MONROE - The Monroe High School football team's home opener is a hot ticket again. With the season-opening performance and acknowledgment in the AP state rankings, there is a buzz as the Cheesemakers gear up to host DeForest on Friday.
Monroe is coming off a 31-13 win over Reedsburg. The Cheesemakers and Racine St. Catherine's are tied for 10th in the Associated Press medium school state poll. DeForest lost its opener 24-14 to Oregon last week.
Monroe coach Toby Golembiewski said he isn't taking anything for granted and that he's not looking past the Norskies to Monroe's first conference game against Milton next week.
"I think teams improve the most from Week 1 to Week 2 if they are healthy," Golembiewski said. "There is usually a huge improvement. A lot of decisions about your team are solidified."
The Cheesemakers are looking to add to their 10-game regular-season winning streak.
"I think they (DeForest) are capable of running and throwing," Golembiewski said. "They can pick up big chunks of yards passing."
The Norskies are a pro-style pistol-based offense that will spread the field out with receivers, and they like to use three- and five-step drops for quick passes.
"They will run power and zone runs, and they throw the ball well," Golembiewski said.
One area the Cheesemakers are looking to improve on is their tackling.
"We didn't tackle very well against Reedsburg last week," Golembiewski said. "We tried to do a lot of arm tackling. We have to review our tackling fundamentals."
When the Norskies take a three-step drop on quick passes, it will be difficult for the Cheesemakers to get an immediate pass rush. They will rely on getting wide receivers off their routes to disrupt the timing of the passing game. The top receiving threat is tight end Bryce Duffy who is 6-foot-4 and 212 pounds. Duffy had six touchdown catches last year. Wide receiver Jarrett Klein is also a big target at 6-4.
"On three-step drops we have to disrupt the routes so we can make a play on the ball," Golembiewski said. "On five-step drops, we have to get a pass rush."
In the season opener, Oregon ran for 312 yards against the Norskies, who employ a 4-4 defense and at times a 4-3. That's music to the ears of the Cheesemakers, who had more than 400 total yards in the win over Reedsburg. The Cheesemakers gashed the Beavers for 344 rushing yards and facing a defense similar to their 4-3 won't be a new concept.
"We have repped some things against our defense in two-a-days," Golembiewski said. "They (Monroe's offense) has seen this look."
The Cheesemakers had four running backs rush for 60 yards or more last week. Monroe junior Jordan Montgomery had a team-high 95 rushing yards on 12 carries. Sophomore Nick Bansley had 83 rushing yards and scored two touchdowns on just three touches (two carries and one reception).
"There will be some alleys we can attack in this defense," Golembiewski said. "We will see who they want to take away. They can't take away all four (running backs and quarterback)."
Expect the Cheesemakers to continue a rotation in the backfield.
"A lot of it is based on getting guys off the field because of their defensive duties," Golembiewski said. "We want to keep guys fresh."
Monroe junior quarterback Anthany Hernandez hooked up with Bansley on a 60-yard touchdown pass last week. Golembiewski was impressed with the start Hernandez is off to early this year. Hernandez also rushed for 15 yards in the opener. The Cheesemakers are looking to Hernandez being a dual threat at quarterback.
"We are expecting him to be like that," he said. "I think he will get better every time. We still have a lot to work on."
Golembiewski has noticed a difference in the offense with so many new and young players compared to last year.
"Our practice tempo has increased," he said. "I think they are playing at a lot faster tempo. Now that they know and have more knowledge of their assignments you can bump up the speed."
It made a difference in the second half of the opener against Reedsburg.
Now, the Cheesemakers are ready to play DeForest in their second straight nonconference game. Golembiewski expects a big crowd for the home opener.
"I would anticipate with good weather there will be a big crowd," he said. "If I was around town I would want to get over here early or there might not be a seat."
Monroe is coming off a 31-13 win over Reedsburg. The Cheesemakers and Racine St. Catherine's are tied for 10th in the Associated Press medium school state poll. DeForest lost its opener 24-14 to Oregon last week.
Monroe coach Toby Golembiewski said he isn't taking anything for granted and that he's not looking past the Norskies to Monroe's first conference game against Milton next week.
"I think teams improve the most from Week 1 to Week 2 if they are healthy," Golembiewski said. "There is usually a huge improvement. A lot of decisions about your team are solidified."
The Cheesemakers are looking to add to their 10-game regular-season winning streak.
"I think they (DeForest) are capable of running and throwing," Golembiewski said. "They can pick up big chunks of yards passing."
The Norskies are a pro-style pistol-based offense that will spread the field out with receivers, and they like to use three- and five-step drops for quick passes.
"They will run power and zone runs, and they throw the ball well," Golembiewski said.
One area the Cheesemakers are looking to improve on is their tackling.
"We didn't tackle very well against Reedsburg last week," Golembiewski said. "We tried to do a lot of arm tackling. We have to review our tackling fundamentals."
When the Norskies take a three-step drop on quick passes, it will be difficult for the Cheesemakers to get an immediate pass rush. They will rely on getting wide receivers off their routes to disrupt the timing of the passing game. The top receiving threat is tight end Bryce Duffy who is 6-foot-4 and 212 pounds. Duffy had six touchdown catches last year. Wide receiver Jarrett Klein is also a big target at 6-4.
"On three-step drops we have to disrupt the routes so we can make a play on the ball," Golembiewski said. "On five-step drops, we have to get a pass rush."
In the season opener, Oregon ran for 312 yards against the Norskies, who employ a 4-4 defense and at times a 4-3. That's music to the ears of the Cheesemakers, who had more than 400 total yards in the win over Reedsburg. The Cheesemakers gashed the Beavers for 344 rushing yards and facing a defense similar to their 4-3 won't be a new concept.
"We have repped some things against our defense in two-a-days," Golembiewski said. "They (Monroe's offense) has seen this look."
The Cheesemakers had four running backs rush for 60 yards or more last week. Monroe junior Jordan Montgomery had a team-high 95 rushing yards on 12 carries. Sophomore Nick Bansley had 83 rushing yards and scored two touchdowns on just three touches (two carries and one reception).
"There will be some alleys we can attack in this defense," Golembiewski said. "We will see who they want to take away. They can't take away all four (running backs and quarterback)."
Expect the Cheesemakers to continue a rotation in the backfield.
"A lot of it is based on getting guys off the field because of their defensive duties," Golembiewski said. "We want to keep guys fresh."
Monroe junior quarterback Anthany Hernandez hooked up with Bansley on a 60-yard touchdown pass last week. Golembiewski was impressed with the start Hernandez is off to early this year. Hernandez also rushed for 15 yards in the opener. The Cheesemakers are looking to Hernandez being a dual threat at quarterback.
"We are expecting him to be like that," he said. "I think he will get better every time. We still have a lot to work on."
Golembiewski has noticed a difference in the offense with so many new and young players compared to last year.
"Our practice tempo has increased," he said. "I think they are playing at a lot faster tempo. Now that they know and have more knowledge of their assignments you can bump up the speed."
It made a difference in the second half of the opener against Reedsburg.
Now, the Cheesemakers are ready to play DeForest in their second straight nonconference game. Golembiewski expects a big crowd for the home opener.
"I would anticipate with good weather there will be a big crowd," he said. "If I was around town I would want to get over here early or there might not be a seat."
