EVANSVILLE — Have a game, Tyler Matley.

The Monroe senior running back made minced meat of the Blue Devils in their game April 1, helping lead the seventh-ranked Cheesemakers to a convincing 40-24 win over 10th-ranked Evansville.

Matley finished the game with 203 rushing yards on just 15 attempts (13.5 yards per carry), scoring 4 touchdowns and adding four more 2-point conversion runs. Oh yeah, he also had two big kick returns in crucial situations, played every down on defense and laid a couple of hits on Evansville defenders that were heard a county away.

“We got some good holes and some good down blocks and kickouts, and I found the crease, I guess,” Matley said. “We practice that a lot — really waiting for things to open.”

Leading the way in front of Matley and the rest of the Cheesemakers skill players was Caleb Bunker, a senior offensive lineman. Typically, a tight end, Bunker moved to guard before Week 1, and really found his groove in Week 2 against Evansville, punishing defenders as he pulled out and made contact at full sprint.

“It’s so much fun. We ran 929 so many times,” Bunker said of the outside sweep play. “(The transition) has been really good. The coaches and players have been super helpful and walking me through stuff. If I have a question, they answer.”

Matley followed his confident lead blocker multiple times throughout the game, including on touchdown runs of 39 and 78 yards in the second quarter.

“When they are lined up inside and I get the pitch or the handoff on the outside and everyone is kind of flowing, once you get passed a couple of guys, the right side or the left side just opens back up,” Matley said. “A lot of times I put my hand on (Bunker’s) back and just sacrifice him to one of the smaller DBs and it just kind of works out in our favor.”

Monroe’s first two possessions ended in failed fourth-down attempts. Evansville’s second drive saw a bubble-screen pick up 30 yards, with QB Tyr Severson scoring on an 8-yard rollout two plays later with just 7 seconds left in the first quarter.

“I really think this was good. There was some Rock Valley talk with the guys, and after we had that big win at McFarland, I think they might have got to thinking this was going to be a walk in the park,” Monroe coach Toby Golembiewski said. “So, Evansville came out and punched us in the nose right away and it was a good wakeup call for everybody.”

Matley took the ensuing kickoff to midfield, and just three plays later scored on a pitch to the left side in which he not only followed Bunker’s block, but broke two tackles on his way to the goal line. He added the two-point conversion to tie it at 8, and at that point, the Blue Devils fell back on their heels. 

“I was glad that we were able to come back up with our own energy, because they were ready to hammer us out there. I’m glad that we responded to that adversity,” coach Golembiewski said.

Evansville’s next possession gained just four yards, and the Cheesemakers took over at their own 22. Toby Golembiewski decided to go back to the well from the previous possession right out of the gate, and it was a wise play selection. This time, Matley not only followed Bunker’s pancake blocks into the Evansville secondary, but Matley made a crucial cutback from the Monroe sideline back across midfield to score from 78 yards out.

“On that long run, I probably hit four or five guys. It was amazing to do that and then to see Tyler score the touchdown, it just feels really good,” Bunker said.

After a quick 3-and-out, the Evansville defense was back onto the field, and the Cheesemakers kept pounding away on the rushing attack. Matley again capped the Monroe drive of 54 yards with a 14-yard bulldozer carry into the end zone with 4:29 left on the clock.

Evansville turned the ball over on downs with 2:30 left at the Monroe 14, but the Cheesemakers went 3-and-out with a couple of errant passes that stopped the clock. A shanked punt gave the Blue Devils great field possession at the Monroe 35 with 1:40 left before halftime, and 16 seconds left before the break, Severson scored on a QB sneak from the 1.

“They did not give up. They’ve got a good team: Big, strong team that can push the pile, (and) a big, strong quarterback that can push the pile and throw it a mile,” coach Golembiewski said of Evansville.

Monroe initially looked to get momentum back on its side in the third, forcing an Evansville punt. The Cheesemakers began their possession at their own 8, and over the course of the next 10 plays worked the ball deep into Blue Devil territory. However, on the 11th play, Keatin Sweeney fumbled an option pitch, which Evansville’s Mason Young recovered at his own 18.

On the fourth play of Evansville’s next drive, Severson connected with Trevor Bahrs on a deep pass into the secondary for 66 yards, with Matley making a touchdown-saving tackle at the 10. Three plays later, Severson scored on another QB sneak, and the Blue Devils tied it at 24 with 10:55 left in the fourth quarter on a 2-point pass to Kane Howlett.

Matley again had a big kick return, taking Monroe all the way to the 50. The offense appeared to stall, and Monroe faced a 4th-and-5 after just three plays. Going for it again, Max Golembiewski sent a rainbow pass deep into the Evansville secondary, and 6-foot-6 speedster wideout JT Seagreaves made the catch 35 yards downfield to the 10 to keep the drive alive — just for one more play, though, as Matley made it 32-24 with a 10-yard TD run and another 2-point conversion with 8:52 left in regulation.

Monroe’s defense then rose to the challenge, as Severson was unable to complete either of his passes on his team’s first three plays of the next possession. Facing fourth down from their own 39 and 8:27 left on the clock, the Blue Devils opted to punt the ball away and give their defense a chance to slow the Monroe attack. 

With hindsight being 20/20, and this alternate spring football season taking place instead of fall 2020, the Blue Devils may have wanted that decision back.

Monroe took over at its own 30, and immediately went to work on the ground with bulldog fullback Trevor Rodebaugh, who gained 2, 5, 12 and 11 yards on the first four plays. Matley then carried for another 6 yards to put the Cheesemakers at Evansville’s 30. On the next play, Sweeney, a sophomore, was given a chance to redeem himself for the costly fumble in the third and made the most of it, hitting the edge and scoring from 30-yards out for his first varsity touchdown.

On Evansville’s next possession, Severson threw an interception to Henry Brukwicki on third down, sealing the game. 

“Going into it, we said to Bruck, ‘this is your time — they’ve got to throw it. Try to get your first pick; try to knock something down.’ Then the one got tipped and I said ‘next one is you,’ and then he picked it off. He’s really stepped up into his role,” Matley said.

The Cheesemakers ran out the clock with three first down runs and a pair of kneels.

Sweeney finished the night with 95 yards on 12 carries, and Rodebaugh added 77. Golembiewski was 5 of 9 passing for 89 yards. Monroe outgained Evansville 470 yards to 255, including 381-80 on the ground.

Severson was 10 of 26 through the air for 175 yards, though it would have been more if not for a handful of drops by Blue Devil receivers. Young led Evansville in rushing with 61 yards on 14 carries. 

“We’re feeling pretty good, but the job’s not done yet. We still have three more games, so we have to finish strong,” Bunker said.

Monroe, now 2-0 overall and in the Rock Valley, hosts Jefferson in Week 3.