NEW GLARUS — Even with rainy and windy conditions, defending Division 4 champions Columbus accumulated 396 yards of offense in its 38-6 win over New Glarus-Monticello on Friday, Oct. 13. The Cardinals’ leading rusher Colton Brunell, a University of North Dakota commit, tallied 234 yards with four rushing TDs.
“We executed the game plan,” NGM head coach DJ Schuett. “We knew the ball was going to Brunell. They are good at what they do. They don’t run many plays, but the ones they do run, they run very well.”
The Knights got off to a slow start, going 3-and-out while also using a timeout. NGM’s defense did its best to stall the Cardinals, who managed to score on their opening drive. The 15-play possession took up the remainder of the quarter, and all but two plays went to the hands of Brunell.
Facing fourth-and-1 at NGM’s 5-yard line, Columbus once again gave Brunell the ball. The senior not only moved the chains but scored, giving his team a 6-0 lead. Andler Ott missed the ensuing extra point, his kick barely making it off the ground.
Will Pinnow returned the kick off to the Knights’ 32-yard line, as NGM was able to get just two plays off before the end of the first quarter. Five plays into the second frame, Jake Roth ran for 24 yards, setting the Knights up at Columbus’ 15-yard line.
On third-and-8, quarterback Max Marty ran 13 yards to the end zone, tying the game at six. The snap for the extra point was bobbled in the slick conditions, leaving the game tied with just over seven minutes left in the half.
“It was our game plan to make them churn it out for long drives, and we did that the first drive,” Schuett said. “We actually came back to score and even the game up, which I thought was a huge momentum shift for us.”
The tide quickly turned back in the Cardinals’ favor, though, when they surprised the Knights with a deep pass. Peyton Powers’s first pass intended for Mobry Jefferson was broken up, but on second-and-10, Powers hit his target. Jefferson nearly took the 39-yard pass to the end zone, but Andrew Sarbacker tackled at the 1-yard line. Brunell completed the drive, putting Columbus ahead 12-6 with just under five minutes left in the half.
“They did something we didn’t expect, which was throw the ball,” Schuett said. “Max [Marty] came up on a run play, and they threw over the top. We were okay with that. If they were going to beat us, we wanted it to be in the air.”
The Cardinals managed to score once more before halftime, receiving the ball after a NGM 3-and-out. Following Brady Link’s punt return to Columbus’s 24-yard line, Brunell picked up a first down with a 40-yard run. He followed it up with a 30-yard gain, setting the Cardinals up at NGM’s 6-yard line. Three plays later, Brunell scored for an 18-6 lead.
The Knight defense got its first stop to start the second half, thanks to a holding penalty on Columbus. The NGM offense used the momentum, picking up a first down on the first play. Marty completed a pass to tight end Lawrence Vasquez, who tossed back to Marty on the run. The hook-and-ladder play put the Knights at their own 39-yard line.
After a short run from Charlie Sarbacker and two incomplete passes intended for Cade Thayer, though, NGM faced fourth-and-9. The Knights attempted a fake punt, but Vasquez mishandled the pitch. As a result, Columbus recovered the ball at NGM’s 25-yard line.
It took the Cardinals just four plays to take advantage of the turnover, as Brunell scored on a 7-yard run. This time, Andler’s extra point went through the uprights for a 25-6 Columbus lead with 4:22 left in the third quarter.
The Knights turned the ball over again on their next possession, as Mobry stripped the ball from Marty. Despite prime field position, Columbus was unable to score. Justin Engen brought Brunell down before the line of scrimmage, and the Cardinals were unable to recover from the second-and-11.
Following a 3-and-out from NGM, Columbus received the ball at its own 29-yard line to start the fourth quarter. Because his team had a 19-point lead, Columbus head coach Andrew Selgrad gave his other backs touches. Connor Roche and Jonny Cotter scored in the fourth quarter for a 38-6 final.
Despite the final score, senior Roth was proud of his team’s defensive performance and knew that those who didn’t attend the game would just see a 32-point loss.
“Obviously they have a good running back, so we tried to keep him in check as much as we could,” Roth said of Brunell. “I think we did a good job for the most part. The 38 points on the scoreboard don’t tell the full story.”
With the loss, the Knights ended their regular season with an overall record of 5-5 and 3-4 mark in the Capitol Conference. To guarantee a spot in playoffs, a team must be over .500 in conference. Thus, NGM waited anxiously for the following morning to see if its season would continue in playoffs.
During the “selection show,” the Knights learned that they had earned their first playoff berth in four years. NGM was one of five teams in the Capitol Conference to make the playoffs — Division 4 No. 1 seed Lodi, Division 4 No. 5 seed Lakeside Lutheran, Division 4 No. 6 seed Lake Mills and Division 5 No. 3 seed Columbus.
“There’s not a cupcake in this conference,” Schuett said. “They are all good football teams. Last year, we were on the way outside looking in. This year, I sure hoped in that computer-generated formula there was room for us.”
New Glarus-Monticello earned the No. 8 seed and will face the No. 1 seed Aquinas. Roth hopes his team will make the most of the second chance.
“I hope we can get the opportunity to play in playoffs,” Roth said Friday night, before knowing his team’s fate. “We need one opportunity, man. That’s all we are looking for. We’ve worked hard up to this point.”
