NEW BERLIN - The Monroe football team's season came to an end in a 34-6 loss to New Berlin Eisenhower in a WIAA Division 3 Level 1 playoff game Friday night.
"We came in there and fought hard," Monroe coach Toby Golembiewski said. "They were just a better team. They were just taller and faster. It was a big separation between being 4-5 and 9-0."
The Lions blocked a field goal attempt by Monroe senior Dempzy Foley and New Berlin Eisenhower's Boden Saikie returned it 34 yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter to take a 14-0 lead. Saikie also returned an interception for a touchdown on Monroe junior Anthany Hernandez's pass in the third quarter.
The 14 points on those two plays were game-changers. The Cheesemakers had 247 total yards compared to 244 for the Lions.
"They had about 200 yards in a blocked field goal and interception returns," Golembiewski said. "That is the big difference right there. We are proud we play in the Badger South Conference and we qualified for the playoffs. In the end, they were just a better team."
Monroe sophomore quarterback Alex Witt completed 3 of 5 passes for 25 yards, but suffered a dislocated finger and didn't play in the second half. Hernandez stepped in at quarterback and had a 14-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. He completed 4 of 10 passes for 46 yards and had three interceptions.
"Anthany stepped in and did a really good job," Golembiewski said. "We completed some passes, but we really struggled to get to the edge. It seemed like we were expending all of our effort to get to the outside and they are so fast."
Monroe senior Brayden Zettle had four receptions for 32 yards. Senior teammate Sam Kind had two catches for 35 yards.
Foley rushed for a team-high 71 yards on 16 carries. Kind added 57 rushing yards on 14 carries.
The Cheesemakers finish the season 4-6 and took fourth in the conference. Monroe made the playoffs for the second straight year for the first time since 2000-01. The Cheesemakers won two of their final three regular season games and reached the postseason based on the second tiebreaker - the winning percentage of teams they defeated in conference. Monroe dealt with a slew of injuries and many young players got invaluable experience.
"I think those two one-point wins over Watertown and Fort Atkinson were really great wins," Golembiewski said. "They were like our season in a nutshell of what we had to fight through."
"We came in there and fought hard," Monroe coach Toby Golembiewski said. "They were just a better team. They were just taller and faster. It was a big separation between being 4-5 and 9-0."
The Lions blocked a field goal attempt by Monroe senior Dempzy Foley and New Berlin Eisenhower's Boden Saikie returned it 34 yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter to take a 14-0 lead. Saikie also returned an interception for a touchdown on Monroe junior Anthany Hernandez's pass in the third quarter.
The 14 points on those two plays were game-changers. The Cheesemakers had 247 total yards compared to 244 for the Lions.
"They had about 200 yards in a blocked field goal and interception returns," Golembiewski said. "That is the big difference right there. We are proud we play in the Badger South Conference and we qualified for the playoffs. In the end, they were just a better team."
Monroe sophomore quarterback Alex Witt completed 3 of 5 passes for 25 yards, but suffered a dislocated finger and didn't play in the second half. Hernandez stepped in at quarterback and had a 14-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. He completed 4 of 10 passes for 46 yards and had three interceptions.
"Anthany stepped in and did a really good job," Golembiewski said. "We completed some passes, but we really struggled to get to the edge. It seemed like we were expending all of our effort to get to the outside and they are so fast."
Monroe senior Brayden Zettle had four receptions for 32 yards. Senior teammate Sam Kind had two catches for 35 yards.
Foley rushed for a team-high 71 yards on 16 carries. Kind added 57 rushing yards on 14 carries.
The Cheesemakers finish the season 4-6 and took fourth in the conference. Monroe made the playoffs for the second straight year for the first time since 2000-01. The Cheesemakers won two of their final three regular season games and reached the postseason based on the second tiebreaker - the winning percentage of teams they defeated in conference. Monroe dealt with a slew of injuries and many young players got invaluable experience.
"I think those two one-point wins over Watertown and Fort Atkinson were really great wins," Golembiewski said. "They were like our season in a nutshell of what we had to fight through."
