MONROE - The Cheesemakers rolled into homecoming with big expectations - knocking off tough conference rival Edgewood on homecoming weekend and inching closer to a potential playoff berth.
The Crusaders (4-3, 3-1) needed overtime in over to stumble past Monroe, 27-20.
"The kids played great," Monroe head coach Curt Miller said. "Edgewood is an outstanding team, and we played them very tough tonight."
The Crusaders started off hot, with returning all-conference quarterback Mario Minnaert slinging a 54-yard pass to Sam Zimmer on the game's second play, putting Edgewood inside Monroe's 10-yard line. Two plays later, Tim Longo countered left for the score and a 7-0 Edgewood lead just 1:37 into the game.
Monroe, looking a bit stunned on offense, ran a quick three-and-out. However, Edgewood graciously gave the ball right back.
On the Cheesemaker's second possession, Monroe barreled its way behind Alex Dammen and Zach Rast for much of the field. Then, on 3rd-and-7 from Edgewood's 14-yard line, Monroe quarterback Mitch Tordoff was bull-rushed from behind and flipped an interception with 19 seconds left in the first quarter.
Two plays later in the second quarter, a 1st-and-10 pass from their own 37 saw Minnaert hit Joe Curtain for a 58-yard pass play. Monroe defensive back Tyler Hiatt not only caught Curtain at the 5-yard line, but forced a fumble which Monroe recovered.
The Cheese punted away the ball again just eight plays later. Edgewood subsequently drove down the field. Minnaert then turned to Connor Cosgrove inside Monroe's 10-yard line. Hiatt tipped the pass behind the receiver where teammate Zach Rast stole the ball out of the air.
The Cheesemakers again started from deep inside their own territory, this time from the 6-yard line. On 3rd-and-7, Tordoff hit Dammen on a 39-yard screen pass across midfield. Seven plays later, with just 40 seconds left on the clock, Tordoff hit Josh Popanz from 5 yards out for the touchdown. Monroe faked the kick on the point after, but Dammen was taken down on a run at the 1, allowing Edgewood to hold a 7-6 lead at halftime.
To start the second half, Edgewood forced Monroe to punt and later scored on a Minnaert pass to Cosgrove.
Monroe's next possession saw Tordoff connect with Popanz again, this time from 33-yards out. However, a second run by Dammen failed to be punched through.
The Crusaders, feeling the heat of Monroe's rush defense, which allowed only 58 yards on 28 carries in the game, turned the ball over on down with time winding down in the third quarter. Four plays later, Tordoff hit Rast on a 61-yard swing pass that gave the Cheesemakers their first lead of the game. Tordoff then hit is younger brother, Bryan in the back of the end zone on a bobbling catch for the two-point conversion and a 20-14 lead.
Edgewood answered with 8:29 to play in the ball game as Minnaert ran the ball in from 8 yards out. Monroe blocked the extra point to send it into overtime.
"I was happy when we made it to overtime to win the toss and start out on defense. They're team just made a big play," Miller said.
In overtime, Monroe's run defense let its only crack leak, as running back Mike Eshun scored on a 17-yard run on third down.
"Our defense played great," Mitch Tordoff said. "They came huge all game. Edgewood just made a few plays that we couldn't stop."
Monroe tried to counter, but Tordoff was again bull rushed and his errant pass was intercepted to end the game.
"We took this game like any other. We put ourselves in the stage that we want to be in for overtime. We just couldn't come through," Tordoff said.
Tordoff finished the night with 190 yards passing on 10-of-19 with three touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. Dammen ran for 106 yards on 31 carries. Rast finished the night with 84 yards on four receptions and the two touchdowns.
Monroe (3-4, 1-3) hosts Stoughton (4-3, 2-2) next Friday. The Cheesemakers need to beat both Stoughton and Monona Grove (4-3, 2-2) in Week 9 in order to qualify for playoffs for the first time since 2003.
The Crusaders (4-3, 3-1) needed overtime in over to stumble past Monroe, 27-20.
"The kids played great," Monroe head coach Curt Miller said. "Edgewood is an outstanding team, and we played them very tough tonight."
The Crusaders started off hot, with returning all-conference quarterback Mario Minnaert slinging a 54-yard pass to Sam Zimmer on the game's second play, putting Edgewood inside Monroe's 10-yard line. Two plays later, Tim Longo countered left for the score and a 7-0 Edgewood lead just 1:37 into the game.
Monroe, looking a bit stunned on offense, ran a quick three-and-out. However, Edgewood graciously gave the ball right back.
On the Cheesemaker's second possession, Monroe barreled its way behind Alex Dammen and Zach Rast for much of the field. Then, on 3rd-and-7 from Edgewood's 14-yard line, Monroe quarterback Mitch Tordoff was bull-rushed from behind and flipped an interception with 19 seconds left in the first quarter.
Two plays later in the second quarter, a 1st-and-10 pass from their own 37 saw Minnaert hit Joe Curtain for a 58-yard pass play. Monroe defensive back Tyler Hiatt not only caught Curtain at the 5-yard line, but forced a fumble which Monroe recovered.
The Cheese punted away the ball again just eight plays later. Edgewood subsequently drove down the field. Minnaert then turned to Connor Cosgrove inside Monroe's 10-yard line. Hiatt tipped the pass behind the receiver where teammate Zach Rast stole the ball out of the air.
The Cheesemakers again started from deep inside their own territory, this time from the 6-yard line. On 3rd-and-7, Tordoff hit Dammen on a 39-yard screen pass across midfield. Seven plays later, with just 40 seconds left on the clock, Tordoff hit Josh Popanz from 5 yards out for the touchdown. Monroe faked the kick on the point after, but Dammen was taken down on a run at the 1, allowing Edgewood to hold a 7-6 lead at halftime.
To start the second half, Edgewood forced Monroe to punt and later scored on a Minnaert pass to Cosgrove.
Monroe's next possession saw Tordoff connect with Popanz again, this time from 33-yards out. However, a second run by Dammen failed to be punched through.
The Crusaders, feeling the heat of Monroe's rush defense, which allowed only 58 yards on 28 carries in the game, turned the ball over on down with time winding down in the third quarter. Four plays later, Tordoff hit Rast on a 61-yard swing pass that gave the Cheesemakers their first lead of the game. Tordoff then hit is younger brother, Bryan in the back of the end zone on a bobbling catch for the two-point conversion and a 20-14 lead.
Edgewood answered with 8:29 to play in the ball game as Minnaert ran the ball in from 8 yards out. Monroe blocked the extra point to send it into overtime.
"I was happy when we made it to overtime to win the toss and start out on defense. They're team just made a big play," Miller said.
In overtime, Monroe's run defense let its only crack leak, as running back Mike Eshun scored on a 17-yard run on third down.
"Our defense played great," Mitch Tordoff said. "They came huge all game. Edgewood just made a few plays that we couldn't stop."
Monroe tried to counter, but Tordoff was again bull rushed and his errant pass was intercepted to end the game.
"We took this game like any other. We put ourselves in the stage that we want to be in for overtime. We just couldn't come through," Tordoff said.
Tordoff finished the night with 190 yards passing on 10-of-19 with three touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. Dammen ran for 106 yards on 31 carries. Rast finished the night with 84 yards on four receptions and the two touchdowns.
Monroe (3-4, 1-3) hosts Stoughton (4-3, 2-2) next Friday. The Cheesemakers need to beat both Stoughton and Monona Grove (4-3, 2-2) in Week 9 in order to qualify for playoffs for the first time since 2003.
