NEW GLARUS - Football fans trying to come up with a nickname for New Glarus-Monticello senior Cameron Jeglum may want to take one of his teammates' suggestions.
"Just call him 'Playmaker,'" New Glarus-Monticello quarterback Ryan Bright said.
Jeglum's two interceptions Friday propelled the Knights to a 26-7 season-opening win over Iowa-Grant.
With the Knights clinging to a 14-7 lead in the third quarter, Jeglum intercepted a pass and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown. Jeglum had 84 return yards on his two interceptions.
"I just saw him (a receiver) going over the middle," Jeglum said. "Our middle linebacker just smoked him. Their quarterback didn't see it and threw it. I just kept running. I didn't think I would make it all the way. It hadn't really hit me yet that I had intercepted a pass and ran for a touchdown. It's so exhilarating."
New Glarus-Monticello coach Jeff Eichelkraut knows Jeglum's interception return for a score turned the tide against the Panthers.
"That really changed the direction of the game," Eichelkraut said. "That put more distance between us."
The Knights' offense started the game on a roll. New Glarus-Monticello's first scoring drive was a four-play, 56-yard drive, which was capped by Mason Lockard's 3-yard TD run.
Jeglum intercepted a pass on the Panthers' first drive and returned it 47 yards to set up the Knights' next scoring opportunity. Two plays later, Bright connected with junior Kirbe French on a 37-yard TD pass. French made an amazing juggling catch over the middle and bolted in for the touchdown.
"I think our line came out with a little swagger," Bright said. "The line set the tone."
The Panthers had a 12-play second quarter drive that chewed up most of the quarter before the drive stalled and the Knights forced a turnover on downs.
The Knights had a golden scoring opportunity in the last two minutes of the second quarter after junior Tyler Dorn ripped off a 53-yard run. The drive was thwarted when Bright threw an interception right before halftime.
After giving up 167 rushing yards to Iowa Grant in the first half, the Knights' run defense buckled down and bottled up the Panthers and limited them to just 57 second-half rushing yards.
Bright sealed the win after he scored a 38-yard TD run off the triple option in the fourth quarter. Bright completed 2 of 4 passes for 41 yards.
The Knights had seven penalties, which included several defensive penalties. The Knights rushed for 210 total yards and were led by senior Mike Elzen, who rushed for 70 yards on seven carries. Dorn rushed for 66 yards on four carries.
"Sometimes the offense rolled and sometimes the defense rolled," Eichelkraut said. "Bottom line is we had a team effort and got it done. Any time you win; I don't care what anyone says, it's always good to go 1-0."
Bright said at halftime the Knights talked about coming out with the same offensive swagger they did at the start. However, it was the defense that put the first sting on the Panthers when Jeglum got the pick and the score.
"We came out and put the dagger in them," Bright said. "It was a great win."
"Just call him 'Playmaker,'" New Glarus-Monticello quarterback Ryan Bright said.
Jeglum's two interceptions Friday propelled the Knights to a 26-7 season-opening win over Iowa-Grant.
With the Knights clinging to a 14-7 lead in the third quarter, Jeglum intercepted a pass and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown. Jeglum had 84 return yards on his two interceptions.
"I just saw him (a receiver) going over the middle," Jeglum said. "Our middle linebacker just smoked him. Their quarterback didn't see it and threw it. I just kept running. I didn't think I would make it all the way. It hadn't really hit me yet that I had intercepted a pass and ran for a touchdown. It's so exhilarating."
New Glarus-Monticello coach Jeff Eichelkraut knows Jeglum's interception return for a score turned the tide against the Panthers.
"That really changed the direction of the game," Eichelkraut said. "That put more distance between us."
The Knights' offense started the game on a roll. New Glarus-Monticello's first scoring drive was a four-play, 56-yard drive, which was capped by Mason Lockard's 3-yard TD run.
Jeglum intercepted a pass on the Panthers' first drive and returned it 47 yards to set up the Knights' next scoring opportunity. Two plays later, Bright connected with junior Kirbe French on a 37-yard TD pass. French made an amazing juggling catch over the middle and bolted in for the touchdown.
"I think our line came out with a little swagger," Bright said. "The line set the tone."
The Panthers had a 12-play second quarter drive that chewed up most of the quarter before the drive stalled and the Knights forced a turnover on downs.
The Knights had a golden scoring opportunity in the last two minutes of the second quarter after junior Tyler Dorn ripped off a 53-yard run. The drive was thwarted when Bright threw an interception right before halftime.
After giving up 167 rushing yards to Iowa Grant in the first half, the Knights' run defense buckled down and bottled up the Panthers and limited them to just 57 second-half rushing yards.
Bright sealed the win after he scored a 38-yard TD run off the triple option in the fourth quarter. Bright completed 2 of 4 passes for 41 yards.
The Knights had seven penalties, which included several defensive penalties. The Knights rushed for 210 total yards and were led by senior Mike Elzen, who rushed for 70 yards on seven carries. Dorn rushed for 66 yards on four carries.
"Sometimes the offense rolled and sometimes the defense rolled," Eichelkraut said. "Bottom line is we had a team effort and got it done. Any time you win; I don't care what anyone says, it's always good to go 1-0."
Bright said at halftime the Knights talked about coming out with the same offensive swagger they did at the start. However, it was the defense that put the first sting on the Panthers when Jeglum got the pick and the score.
"We came out and put the dagger in them," Bright said. "It was a great win."
