BRODHEAD - Marshall senior quarterback Ty DeForest could pose a much bigger challenge for Brodhead-Juda in the Level 2 playoffs than they faced against Kettle Moraine Lutheran in the first round.
DeForest has racked up 2,094 yards and 27 total touchdowns. DeForest, who played running back last year, is Marshall's leading rusher with 1,029 yards and 16 TDs, and he has passed for 1,065 yards with 11 TDs and six interceptions.
Brodhead-Juda (9-1) is coming off a 47-14 first-round win over Kettle Moraine Lutheran. Now Brodhead-Juda coach B.J. Bockhop has his team gearing up for a showdown with Marshall in a WIAA Division 4 Level 2 playoff game Friday.
The Cardinals' defense has been just as impressive as the offense. Senior Josiah DeLorme has nine sacks and had 4 1/2 of his team's 10 sacks against Kettle Moraine Lutheran. The defense will have a different challenge this week trying to slow down DeForest.
"If we want to reach our goal of getting to state we are going to have to beat some good teams," DeLorme said.
Brodhead-Juda's offense averages 45.8 points per game. Brodhead-Juda senior running back Griffin Day has rushed for 1,022 yards and 15 TDs, while teammate Mitchell Johnson has rushed for 918 yards and 17 TDs. It's a solid one-two punch behind a veteran offensive line.
Division 7
The other Level 2 playoff game Friday in Division 7 pits Black Hawk (7-3) at No. 1 ranked Ithaca (10-0).
Ithaca runs a no-huddle wing-T offense that also uses the spread and pistol formations and averages 60.1 points per game.
"It's really uptempo," Black Hawk coach Cory Milz said. "They use offensive signals and cards to call plays. The no-huddle is something we have seen in the past from some teams."
The Bulldogs are the Ridge and Valley Conference champion. However, teams from the Ridge and Valley are 7-9 in the playoffs the last three years and only one team from that conference has made a run to the state championship game since 1990.
"They are a quality team and they are big and physical," Milz said. "This will be a huge test for us."
Ithaca quarterback Joey Clary has passed for 1,214 yards and tossed 18 TDs and just three interceptions. He is completing 64 percent of his passes. Ithaca features three running backs with more than 427 yards led by Aaron Kepler, who has rushed for 968 yards and 22 TDs this season.
The Warriors' split back veer offense averages 33.6 points per game. Black Hawk senior Shawn Woodruff is the state's 10th leading rusher with 1,710 yards and 19 TDs. Woodruff averages 171 yards rushing per game and 8.6 yards per carry.
"Woodruff is a fantastic running back with great lower body strength," Milz said. "It's been no secret when other teams come in they know they have to stop Shawn."
The Warriors' coaches have eight game films on Ithaca and in each game they have used a different defensive look.
"Defensively, it's a little bit of a mystery," Milz said of Ithaca's defense. "They seem to play a different defense depending on who they are playing. We have seen about everything you can imagine. They have two good 225-pound linebackers and they will blitz a lot no matter what front they are in. The key is we will have to pick up their blitz."
The more blitzing the Bulldogs do, the more the Warriors could attack the outside of the defense and open up plays for senior quarterback Heath Butler. Butler has passed for 713 yards with 10 TDs and has rushed for 505 yards and seven TDs.
"Heath is capable of putting the ball where it needs to be," Milz said. "He has been solid all year. Our wide receivers have been inconsistent running good routes and getting open and our line hasn't been very quick, and he (Butler) has got some pressure. We need to complete at least 60 percent of our passes."
The Warriors could get a boost if junior running back Chase Stietz can return from a strained tendon in his foot. Stietz has practiced on a limited basis.
Milz said the Warriors are hopeful Stietz can play and contribute in some way, but they may not find out until later this week.
Division 6
Darlington (9-1) will host Southwest Wisconsin Activities League rival Mineral Point in a Level 2 playoff game at 1 p.m. Saturday at Martens Field. It will be a homecoming of sorts for Mineral Point coach Andy Palzkill, who was the offensive coordinator in Darlington before taking the head coaching position for the Pointers.
The Redbirds have won nine straight games since a season-opening loss to Platteville. Mineral Point quarterback Scott Pittz is the state's fourth leading passer with 2,523 yards this season.
"They will throw the ball a lot," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "There is no doubt about that. We have a size advantage in the trenches. Andy is smart enough not to put a square peg in a round hole."
The two teams played three weeks ago and the Redbirds rolled to a 60-21 win over the Pointers. Pittz passed for 268 yards and two touchdowns. However, Darlington senior fullback Myles Leahy rushed for 180 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Redbirds to the win. The Redbirds' defense had six sacks led by Cole Whalen, who had three sacks. The Redbirds have had a stingy defense limiting five teams to seven points or less this season.
Zywicki said the key will be trying to turn the Pointers into a one-dimensional team.
"Their wide receivers are very accomplished in route running," Zywicki said. "Andy Palzkill has his offense and kids clicking. It's just a matter of making the play, the tackle or interception when it's available. We need to make sure we are in the right position."
The Redbirds' offense has showcased a big-play ability averaging 51.8 points per game. Darlington senior running back Jason Singer has rushed for 966 yards with 16 TDs and is the team's leading receiver with 13 receptions for 412 yards and six touchdowns. Leahy has rushed for 752 yards and 17 TDs in six games.
"Even when things are not there for Myles he creates his own lane and bulldozes people over," Zywicki said. "He has the strength of an offensive lineman and can move ends and linebackers with kick-out blocks to open lanes for our half backs to run through. His running inside compliments the speed we have with Jason outside."
Senior quarterback Cole McDonald has given the Redbirds a balanced offense. He has passed for 977 yards and 14 TDs.
