MONROE - With a team decimated by injuries, Monroe enters the Badger South Conference showdown against Monona Grove as an underdog on homecoming.
When the Cheesemakers (2-3, 1-2 Badger South) take the field against the Silver Eagles (5-0, 3-0), ranked ninth in the Associated Press Division large school state poll, the biggest challenge this year awaits.
Monroe coach Toby Golembiewski doesn't expect his team to be more fired up for homecoming, but an upset of the Silver Eagles Friday would put the Cheesemakers on track to qualify for the playoffs for the second straight year. Monroe will have to win three of its final four games to become playoff eligible.
"Homecoming is for the people who don't play football - the parents and alumni," Golembiewski said. "There is no one who gets more fired up for homecoming. If the kids are not disciplined on the week it can cause a distraction and problems when you are assemblies and the parade if you are misbehaving."
Monona Grove senior quarterback Alec Ogden, who was honorable mention all-state last year, spearheads a Silver Eagles' high-powered spread offense that averages 47 points per game. Ogden has passed for 1,217 yards with 12 touchdowns and just one interception this year. He is completing a stunning 72.1 percent of his passes this season, and is a dual-threat with 314 rushing yards and five scores.
"I think he's the best quarterback in the state," Golembiewski said. "He's a great runner. That is what makes him a great quarterback."
Another returning starter for the Silver Eagles from last year is running back Jackson Thomsen, who has rushed for 591 yards and 12 TDs. Thomsen is averaging 118.2 yards rushing on just 13.4 carries per game, an average of 8.8 yards per carry.
"They run a similar offense to Watertown and Milton," Golembiewski said. "Their quarterback is just way better."
Monroe is playing without four starters on defense and five starters on offense. The defensive starters who will miss the game include senior Brayden Zettle (broken and dislocated thumb), senior Travis Wolf (broken bone in his leg), senior Sam Kind (concussion) and senior Tyson Welsch (meniscus injury in knee).
Kind and Wolf still lead the team with 46 tackles. Kind started at middle linebacker for Wolf last week against Stoughton. After Kind suffered a concussion, the Cheesemakers moved senior Joe Hughes to middle linebacker. The Cheesemakers will rely even more on senior defensive lineman Dempzy Foley (40.5 tackles and 1.5 sacks), junior linebacker Jacob Amacher (35 tackles, two sacks) and senior linebacker Mitch Bartelt (31.5 tackles). With two starters missing in the secondary, sophomore Nick Bansley (three interceptions) and junior Anthany Hernandez (two interceptions) will be leaned on for solid coverage.
The Cheesemakers have had recent success against the Silver Eagles. Monroe held Ogden without a touchdown pass in a 10-7 win last year. Two years ago with Toren Young, now a redshirt freshman at Iowa, Monona Grove beat Monroe 10-6.
"Monroe has played MG tough the last couple of years," Golembiewski said. "We know what they will do and they know what we will do. It comes down to putting ourselves in matchups to make stops."
The Cheesemakers will start four sophomores on offense, including Alex Witt (quarterback), Bansley (running back), Darien Hargrove (offensive guard) and Judson Rikkers (wide receiver) will rotate in at wide receiver. Junior Jared Baumgartner will make his first start on the offensive line.
"There is a bright side to this," Golembiewski said. "We will have some experienced guys coming up in the future. We just have to get them to win right now. All you can do is keep practicing, getting reps and playing. We want to get better every week."
Hernandez also will see some time at running back after the injury to Kind. Foley, at fullback, leads the team in rushing yards (259) and touchdowns (two). Junior Jordan Montgomery has rushed for 247 yards and Bansley has 220 total yards on 13 touches this season, 16.9 yards per touch.
The Cheesemakers are averaging 14.8 points per game and have struggled to sustain drives. Monroe has also been plagued by penalties, turnovers and assignment mistakes that have sabotaged drives.
"We are not any slower or weaker than last year," Golembiewski said. "It's all about what we do. We have to execute."
Practices have been focused on game film preparation and getting reps more than hitting.
"We can't go with the same type of physical practices we have had in the past because our numbers are down and with the injuries," Golembiewski said. "We have to pick it up mentally."
