MONROE - With a big crowd clad in red and white, Monroe junior Cody Wolf did everything he could to run the Cheesemakers to a homecoming win.
Wolf rushed for 121 yards on 25 carries and scored one touchdown, but Milton spoiled Monroe's homecoming, knocking off the Cheesemakers 32-15 Friday night.
"It's really tough," Wolf said of the homecoming loss. "Being a junior, I always take pride in playing hard for the seniors."
Monroe (0-6, 0-3 Badger South) couldn't hang on to a 9-0 first quarter lead. Milton (2-4, 2-2 Badger South) scored on three of its first four drives in the second half and scored 25 unanswered points. The surge was keyed by Milton senior running back Zachary Hoard and junior quarterback Tyler Westrick. Hoard was benched for most of the first half after missing a practice earlier this week. Westrick tossed a 20-yard swing pass to Hoard to cut the Cheesemakers' halftime lead to 15-13 at the end of the second quarter. Westrick rushed for 125 yards and scored four touchdowns rushing and had one passing. Hoard rushed for 136 yards on 16 carries and scored two touchdowns.
"I knew he was tough," Monroe coach Curt Miller said of Hoard. "I didn't see him much in the first half and I didn't want to see him. He was running at a different pace than what we were. Their quarterback is a good athlete. That is a good tandem."
Early on, it was the Cheesemakers behind an option and power running attack who jumped out to an early lead. Late in the first quarter, Milton punter Anthany Hoard booted a ball out of the end zone for a safety after a botched snap. The Cheesemakers added to their lead when Wolf bolted for a 25-yard TD run to give the Cheesemakers a 9-0 lead with 52 seconds to go in the first quarter.
The Cheesemakers' 14-play, 66-yard drive, culminated in Monroe sophomore Jaron Kuester's 9-yard TD run. With the Cheesemakers facing fourth-and-1 from the Red Hawks' 23-yard line, Monroe junior Jake Flannery kept the drive alive with a 10-yard run.
"It felt great," Wolf said. "Our line was coming off the ball and pushing them back. Our backs were super getting to the hole. We just have to carry that into the second half."
The Red Hawks dominated the second half shutting down the Cheesemakers. The Red Hawks capped a seven-play, 87-yard drive with Westrick's 3-yard TD run with 9:30 left in the third quarter. Hoard set up the scoring opportunity with a 41-yard run. Westrick added a 13-yard TD run midway through the third quarter to give the Red Hawks a 25-15 lead.
"They came out and stopped us on our first drive," Miller said of the start of the third quarter. "We had some silly penalties on our next drive. It changes the mindset of the kids. The kids looked at the scoreboard and I think they lost a little faith in what we were doing."
The Red Hawks racked up 345 total rushing yards and outscored the Cheesemakers 19-0 in the second half. The Cheesemakers did receive a couple big plays on defense and special teams. Monroe senior Grant Keith blocked a punt in the first half and sophomore Cam Shaw had a fumble recovery in the second half.
"I think we are there on defense," Wolf said. "We are just a step or two late. We are just not breaking down and doing the fundamentals."
Kuester, who was in just his second start at quarterback, had a big touchdown run and was 2 of 10 passing for 15 yards. Monroe freshman Tyler Elmer completed 3-of-7 passes for 29 yards in some work in the fourth quarter.
"I told him (Kuester) after the first half that is the type of player I know is in there," Miller said. "He made plays and managed the game well. He will only get better."
With the Cheesemakers playing from behind, Elmer showed some success in running a spread offense.
"He's really an athlete," Miller said of Elmer. "There is no question about that. It's a tall order to go in there as a freshman and try to scramble back from behind. He did a great job."
The Cheesemakers were without senior Brett Zimmerman, a starting offensive and defensive lineman after he fractured a bone near his elbow. Monroe senior linebacker Ryan Hughes received a personal foul call and was ejected from the game.
Miller said Zimmerman will have his fractured arm evaluated again next week.
"He may be able to come back for the last couple of games," Miller said.
Monroe will play short-handed at Madison Edgewood next week.
