaning for Golembiewski.
"In one respect you kind of wish these games were like NFL preseason games and then you move into conference because that is the record to get you in the playoffs," Golembiewski said of the nonconference games. "There are different goals you set as a team - a winning record, winning conference, making the playoffs and going deep in the postseason. To hit those milestones every game is important. All of the reps we get on the field are important to build the perfection we need to go as far as you can."
Of course, the Cheesemakers can't pull an Aaron Rodgers and have starters sit out the game even though it's a nonconference game like the Packers quarterback has done all preseason.
And any playoff talk about Monroe is premature.
Monroe has defeated Sauk Prairie the past four times the two teams have played. Last year, the Cheesemakers beat Sauk Prairie 29-14. Sauk Prairie runs a single wing offense that utilizes a running back, fullback and quarterback as featured runners.
"It's a deception-type offense similar to ours," Golembiewski said. "It's a type of offense where they move running backs around to use deception to gain an advantage. It's kind of like a triple option. It's one of the earliest forms of offensive football. If we had our camera we could film it in black and white. Sometimes the old answer is the best answer, especially in high school football."
Despite the graduation of star running back Austin Powell, who rushed for more than 1,400 yards last season, the Eagles have some dangerous weapons led by Josh Holler. The quarterback had a 54-yard TD run in the third quarter in the opener last week to cut Fort Atkinson's lead to 13-7. However, the Blackhawks scored two touchdowns late in the second half to seal a 28-7 win over the Eagles.
"If their offense is clicking you don't know who is running the ball," Golembiewski said of the Eagles. "We have to be disciplined, play our gaps and not chase ghosts or where we think the ball is. They will do a good job of hiding the ball. We have to do a good job in all of our run fits."
Holler is a big playmaker for the Eagles in his second year as starting quarterback. He gets a boost in protection by 270-pound Konnor McNeal at tackle.
"(Holler) has good speed," Golembiewski said of Holler. "We have to be in a good position and in time to make good tackles."
The Cheesemakers fired on all cylinders in the opener. They rolled up 505 total rushing yards and had three running backs each eclipse 100 rushing yards. The Cheesemakers churned out 11 runs of 15 yards or more.
If that happens again against Sauk Prairie, it will be a long night for the Eagles. Having senior running back Cole Murray working in tandem with senior running back Jacob Kind and senior fullback Isaac Allen proved to be a three-headed monster.
"That is the philosophy of this offense," Golembiewski said of the wing-t. "We want to be able to hit them with each of those guys. That is one of the advantages of this system."
It will be interesting to see if the Cheesemakers can have a similar amount of success running the ball against the Eagles, who play a 4-4 defense with a three-man deep coverage. Golembiew-ski isn't married to riding just one style to win games.
"We will take what the defense gives us," he said. "We have prepared our guys to pass, throw and catch."
It's sure to include a heavy dose of the Cheesemakers' three-headed backfield. Monroe senior quarterback Tyler Elmer also proved to be a running threat with 85 rushing yards in the opener as the Cheesemakers ran a few option plays.
Only time will tell if the Eagles are up to the challenge of slowing down the Cheesemakers.
When he was the coach at Orangeville High School, Golembiewski knew that winning nonconference games against top programs could tilt the scale in his team's favor when it came time to announce the playoff field. In Wisconsin prep football, nonconference games have little bearing on the postseason. The first goal on every coach and team's list each fall is finishing with at least a .500 record in conference so they can become playoff eligible. When Monroe plays at Sauk Prairie on Friday night, the game won't count in the Badger South Conference standings, but it still has meaning for Golembiewski.
"In one respect you kind of wish these games were like NFL preseason games and then you move into conference because that is the record to get you in the playoffs," Golembiewski said of the nonconference games. "There are different goals you set as a team - a winning record, winning conference, making the playoffs and going deep in the postseason. To hit those milestones every game is important. All of the reps we get on the field are important to build the perfection we need to go as far as you can."
Of course, the Cheesemakers can't pull an Aaron Rodgers and have starters sit out the game even though it's a nonconference game like the Packers quarterback has done all preseason.
And any playoff talk about Monroe is premature.
Monroe has defeated Sauk Prairie the past four times the two teams have played. Last year, the Cheesemakers beat Sauk Prairie 29-14. Sauk Prairie runs a single wing offense that utilizes a running back, fullback and quarterback as featured runners.
"It's a deception-type offense similar to ours," Golembiewski said. "It's a type of offense where they move running backs around to use deception to gain an advantage. It's kind of like a triple option. It's one of the earliest forms of offensive football. If we had our camera we could film it in black and white. Sometimes the old answer is the best answer, especially in high school football."
Despite the graduation of star running back Austin Powell, who rushed for more than 1,400 yards last season, the Eagles have some dangerous weapons led by Josh Holler. The quarterback had a 54-yard TD run in the third quarter in the opener last week to cut Fort Atkinson's lead to 13-7. However, the Blackhawks scored two touchdowns late in the second half to seal a 28-7 win over the Eagles.
"If their offense is clicking you don't know who is running the ball," Golembiewski said of the Eagles. "We have to be disciplined, play our gaps and not chase ghosts or where we think the ball is. They will do a good job of hiding the ball. We have to do a good job in all of our run fits."
Holler is a big playmaker for the Eagles in his second year as starting quarterback. He gets a boost in protection by 270-pound Konnor McNeal at tackle.
"(Holler) has good speed," Golembiewski said of Holler. "We have to be in a good position and in time to make good tackles."
The Cheesemakers fired on all cylinders in the opener. They rolled up 505 total rushing yards and had three running backs each eclipse 100 rushing yards. The Cheesemakers churned out 11 runs of 15 yards or more.
If that happens again against Sauk Prairie, it will be a long night for the Eagles. Having senior running back Cole Murray working in tandem with senior running back Jacob Kind and senior fullback Isaac Allen proved to be a three-headed monster.
"That is the philosophy of this offense," Golembiewski said of the wing-t. "We want to be able to hit them with each of those guys. That is one of the advantages of this system."
It will be interesting to see if the Cheesemakers can have a similar amount of success running the ball against the Eagles, who play a 4-4 defense with a three-man deep coverage. Golembiew-ski isn't married to riding just one style to win games.
"We will take what the defense gives us," he said. "We have prepared our guys to pass, throw and catch."
It's sure to include a heavy dose of the Cheesemakers' three-headed backfield. Monroe senior quarterback Tyler Elmer also proved to be a running threat with 85 rushing yards in the opener as the Cheesemakers ran a few option plays.
Only time will tell if the Eagles are up to the challenge of slowing down the Cheesemakers.