When the Cheesemakers (2-3, 1-2 Badger South) take the field against the Silver Eagles (5-0, 3-0), ranked ninth in the Associated Press Division large school state poll, the biggest challenge this year awaits.
Monroe coach Toby Golembiewski doesn't expect his team to be more fired up for homecoming, but an upset of the Silver Eagles Friday would put the Cheesemakers on track to qualify for the playoffs for the second straight year. Monroe will have to win three of its final four games to become playoff eligible.
"Homecoming is for the people who don't play football - the parents and alumni," Golembiewski said. "There is no one who gets more fired up for homecoming. If the kids are not disciplined on the week it can cause a distraction and problems when you are assemblies and the parade if you are misbehaving."
Monona Grove senior quarterback Alec Ogden, who was honorable mention all-state last year, spearheads a Silver Eagles' high-powered spread offense that averages 47 points per game. Ogden has passed for 1,217 yards with 12 touchdowns and just one interception this year. He is completing a stunning 72.1 percent of his passes this season, and is a dual-threat with 314 rushing yards and five scores.
"I think he's the best quarterback in the state," Golembiewski said. "He's a great runner. That is what makes him a great quarterback."
Another returning starter for the Silver Eagles from last year is running back Jackson Thomsen, who has rushed for 591 yards and 12 TDs. Thomsen is averaging 118.2 yards rushing on just 13.4 carries per game, an average of 8.8 yards per carry.
"They run a similar offense to Watertown and Milton," Golembiewski said. "Their quarterback is just way better."
Monroe is playing without four starters on defense and five starters on offense. The defensive starters who will miss the game include senior Brayden Zettle (broken and dislocated thumb), senior Travis Wolf (broken bone in his leg), senior Sam Kind (concussion) and senior Tyson Welsch (meniscus injury in knee).
Kind and Wolf still lead the team with 46 tackles. Kind started at middle linebacker for Wolf last week against Stoughton. After Kind suffered a concussion, the Cheesemakers moved senior Joe Hughes to middle linebacker. The Cheesemakers will rely even more on senior defensive lineman Dempzy Foley (40.5 tackles and 1.5 sacks), junior linebacker Jacob Amacher (35 tackles, two sacks) and senior linebacker Mitch Bartelt (31.5 tackles). With two starters missing in the secondary, sophomore Nick Bansley (three interceptions) and junior Anthany Hernandez (two interceptions) will be leaned on for solid coverage.
The Cheesemakers have had recent success against the Silver Eagles. Monroe held Ogden without a touchdown pass in a 10-7 win last year. Two years ago with Toren Young, now a redshirt freshman at Iowa, Monona Grove beat Monroe 10-6.
"Monroe has played MG tough the last couple of years," Golembiewski said. "We know what they will do and they know what we will do. It comes down to putting ourselves in matchups to make stops."
The Cheesemakers will start four sophomores on offense, including Alex Witt (quarterback), Bansley (running back), Darien Hargrove (offensive guard) and Judson Rikkers (wide receiver) will rotate in at wide receiver. Junior Jared Baumgartner will make his first start on the offensive line.
"There is a bright side to this," Golembiewski said. "We will have some experienced guys coming up in the future. We just have to get them to win right now. All you can do is keep practicing, getting reps and playing. We want to get better every week."
Hernandez also will see some time at running back after the injury to Kind. Foley, at fullback, leads the team in rushing yards (259) and touchdowns (two). Junior Jordan Montgomery has rushed for 247 yards and Bansley has 220 total yards on 13 touches this season, 16.9 yards per touch.
The Cheesemakers are averaging 14.8 points per game and have struggled to sustain drives. Monroe has also been plagued by penalties, turnovers and assignment mistakes that have sabotaged drives.
"We are not any slower or weaker than last year," Golembiewski said. "It's all about what we do. We have to execute."
Practices have been focused on game film preparation and getting reps more than hitting.
"We can't go with the same type of physical practices we have had in the past because our numbers are down and with the injuries," Golembiewski said. "We have to pick it up mentally."
