MONROE — As the Cheesemakers were hopeful of sending off T.R. Holyoke Field on a positive note with a victory, the Evansville Blue Devils scuttled the plans. Monroe’s homecoming festivities were soured a bit as Evansville defeated the Cheesemakers 36-7.

“It’s not the outcome we wanted, but the community showed up,” said Peyton Herbst, senior lineman. “Evansville is good and we fought hard, we just couldn’t quite get it.”

The Cheesemakers (1-7, 1-5 RVC) took the field to a bevy of cheers from a full-capacity crowd. Those cheers were quickly silenced as Evansville returner Walker Garetson took the opening kickoff 51 yards up the field and to the Monroe 35-yard line. Six plays later, the Blue Devils were on the board with an 18-yard QB draw by Matthew Wickersham, who then completed a two-point conversion pass to Harker Larsen.

Eventually, Monroe was able to counterpunch with a score of its own. Following a shanked punt, the Cheesemakers took over at the Evansville 26 with 1:34 left in the opening period. Eight plays later, on a fourth-and-one from the 5-yard line, Kingston McNett took the ball for Monroe and reached the end zone. Brock Brandli’s extra point brought the Cheesemakers to within one at 8-7 with 9:16 left in the second quarter. It was the last score Monroe would have in the game.

Evansville (7-1, 5-1 RVC) tacked on another 10 points in the frame, capping the first half with a field goal as time expired.

“We had a goal line stand. That’s something that happened that we haven’t been doing the past 3-4 games was we had a stop,” Monroe coach Tom Witt said. “It was kind of huge for us and our defense to have that coming out to the second half.”

The second half didn’t go much better for the home team, as the Blue Devils kept Monroe’s offense from getting into a rhythm. On the flip side of the ball, Evansville started running hard at Monroe, and the Cheesemakers were unable to regain any momentum. The Blue Devils scored 21 points in the second half, including 14 in the fourth quarter to put the game away for good.

“They kind of changed their MO in the second half, running the clock and just pounding us right off the edge. We just weren’t making plays and they were getting six to seven yards a crack,” Witt said.

Evansville dominated Monroe in most statistical categories: First downs (23-9), rushing yards (264-143), passing yards (130-11), total offense (394-154) and third down efficiency (3 / 4 vs. 2/10).

Tristen Anderson led Monroe with 40 yards rushing on 13 carries, while McNett had 35 yards on nine attempts. Riley Blum added 29 yards on two touches late in the fourth quarter.

Wickersham completed 9 of 15 passes for 130 yards and a TD. Lincoln Keller carried the ball 16 times for 125 yards for the Blue Devils, while teammate Harker Larsen added 115 yards on just 10 carries. 

“They’re a good football team, and that’s why they’re ranked. I think they will do well in D4 in the playoffs. Hats off to them. They are a good football team and a good program,” Witt said.

Not only was it the program’s last varsity game at T.R. Holyoke Field, it was also the final home game for Monroe’s seniors.

“We know we’re family. We just trust each other to play tough and keep on giving it our all. It takes a lot of hard work to get that W,” said Peyton Herbst, senior lineman. “It’s just hard to end it like this.”

At just 1-7 on the season, the Cheesemakers are out of playoff contention. Their final game of the season will be this Friday, Oct. 17 at East Troy (2-6, 1-5 RVC).