BRODHEAD - Getting the opportunity to play in a state championship game doesn't come along every year. The Brodhead-Juda football team is on the brink of a return trip to the WIAA Division 4 state title game at Camp Randall Stadium.
Brodhead-Juda (10-2) plays Wrightstown (12-0) in a Division 4 state semifinal showdown at 1 p.m. Saturday in Ripon. With a win, the Cardinals would punch their ticket to the Division 4 state championship game for the second straight year.
"I didn't know what kind of team we had until week eight," Brodhead-Juda coach Jim Matthys said referencing the Cardinals 42-0 win over Whitewater. "The Level 1 win against Platteville showed our kids if we played at that level we could go a long way."
The Cardinals have won nine straight games since a 27-10 loss to Big Foot in September. Last year the Cardinals reeled off 10 straight wins and lost the state title game to Kewaunee 41-21. Now they are on the verge of repeating history.
Wrightstown is the champion of the Olympic-Packerland Large Conference, and they won a state title in 2006. Wrightstown senior fullback Jackson Fox has rushed for 1,397 yards and 28 touchdowns. The Tigers run a double tight straight T-formation offense. There aren't any secrets about how the Tigers want to attack on offense.
"It's smash mouth football," Matthys said. "They will run it straight at you and they don't pull people. The Fox kid is hard to bring down. He runs hard. They also have a nice play action game."
The Cardinals' defense has lived for forcing turnovers in the playoffs. The Cardinals, who are giving up 17.3 points per game, have forced at least two turnovers in wins over Racine St. Catherine's and Lakeside Lutheran. Senior Brandon Bauman had two interceptions against Racine St. Catherine's. Jordan and Bauman each have four interceptions to lead the Cardinals. Brodhead-Juda is giving up 137 rushing yards per game. Brodhead-Juda senior Jesse DeLorme is the leading tackler on defense with 77. Fellow senior Joey Jordan has 72 tackles including 10 tackles for loss.
"I think anyone will tell you if you are going to get to any kind of a state championship game you have to do it on defense," Matthys said. "Our kids have worked hard at that and embraced it. We have found a way to bend, but not break. They have done a great job of making big plays."
The Cardinals average 37.4 points per game and have rushed for 297.8 yards per game. DeLorme has rushed for 1,419 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Senior quarterback David Earleywine has made some critical plays passing the ball in a wins over Racine St. Catherine's and Lakeside Lutheran. Earleywine has passed for 1,263 yards with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions. He has been efficient completing 57 percent of his passes. However, in the playoffs he's been even better completing 68.7 percent of his passes. He also has rushed for 175 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Tigers run a 4-3 defense that Matthys understands can cause some challenges.
"They are a solid defense," Matthys said. "Our best defense will be our offense. "I don't think David's statistics will blow you away. The one thing David does is he is a good game manager. He runs our play action game well and carries out the fakes well."
Brodhead-Juda (10-2) plays Wrightstown (12-0) in a Division 4 state semifinal showdown at 1 p.m. Saturday in Ripon. With a win, the Cardinals would punch their ticket to the Division 4 state championship game for the second straight year.
"I didn't know what kind of team we had until week eight," Brodhead-Juda coach Jim Matthys said referencing the Cardinals 42-0 win over Whitewater. "The Level 1 win against Platteville showed our kids if we played at that level we could go a long way."
The Cardinals have won nine straight games since a 27-10 loss to Big Foot in September. Last year the Cardinals reeled off 10 straight wins and lost the state title game to Kewaunee 41-21. Now they are on the verge of repeating history.
Wrightstown is the champion of the Olympic-Packerland Large Conference, and they won a state title in 2006. Wrightstown senior fullback Jackson Fox has rushed for 1,397 yards and 28 touchdowns. The Tigers run a double tight straight T-formation offense. There aren't any secrets about how the Tigers want to attack on offense.
"It's smash mouth football," Matthys said. "They will run it straight at you and they don't pull people. The Fox kid is hard to bring down. He runs hard. They also have a nice play action game."
The Cardinals' defense has lived for forcing turnovers in the playoffs. The Cardinals, who are giving up 17.3 points per game, have forced at least two turnovers in wins over Racine St. Catherine's and Lakeside Lutheran. Senior Brandon Bauman had two interceptions against Racine St. Catherine's. Jordan and Bauman each have four interceptions to lead the Cardinals. Brodhead-Juda is giving up 137 rushing yards per game. Brodhead-Juda senior Jesse DeLorme is the leading tackler on defense with 77. Fellow senior Joey Jordan has 72 tackles including 10 tackles for loss.
"I think anyone will tell you if you are going to get to any kind of a state championship game you have to do it on defense," Matthys said. "Our kids have worked hard at that and embraced it. We have found a way to bend, but not break. They have done a great job of making big plays."
The Cardinals average 37.4 points per game and have rushed for 297.8 yards per game. DeLorme has rushed for 1,419 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Senior quarterback David Earleywine has made some critical plays passing the ball in a wins over Racine St. Catherine's and Lakeside Lutheran. Earleywine has passed for 1,263 yards with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions. He has been efficient completing 57 percent of his passes. However, in the playoffs he's been even better completing 68.7 percent of his passes. He also has rushed for 175 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Tigers run a 4-3 defense that Matthys understands can cause some challenges.
"They are a solid defense," Matthys said. "Our best defense will be our offense. "I don't think David's statistics will blow you away. The one thing David does is he is a good game manager. He runs our play action game well and carries out the fakes well."
