NEW GLARUS — The WIAA’s alternate fall spring football season came to a close this past weekend, with just one local game on the schedule — the annual rivalry game between New Glarus-Monticello and Belleville.

“It means so much to us,” said senior lineman Cole Walter. “We really don’t like losing to our rivals. This week of practice was very intense and we tried our best.”

Belleville (6-1, 5-1 COVID Small Conference) rallied from two scores down in the fourth quarter to win 21-20. It was the second time this season NGM lost a 1-point game to a conference champion on its home field, with the other coming against unbeaten Brodhead-Juda back in Week 4.

“At the end of the day, we gave it our best, but it wasn’t enough,” Walter said.

Defense was the name of the game, and for three quarters the Knights were kings.

“Defense just played amazing. All the way around — coverage, rushing the passer, tackling,” said coach Dr. Jeff Eichelkraut. “I thought their kids played great. We put ourselves in a situation and unfortunately, we weren’t able to finish it. Hats off to (Belleville) — they made plays to kind of keep them in the game.”

NGM overcame a scare with a fumble on the kickoff and worked methodically down the field on the game’s opening drive, going 80 yards in 12 plays, capped with a TD pass. On third-and-9 from Belleville’s 18, senior Darris Schuett lobbed a corner route pass to senior wideout Peter Gustafson, who made the leaping catch and toe-tap in the corner of the end zone for the game’s first score just 4:16 into the game. Instead of attempting the extra point kick, the Knights went for two, and the Wildcats defense held strong. The missed conversion was one of two that would come back to haunt the Knights at the end of the game.

On Belleville’s ensuing drive, the Wildcats marched down the field as well, using the legs of junior QB Trevor Syse as well as his southpaw arm. But on first down from the NGM 16, Syse’s slant pass was tipped, and Gustafson dove and hauled in the interception at his own 1. 

Schuett ran a QB sneak on first down to give some breathing room from the goal line. Holden Latsch then gained 7 yards and a first down on the next play to further the cushion of a safety. On the third play of the drive, Schuett ran a QB sweep to his right and broke free from defenders at the 20. He was brought down 72 yards down field at the Belleville 17, and Wildcats coach Mike Nolden called a timeout to try an refocus his squad.

Two plays later, Schuett and Gustafson connected again, this time on the left side of the end zone. A second failed conversion left the Knights ahead 12-0 with 3:11 left in the first quarter.

Before halftime, Belleville would score a touchdown on a 17-yard pass from Syse to Jaxson Pier. That was mixed in with a missed field goal and two turnovers on downs. NGM could keep the momentum or extend the lead, however, losing two fumbles and punting the ball away on its next three possessions before kneeling out in the final seconds before halftime. 

In the third quarter, the Knights’ defensive line rose even taller that the entire first half combined, led by Cole and Dain Walter. The pair finished with eight combined sacks in the game, including 6.5 in the second half.

“My success is not on me, personally. I need JD (Jaxson Darrow) and Dain,” Cole Walter said. “We just kind of fit together from the very first game, like puzzle pieces. They are just incredibly talented people. Even though I am going to the next level, my talent was not enough to get all of our success, so credit to those guys helping our defense.”

Dain Walter was the biggest thorn in the Wildcats’ side, finishing the night with 5.5 sacks, with 4.5 in the second half alone.

Belleville’s opening drive of the second half couldn’t have gone much worse. The Walters each had a sack and Anthony Nolden dropped a Syse pass, leading to a fourth-and-19 from Belleville’s 31. A high snap sent the punter scrambling, and Schuett and Cade Femrite brought him down at his own 4 — a loss of 27 yards.

But again, the Knights were unable to take advantage of a golden opportunity. Schuett was brought down for a loss of 3 yards on first down, then a pass to the end zone was dropped. On third down, Anthony Nolden cut off a slant pass, intercepting the ball at the 2 and returning it 30 yards. Belleville’s ensuing possession lasted nine plays and went into New Glarus territory, reaching as deep as the NGM 29. But Dain Walter had two sacks and Schuett another, as the Knights forced yet another turnover on downs with 4:52 left in the third quarter.

A 12-play, 64-yard drive culminated in an 8-yard TD pass from Schuett to Jackson Parman with 36 seconds left in the third. Parman then ran in the 2-point conversion, using a second effort push to get across the goal line to make it 20-7.

As Belleville neared midfield with a first down, Parman sacked Syse on one play, and the Walters ganged up on the Wildcat QB on the next snap to make it third-and-22. Back-to-back penalties by both teams made it third-and-23 on the next official snap, and Syse scrambled toward his own sideline. The Knights brought him down after just 11 yards, but Schuett was flagged for a 15-yard targeting personal foul, giving the Wildcats a first down at the NGM 43. Eight snaps later, on fourth-and-1, Syse ran an option keeper 12 yards for a TD. The extra point trimmed NGM’s lead to 20-14 with 7:33 remaining.

On NGM’s second play, a pitch to Nathan Streiff was mishandled and Belleville recovered. On the very next play, the Wildcats scored a 30-yard touchdown pass from Syse to Nolden, with another Syse extra point giving the Wildcats the 21-20 lead with 6:24 to play.

The Knights got a big return from Streiff on the kickoff, who took it up near midfield to the 42. Five plays later on second-and-9, the Knights ran a double-pitch flea flicker, but Schuett was brought down for a big loss. The next snap, on third-and-19, Schuett was picked off by Dylan Posthuma.

It was the last time the Knights had possession. Even worse, on Belleville’s second snap, Schuett, an all-conference defensive back, hurt his leg making a tackle of running back Sawyer Fahey. A long on-field delay to put Schuett in a cast only let the emotions sink in more for the Knights.

Belleville was able to grab one final first down to seal the victory.

“Disappointment a little bit. I really wanted to go out on a win for my team and all these people that I really love. But I gave my best effort and I just have to live with that,” Cole Walter said.

Syse finished the game 16 of 25 passing for 271 yards and two TDs, and added another 21 yards rushing, despite being sacked 14 times in the game. Fahey had 88 yards rushing on 15 attempts. 

Cole Walter had 16 tackles in the game, while Streiff had 15, Femrite 10, Dain Walter 9 and Jaxson Darrow 8.

Schuett was 12 of 20 for 119 yards and three scores and added 114 yards rushing. Schuett leaves his career as the program’s all-time leading passer, while Streiff walks away as the program’s top pass catcher. 

“I could run the wrong route and he would still throw it to where I was going. He means everything to me. I’m nothing without him. There’s nobody I’d have rather played with than him,” Streiff said of Schuett.

Both will play collegiately next season, as will Cole Walter and Mason Martinson, who missed the season with an arm injury.

“At the end of the day, it’s disappointing, but I’m proud of these guys. I’m proud of this team and all they’ve done. Probably the biggest thing is the impact they’ve had on each other, and that’s something that will last a long time,” Eichelkraut said.

That sentiment resonated with his players as well.

“These guys mean everything to me. I wake up every morning looking forward to coming and seeing these guys, and that’s definitely something I’m going to miss going forward,” Streiff said. “I’m just going to miss it. They are great people to be around. They’ve taught me so many things — more than football; more than anybody can know.”