MONROE — Since joining the Rock Valley Conference in 2020, the Cheesemakers had tallied a perfect 29-0 record, within the conference title each year. While postseason success saw its ups and downs, the Monroe faithful had become accustomed to simply winning games in the RVC.

The 2025 football season is Monroe’s final in the Rock before returning to the Badger, as well as the program’s final season at T.R. Holyoke Field. However, through three games, the Cheesemakers are 0-3, two of those losses coming at T.R. Holyoke Field. The most recent one, a 35-14 defeat to Jefferson in Week 3, was the first blemish for the program in conference play since leaving the Badger Conference following the 2019 season.

“I don’t know that we were flat,” said Monroe head coach Tom Witt after the game. “It was just guys getting out of position from where we practice during the week. But we are young — we’re a young football team. And there’s still six weeks left guaranteed in the season.”

Monroe’s defense struggled to slow down Jefferson, which punished the Cheesemakers to the tune of 270 rushing yards on 35 carries — a 7.7 yards per carry average, which is what Monroe has been achieving over the past decade. The Eagles (2-1) also gained 110 yards through the air on 6-for-6 passing.

“I didn’t do a good enough job making adjustments — as far as what they (Jefferson) were doing,” Witt said. “They came out in a front defensively that we weren’t expecting — we practiced against the front they ran against us last year.”

The Cheesemakers didn’t help themselves much in the first half, either. A long run by Kingston McNett was called back for holding, negating a nearly 60-yard rush that would have put Monroe at the Jefferson 2 in a one score game. The Eagles would end up scoring 21 straight points before the Cheesemakers could reach the end zone — a called run for QB Ryan Roelli.

The long run wasn’t the only one Monroe had called back due to a penalty. Two other plays of more than 20 yards also got returned.

“All of a sudden us going in for a score turns into field position for them and us having to punt,” Witt said. “That’s kind of been a repeat of the first two weeks — turnovers and penalties. We have to find a way to eliminate that and then we’ll be OK.”

Jefferson got a strong return on the ensuing kickoff from Landen Schmitt, taking the ball 58 yards to the Monroe 37. Kicker Brock Brandli, a soccer player his entire life, made the touchdown-saving tackle.

With a bad snap on the next play, the Eagles coughed up the ball, giving Monroe one last opportunity to score a blow into Jefferson’s lead. However, a series of deep throws from Roelli to Brandli fell incomplete.

The second half didn’t fare much better for the home squad. Jefferson scored two more times to take a commanding 35-7 lead. Monroe sophomore running back Tyler Briggs scored late to give the Cheesemakers a second touchdown.

Jefferson’s Connor Witucki led the way with 170 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries and a 17-yard TD catch, accounting for all five Eagles touchdowns.

Monroe had 181 rushing yards on 35 carries (5.1 ypc). Roelli led MHS with 58 yards rushing on five rushes. He added 26 yards through the air on 2 of 7 passing. Tristen Anderson had 50 yards rushing, while Noah Spotts finished with 47 yards.

Up next for Monroe is a road game at Edgerton (1-2), which lost to Delavan-Darien 36-35 in Week 3.

“We need to find a way to eliminate our mistakes and get a win next week,” Witt said.