"He's more poised, more confident and much more sure of where he wants to go with the ball," Zywicki said of McDonald. "Experience has made a world of difference in his play this year."
DeForest has racked up 2,094 yards and 27 total touchdowns. DeForest, who played running back last year, is Marshall's leading rusher with 1,029 yards and 16 TDs, and he has passed for 1,065 yards with 11 TDs and six interceptions.
Brodhead-Juda (9-1) is coming off a 47-14 first-round win over Kettle Moraine Lutheran. Now Brodhead-Juda coach B.J. Bockhop has his team gearing up for a showdown with Marshall in a WIAA Division 4 Level 2 playoff game Friday.
The Cardinals' defense has been just as impressive as the offense. Senior Josiah DeLorme has nine sacks and had 4 1/2 of his team's 10 sacks against Kettle Moraine Lutheran. The defense will have a different challenge this week trying to slow down DeForest.
"If we want to reach our goal of getting to state we are going to have to beat some good teams," DeLorme said.
Brodhead-Juda's offense averages 45.8 points per game. Brodhead-Juda senior running back Griffin Day has rushed for 1,022 yards and 15 TDs, while teammate Mitchell Johnson has rushed for 918 yards and 17 TDs. It's a solid one-two punch behind a veteran offensive line.
Division 7
The other Level 2 playoff game Friday in Division 7 pits Black Hawk (7-3) at No. 1 ranked Ithaca (10-0).
Ithaca runs a no-huddle wing-T offense that also uses the spread and pistol formations and averages 60.1 points per game.
"It's really uptempo," Black Hawk coach Cory Milz said. "They use offensive signals and cards to call plays. The no-huddle is something we have seen in the past from some teams."
The Bulldogs are the Ridge and Valley Conference champion. However, teams from the Ridge and Valley are 7-9 in the playoffs the last three years and only one team from that conference has made a run to the state championship game since 1990.
"They are a quality team and they are big and physical," Milz said. "This will be a huge test for us."
Ithaca quarterback Joey Clary has passed for 1,214 yards and tossed 18 TDs and just three interceptions. He is completing 64 percent of his passes. Ithaca features three running backs with more than 427 yards led by Aaron Kepler, who has rushed for 968 yards and 22 TDs this season.
The Warriors' split back veer offense averages 33.6 points per game. Black Hawk senior Shawn Woodruff is the state's 10th leading rusher with 1,710 yards and 19 TDs. Woodruff averages 171 yards rushing per game and 8.6 yards per carry.
"Woodruff is a fantastic running back with great lower body strength," Milz said. "It's been no secret when other teams come in they know they have to stop Shawn."
The Warriors' coaches have eight game films on Ithaca and in each game they have used a different defensive look.
"Defensively, it's a little bit of a mystery," Milz said of Ithaca's defense. "They seem to play a different defense depending on who they are playing. We have seen about everything you can imagine. They have two good 225-pound linebackers and they will blitz a lot no matter what front they are in. The key is we will have to pick up their blitz."
The more blitzing the Bulldogs do, the more the Warriors could attack the outside of the defense and open up plays for senior quarterback Heath Butler. Butler has passed for 713 yards with 10 TDs and has rushed for 505 yards and seven TDs.
"Heath is capable of putting the ball where it needs to be," Milz said. "He has been solid all year. Our wide receivers have been inconsistent running good routes and getting open and our line hasn't been very quick, and he (Butler) has got some pressure. We need to complete at least 60 percent of our passes."
The Warriors could get a boost if junior running back Chase Stietz can return from a strained tendon in his foot. Stietz has practiced on a limited basis.
Milz said the Warriors are hopeful Stietz can play and contribute in some way, but they may not find out until later this week.
Division 6
Darlington (9-1) will host Southwest Wisconsin Activities League rival Mineral Point in a Level 2 playoff game at 1 p.m. Saturday at Martens Field. It will be a homecoming of sorts for Mineral Point coach Andy Palzkill, who was the offensive coordinator in Darlington before taking the head coaching position for the Pointers.
The Redbirds have won nine straight games since a season-opening loss to Platteville. Mineral Point quarterback Scott Pittz is the state's fourth leading passer with 2,523 yards this season.
"They will throw the ball a lot," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "There is no doubt about that. We have a size advantage in the trenches. Andy is smart enough not to put a square peg in a round hole."
The two teams played three weeks ago and the Redbirds rolled to a 60-21 win over the Pointers. Pittz passed for 268 yards and two touchdowns. However, Darlington senior fullback Myles Leahy rushed for 180 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Redbirds to the win. The Redbirds' defense had six sacks led by Cole Whalen, who had three sacks. The Redbirds have had a stingy defense limiting five teams to seven points or less this season.
Zywicki said the key will be trying to turn the Pointers into a one-dimensional team.
"Their wide receivers are very accomplished in route running," Zywicki said. "Andy Palzkill has his offense and kids clicking. It's just a matter of making the play, the tackle or interception when it's available. We need to make sure we are in the right position."
The Redbirds' offense has showcased a big-play ability averaging 51.8 points per game. Darlington senior running back Jason Singer has rushed for 966 yards with 16 TDs and is the team's leading receiver with 13 receptions for 412 yards and six touchdowns. Leahy has rushed for 752 yards and 17 TDs in six games.
"Even when things are not there for Myles he creates his own lane and bulldozes people over," Zywicki said. "He has the strength of an offensive lineman and can move ends and linebackers with kick-out blocks to open lanes for our half backs to run through. His running inside compliments the speed we have with Jason outside."
Senior quarterback Cole McDonald has given the Redbirds a balanced offense. He has passed for 977 yards and 14 TDs.
"He's more poised, more confident and much more sure of where he wants to go with the ball," Zywicki said of McDonald. "Experience has made a world of difference in his play this year."
