ARGYLE - The last time the Pecatonica-Argyle High School football team was still alive in the playoffs this late in the season, George W. Bush was president and Chris Brown's "Say Goodbye" was one of the top songs on the Billboard chart.
Fast forward nine years and Pecatonica-Argyle is back in a WIAA Division 6 state quarterfinal game. The Vikings host Melrose-Mindoro (9-2) at 2 p.m. Saturday in Argyle.
Pecatonica-Argyle (11-0), ranked No. 2 in the WisSports.net Division 6 Coaches poll, is just one win away from a potential state semifinal showdown against top-ranked Darlington.
"We are here for a reason, and our kids are excited to come out and play," Pecatonica-Argyle coach Larry Green said.
Getting to a state championship game is always in the back of the mind of coaches and players, but the Vikings wanted to first focus on winning a Six Rivers Conference title.
"I think every season you go into it that (a state championship) is at the bottom of your list," Green said. "We wanted to win a conference championship. After the regular season was over, we looked at our next goal. Ultimately, that (state title game) is the goal. We haven't really talked about it. We talk about going 1-0 each week."
How Did They Get Here
Melrose-Mindoro: Third-seeded Melrose-Mindoro (9-2) beat Cochrane-Fountain City 40-0 in the first round and Brookwood 33-14 in a Level 2 game.
Pecatonica-Argyle: The Vikings rolled past Kickapoo-La Farge 44-0 in the first round and then beat Iowa-Grant 20-9.
Common Opponents
There are no common opponents between the Vikings and Mustangs. Melrose-Mindoro was a Dairyland Conference co-champion with Eleva-Strum.
Offensive sets
Melrose-Mindoro: The Mustangs run a prolific spread offense that relies on putting the ball in the air. The Mustangs are averaging 16.8 passes per game and 34 points per game. Melrose-Mindoro quarterback Sam Boone has passed for 1,964 yards with 24 TDs and just four interceptions this year. He's averaging 178 yards passing per game and 10.8 yards per completion.
Green said the Vikings haven't faced a spread offense team like the Mustangs this season.
"Their offense is a big play offense," Green said. "They are a pass-first team we haven't seen all year. We always focus on stopping the run first. Our defense has to eliminate the big plays. That is our focus this week."
Aaron Scafe is Melrose-Mindoro's leading wide receiver with 37 receptions for 730 yards and 11 TDs. Teammate Erik Christopherson has 34 receptions for 655 yards and five touchdowns. Christopherson is also the team's leading rusher (643 yards and six touchdowns). Boone has been a capable dual threat this year with 452 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Pecatonica-Argyle: The Vikings switched from a spread offense to a fly offense this year in an effort to focus on running the ball better. The Vikings have had great success with the fly offense, averaging 43.2 points per game and 225.9 total rushing yards per game. The Vikings rely on a two-back system with the one-two punch of senior Riley Ostby and junior Cam Treuthardt. Ostby has rushed for 1,197 yards with 21 TDs. He's averaging 108 rushing yards per game and about 9.0 yards per carry. However, receiver Brooks Chandler is a threat on jet sweeps around the end.
"He hits the hole right away," Green said of Ostby. "He's a tough farm kid who gets up in there right away and gets what he can. Our line has done a great job for us."
Treuthardt has rushed for 514 yards and eight touchdowns this season.
"Cam is a strong runner, too," Green said. "Guys can't just focus on one player."
Pecatonica-Argyle junior quarterback Logan Green has passed for 1,015 yards with 15 TDs and four interceptions and gives the Vikings a balanced offense.
Defensive sets
Melrose-Mindoro: The Mustangs run a 4-4 defense with four down linemen and four linebackers and at times a 4-3 defense that has posted five shutouts this year. Melrose-Mindoro's Andy Anthony has a team-high 102 tackles this year with one forced fumble and one interception. Teammate Sam Higley has proven tough to block with 81 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and two sacks this season. Scafe has 72 tackles and a team-best four interceptions.
Larry Green said the farther a team gets in the playoffs, the tougher the competition gets.
"We may be forced to throw a little bit more," Green said. "We feel like we have a decent passing game when we need to put the ball in the air. Knowing we can pass the ball helps loosen up the defense a little bit."
The top receivers in the passing game are junior A.J. Hendrickson (19 catches and 301 yards with three touchdowns), junior Cory Linder (13-262 with four touchdowns) and Ostby (10-195 and three touchdowns).
Pecatonica-Argyle: The Vikings' defense has been tough to crack for opposing offenses, giving up a meager 7.6 points per game with three shutouts this year. Despite a 40-point margin of victory in the Six Rivers Conference, the Vikings have limited opponents to 65 passing yards per game even though those teams were playing from behind.
The Vikings could slow down the Mustangs' passing attack by pressuring Boone and setting up some blitzes.
"If we can pressure their quarterback it will slow up their timing," Green said. "We feel like we can be physical with their receivers."
Ostby at linebacker leads the team with 94 tackles. Senior Will Herman (80 tackles and three sacks) as well as junior Mitch Dammen (70 tackles), junior Collin Argue (70 tackles) and Treuthardt (66 tackles) lead a stingy defense.
Prediction
Both teams have combined for eight shutouts this year, but this has the makings of a shootout. Pecatonica-Argyle has an underrated passing attack that could win a shootout. The Vikings have been on a roll and are on a collision course to face Darlington in the state semifinals next week.