"We are still coming out to play to get the 'W," Wolf said. "We still have that 1-0 mentality."
Wolf rushed for 121 yards on 25 carries and scored one touchdown, but Milton spoiled Monroe's homecoming, knocking off the Cheesemakers 32-15 Friday night.
"It's really tough," Wolf said of the homecoming loss. "Being a junior, I always take pride in playing hard for the seniors."
Monroe (0-6, 0-3 Badger South) couldn't hang on to a 9-0 first quarter lead. Milton (2-4, 2-2 Badger South) scored on three of its first four drives in the second half and scored 25 unanswered points. The surge was keyed by Milton senior running back Zachary Hoard and junior quarterback Tyler Westrick. Hoard was benched for most of the first half after missing a practice earlier this week. Westrick tossed a 20-yard swing pass to Hoard to cut the Cheesemakers' halftime lead to 15-13 at the end of the second quarter. Westrick rushed for 125 yards and scored four touchdowns rushing and had one passing. Hoard rushed for 136 yards on 16 carries and scored two touchdowns.
"I knew he was tough," Monroe coach Curt Miller said of Hoard. "I didn't see him much in the first half and I didn't want to see him. He was running at a different pace than what we were. Their quarterback is a good athlete. That is a good tandem."
Early on, it was the Cheesemakers behind an option and power running attack who jumped out to an early lead. Late in the first quarter, Milton punter Anthany Hoard booted a ball out of the end zone for a safety after a botched snap. The Cheesemakers added to their lead when Wolf bolted for a 25-yard TD run to give the Cheesemakers a 9-0 lead with 52 seconds to go in the first quarter.
The Cheesemakers' 14-play, 66-yard drive, culminated in Monroe sophomore Jaron Kuester's 9-yard TD run. With the Cheesemakers facing fourth-and-1 from the Red Hawks' 23-yard line, Monroe junior Jake Flannery kept the drive alive with a 10-yard run.
"It felt great," Wolf said. "Our line was coming off the ball and pushing them back. Our backs were super getting to the hole. We just have to carry that into the second half."
The Red Hawks dominated the second half shutting down the Cheesemakers. The Red Hawks capped a seven-play, 87-yard drive with Westrick's 3-yard TD run with 9:30 left in the third quarter. Hoard set up the scoring opportunity with a 41-yard run. Westrick added a 13-yard TD run midway through the third quarter to give the Red Hawks a 25-15 lead.
"They came out and stopped us on our first drive," Miller said of the start of the third quarter. "We had some silly penalties on our next drive. It changes the mindset of the kids. The kids looked at the scoreboard and I think they lost a little faith in what we were doing."
The Red Hawks racked up 345 total rushing yards and outscored the Cheesemakers 19-0 in the second half. The Cheesemakers did receive a couple big plays on defense and special teams. Monroe senior Grant Keith blocked a punt in the first half and sophomore Cam Shaw had a fumble recovery in the second half.
"I think we are there on defense," Wolf said. "We are just a step or two late. We are just not breaking down and doing the fundamentals."
Kuester, who was in just his second start at quarterback, had a big touchdown run and was 2 of 10 passing for 15 yards. Monroe freshman Tyler Elmer completed 3-of-7 passes for 29 yards in some work in the fourth quarter.
"I told him (Kuester) after the first half that is the type of player I know is in there," Miller said. "He made plays and managed the game well. He will only get better."
With the Cheesemakers playing from behind, Elmer showed some success in running a spread offense.
"He's really an athlete," Miller said of Elmer. "There is no question about that. It's a tall order to go in there as a freshman and try to scramble back from behind. He did a great job."
The Cheesemakers were without senior Brett Zimmerman, a starting offensive and defensive lineman after he fractured a bone near his elbow. Monroe senior linebacker Ryan Hughes received a personal foul call and was ejected from the game.
Miller said Zimmerman will have his fractured arm evaluated again next week.
"He may be able to come back for the last couple of games," Miller said.
Monroe will play short-handed at Madison Edgewood next week.
"We are still coming out to play to get the 'W," Wolf said. "We still have that 1-0 mentality."
