MONROE - Monroe senior running back Jacob Kind will never forget one carry on an outside run that derailed his season last year.
In the first conference game against Stoughton, Kind broke outside and looked to fight for extra yards. He recalls hearing a pop and left the game with a broken arm. The devastating injury wiped out his season.
"I knew my arm had snapped," he said. "I could hear it. I knew right away it was a broken arm."
After starting last season 2-0, the Cheesemakers lost five straight games following Kind's injury. As a spectator, Kind was still on the sidelines and in the team dinners and huddles at practice, but it wasn't the same as being on the field playing.
"I waited forever to play varsity football," Kind said. "It was really difficult. I wanted to be out there. It really hurt. When I got hurt last year, it was tough because I knew I had a role on the team."
It's a small sample size, but in the two games Kind played last year and the three games he has starred this season, the Cheesemakers are averaging 43.6 points per game. In six games without Kind last year, the Cheesemakers averaged 15.8 ppg.
Monroe coach Toby Golembiewski was just a spectator at games last year, but he noticed a difference after Kind was injured.
"As a spectator last year you could tell it took the wind out of their sails," Golembiewski said.
Kind is making up for lost time this season. Kind is the third leading rusher in the Badger South Conference with 357 yards and five touchdowns. He's been an explosive playmaker averaging 17.6 yards per run on just 20 carries.
"He has incredible football speed and a nose for the openings," Golembiewski said. "His acceleration and deceleration is perfect. He's a game-changing player."
That was evident after he rushed for 195 yards and scored three touchdowns in the Cheesemakers' 49-14 win over Madison Edgewood last week. Kind and the Cheesemakers have developed a rapport running the new Wing-T offense.
"With the new offense there is just not one person running the ball," he said. "We have three running backs who are splitting the carries. It makes the defense have to scheme between us. It makes it more difficult for the defense to scheme against us. It seems to be working."
Kind is looking forward to the showdown with Monona Grove on Friday. Monona Grove runs a 4-3 defense and at times a 4-4. Kind expects his offensive line to open up running lanes Friday like they have all season even against Monona Grove.
"The line are the most important guys on the field," Kind said. "With our pulling guards if they make their blocks it's really easy to gain yards as a running back. If we just keep our intensity and energy level up, I think we will beat MG."
In the first conference game against Stoughton, Kind broke outside and looked to fight for extra yards. He recalls hearing a pop and left the game with a broken arm. The devastating injury wiped out his season.
"I knew my arm had snapped," he said. "I could hear it. I knew right away it was a broken arm."
After starting last season 2-0, the Cheesemakers lost five straight games following Kind's injury. As a spectator, Kind was still on the sidelines and in the team dinners and huddles at practice, but it wasn't the same as being on the field playing.
"I waited forever to play varsity football," Kind said. "It was really difficult. I wanted to be out there. It really hurt. When I got hurt last year, it was tough because I knew I had a role on the team."
It's a small sample size, but in the two games Kind played last year and the three games he has starred this season, the Cheesemakers are averaging 43.6 points per game. In six games without Kind last year, the Cheesemakers averaged 15.8 ppg.
Monroe coach Toby Golembiewski was just a spectator at games last year, but he noticed a difference after Kind was injured.
"As a spectator last year you could tell it took the wind out of their sails," Golembiewski said.
Kind is making up for lost time this season. Kind is the third leading rusher in the Badger South Conference with 357 yards and five touchdowns. He's been an explosive playmaker averaging 17.6 yards per run on just 20 carries.
"He has incredible football speed and a nose for the openings," Golembiewski said. "His acceleration and deceleration is perfect. He's a game-changing player."
That was evident after he rushed for 195 yards and scored three touchdowns in the Cheesemakers' 49-14 win over Madison Edgewood last week. Kind and the Cheesemakers have developed a rapport running the new Wing-T offense.
"With the new offense there is just not one person running the ball," he said. "We have three running backs who are splitting the carries. It makes the defense have to scheme between us. It makes it more difficult for the defense to scheme against us. It seems to be working."
Kind is looking forward to the showdown with Monona Grove on Friday. Monona Grove runs a 4-3 defense and at times a 4-4. Kind expects his offensive line to open up running lanes Friday like they have all season even against Monona Grove.
"The line are the most important guys on the field," Kind said. "With our pulling guards if they make their blocks it's really easy to gain yards as a running back. If we just keep our intensity and energy level up, I think we will beat MG."