Pecatonica-Argyle 35, Melrose-Mindoro 27
Fast forward nine years and Pecatonica-Argyle is back in a WIAA Division 6 state quarterfinal game. The Vikings host Melrose-Mindoro (9-2) at 2 p.m. Saturday in Argyle.
Pecatonica-Argyle (11-0), ranked No. 2 in the WisSports.net Division 6 Coaches poll, is just one win away from a potential state semifinal showdown against top-ranked Darlington.
"We are here for a reason, and our kids are excited to come out and play," Pecatonica-Argyle coach Larry Green said.
Getting to a state championship game is always in the back of the mind of coaches and players, but the Vikings wanted to first focus on winning a Six Rivers Conference title.
"I think every season you go into it that (a state championship) is at the bottom of your list," Green said. "We wanted to win a conference championship. After the regular season was over, we looked at our next goal. Ultimately, that (state title game) is the goal. We haven't really talked about it. We talk about going 1-0 each week."
How Did They Get Here
Melrose-Mindoro: Third-seeded Melrose-Mindoro (9-2) beat Cochrane-Fountain City 40-0 in the first round and Brookwood 33-14 in a Level 2 game.
Pecatonica-Argyle: The Vikings rolled past Kickapoo-La Farge 44-0 in the first round and then beat Iowa-Grant 20-9.
Common Opponents
There are no common opponents between the Vikings and Mustangs. Melrose-Mindoro was a Dairyland Conference co-champion with Eleva-Strum.
Offensive sets
Melrose-Mindoro: The Mustangs run a prolific spread offense that relies on putting the ball in the air. The Mustangs are averaging 16.8 passes per game and 34 points per game. Melrose-Mindoro quarterback Sam Boone has passed for 1,964 yards with 24 TDs and just four interceptions this year. He's averaging 178 yards passing per game and 10.8 yards per completion.
Green said the Vikings haven't faced a spread offense team like the Mustangs this season.
"Their offense is a big play offense," Green said. "They are a pass-first team we haven't seen all year. We always focus on stopping the run first. Our defense has to eliminate the big plays. That is our focus this week."
Aaron Scafe is Melrose-Mindoro's leading wide receiver with 37 receptions for 730 yards and 11 TDs. Teammate Erik Christopherson has 34 receptions for 655 yards and five touchdowns. Christopherson is also the team's leading rusher (643 yards and six touchdowns). Boone has been a capable dual threat this year with 452 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Pecatonica-Argyle: The Vikings switched from a spread offense to a fly offense this year in an effort to focus on running the ball better. The Vikings have had great success with the fly offense, averaging 43.2 points per game and 225.9 total rushing yards per game. The Vikings rely on a two-back system with the one-two punch of senior Riley Ostby and junior Cam Treuthardt. Ostby has rushed for 1,197 yards with 21 TDs. He's averaging 108 rushing yards per game and about 9.0 yards per carry. However, receiver Brooks Chandler is a threat on jet sweeps around the end.
"He hits the hole right away," Green said of Ostby. "He's a tough farm kid who gets up in there right away and gets what he can. Our line has done a great job for us."
Treuthardt has rushed for 514 yards and eight touchdowns this season.
"Cam is a strong runner, too," Green said. "Guys can't just focus on one player."
Pecatonica-Argyle junior quarterback Logan Green has passed for 1,015 yards with 15 TDs and four interceptions and gives the Vikings a balanced offense.
Defensive sets
Melrose-Mindoro: The Mustangs run a 4-4 defense with four down linemen and four linebackers and at times a 4-3 defense that has posted five shutouts this year. Melrose-Mindoro's Andy Anthony has a team-high 102 tackles this year with one forced fumble and one interception. Teammate Sam Higley has proven tough to block with 81 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and two sacks this season. Scafe has 72 tackles and a team-best four interceptions.
Larry Green said the farther a team gets in the playoffs, the tougher the competition gets.
"We may be forced to throw a little bit more," Green said. "We feel like we have a decent passing game when we need to put the ball in the air. Knowing we can pass the ball helps loosen up the defense a little bit."
The top receivers in the passing game are junior A.J. Hendrickson (19 catches and 301 yards with three touchdowns), junior Cory Linder (13-262 with four touchdowns) and Ostby (10-195 and three touchdowns).
Pecatonica-Argyle: The Vikings' defense has been tough to crack for opposing offenses, giving up a meager 7.6 points per game with three shutouts this year. Despite a 40-point margin of victory in the Six Rivers Conference, the Vikings have limited opponents to 65 passing yards per game even though those teams were playing from behind.
The Vikings could slow down the Mustangs' passing attack by pressuring Boone and setting up some blitzes.
"If we can pressure their quarterback it will slow up their timing," Green said. "We feel like we can be physical with their receivers."
Ostby at linebacker leads the team with 94 tackles. Senior Will Herman (80 tackles and three sacks) as well as junior Mitch Dammen (70 tackles), junior Collin Argue (70 tackles) and Treuthardt (66 tackles) lead a stingy defense.
Prediction
Both teams have combined for eight shutouts this year, but this has the makings of a shootout. Pecatonica-Argyle has an underrated passing attack that could win a shootout. The Vikings have been on a roll and are on a collision course to face Darlington in the state semifinals next week.
Pecatonica-Argyle 35, Melrose-Mindoro 27
