Monroe at Milton
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
RECORDS: Monroe (4-0, 2-0 Badger South); Milton (1-3, 0-1 Badger South)
LAST MEETING: Milton defeated Monroe 20-6 last year
LAST WEEK: Monroe beat Monona Grove 10-7; Milton defeated Sauk Prairie 28-24.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Monroe - Senior Hayden Arneson had two sacks last week. Senior FB Isaac Allen is third in the conference in rushing yards (450) and has scored nine total touchdowns (seven rushing, two receiving). Junior kicker Dempzy Foley is 17-for-18 on extra points and 2-for-4 on field goals this season. Milton - Senior quarterback Isaac Phillips has thrown three touchdowns this year. Senior RB Billy Pitzner, who was a WIAA state wrestling champion last year, was second-team all-conference at running back last season. Senior Blake Knudsen, a first-team all-conference edge rusher last season, and defensive lineman Tom Rakestraw, who was honorable mention all-conference last year.
MONROE - With each win, Monroe High School football coach Toby Golembiewski and the Cheesemakers take another step toward their goals.
There is a lot at stake for Monroe (4-0, 2-0 Badger South) when they play at Milton Friday - a chance to become playoff eligible for the first time since 2012, a chance to keep an unbeaten season intact and a chance to stay on top in the hunt to win a Badger South Conference championship. With a win, the Cheesemakers, ranked No. 10 along with Sparta in the WisSports.net Division 3 Coaches poll, can become playoff eligible at the earliest point in the season possible, after just three conference games.
"That is definitely a huge motivator," Golembiewski said of making the playoffs. "Whether we win to become playoff eligible or not, how a kid takes a step to make a down block or runs a route will not change. For every goal that is obtained another goal follows it in sequence. Whatever your ladder of success is we just want to be 1-0 after this week. We have to take it one game and play at a time."
Milton has been a co-conference champion with Monona Grove the past two years. However, the Red Hawks (1-3, 0-1 Badger South) have struggled in their first four games but have played perennial Badger North powers Mount Horeb-Barneveld, DeForest and Monona Grove so far this season. Milton picked up its first win last week, knocking off Sauk Prairie 28-24.
"If I was in their situation, they are probably looking at it as a conference game and as a point to get into the playoffs," Golembiewski said. "It's do-or-die. They will not care what we have done. If they beat Monroe it will probably make their season."
The Red Hawks run a spread offense similar to Monona Grove. The calling card for the Red Hawks on offense is a short passing game under first-year coach Matt Lee who took over the reins for longtime coach Bill O'Leary, who retired as the Red Hawks coach after last season.
Golembiewski said the No. 1 play the Cheesemakers have to stop against Milton is the screen pass.
"It's almost the same play cards as last week against Monona Grove," Golembiewski said. "If things stay the same it will give us another week to prep and it will not be a surprise."
Monroe's defense has been lights-out this season, giving up 8.5 points per game with one shutout.
Milton senior quarterback Isaac Phillips passed for 139 yards and two touchdowns last week in the Red Hawks' comeback win over Sauk Prairie.
"He's an athletic kid who can throw the ball," Golembiewski said of Phillips. "They have some athletic kids at receiver, and they will throw the ball and throw a lot of screen passes."
Milton junior running back Kameron Van Natta is also coming off a two-TD effort against Sauk Prairie.
Generating pressure will be key for the Cheesemakers against Phillips. Monroe senior Hayden Arneson had two sacks last week against Monona Grove. Golembiewski wants the Cheesemakers to remain disciplined on defense.
"We need to be in our run fits and everyone has to handle their responsibilities and be disciplined," he said. "We will put pressure on when we need to. If you are concentrating on just putting pressure on then they will hit you with a screen pass."
Golembiewski said Milton runs a similar defense to Madison Edgewood. He said the Cheesemakers have prepared in practice for any defensive front or coverage the Red Hawks may play.
"They will not defend us the same way they did a spread team like Sauk Prairie," he said.
Monroe senior fullback Isaac Allen has rushed for 450 yards and scored seven touchdowns. He has also caught two touchdown passes. Senior running back Jacob Kind (441 rushing yards and five TDs) and senior Cole Murray (317 rushing yards, three TDs) are also proven playmakers. Monroe senior quarterback Tyler Elmer has been efficient, passing for 124 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. He's completing 57.8 percent of his passes.
"One guy will be top dog one week and one other guy will be top dog the next week," Golembiewski said. "We take what the defense gives us."
If it comes down to kicking a field goal or making an extra point, the Cheesemakers are in good hands with junior Dempzy Foley. Foley has made 17 of 18 extra points and is 2-for-4 on field goals.
"In high school that is huge," Golembiewski said. "If you don't have to ever go for a two-point conversion that is an advantage. The depth on kickoffs and the punting we have been getting (from Tyler Elmer) has been an advantage. It's hard to get all 11 guys to do everything right all the time to drive 80 yards."
There is a lot at stake for Monroe (4-0, 2-0 Badger South) when they play at Milton Friday - a chance to become playoff eligible for the first time since 2012, a chance to keep an unbeaten season intact and a chance to stay on top in the hunt to win a Badger South Conference championship. With a win, the Cheesemakers, ranked No. 10 along with Sparta in the WisSports.net Division 3 Coaches poll, can become playoff eligible at the earliest point in the season possible, after just three conference games.
"That is definitely a huge motivator," Golembiewski said of making the playoffs. "Whether we win to become playoff eligible or not, how a kid takes a step to make a down block or runs a route will not change. For every goal that is obtained another goal follows it in sequence. Whatever your ladder of success is we just want to be 1-0 after this week. We have to take it one game and play at a time."
Milton has been a co-conference champion with Monona Grove the past two years. However, the Red Hawks (1-3, 0-1 Badger South) have struggled in their first four games but have played perennial Badger North powers Mount Horeb-Barneveld, DeForest and Monona Grove so far this season. Milton picked up its first win last week, knocking off Sauk Prairie 28-24.
"If I was in their situation, they are probably looking at it as a conference game and as a point to get into the playoffs," Golembiewski said. "It's do-or-die. They will not care what we have done. If they beat Monroe it will probably make their season."
The Red Hawks run a spread offense similar to Monona Grove. The calling card for the Red Hawks on offense is a short passing game under first-year coach Matt Lee who took over the reins for longtime coach Bill O'Leary, who retired as the Red Hawks coach after last season.
Golembiewski said the No. 1 play the Cheesemakers have to stop against Milton is the screen pass.
"It's almost the same play cards as last week against Monona Grove," Golembiewski said. "If things stay the same it will give us another week to prep and it will not be a surprise."
Monroe's defense has been lights-out this season, giving up 8.5 points per game with one shutout.
Milton senior quarterback Isaac Phillips passed for 139 yards and two touchdowns last week in the Red Hawks' comeback win over Sauk Prairie.
"He's an athletic kid who can throw the ball," Golembiewski said of Phillips. "They have some athletic kids at receiver, and they will throw the ball and throw a lot of screen passes."
Milton junior running back Kameron Van Natta is also coming off a two-TD effort against Sauk Prairie.
Generating pressure will be key for the Cheesemakers against Phillips. Monroe senior Hayden Arneson had two sacks last week against Monona Grove. Golembiewski wants the Cheesemakers to remain disciplined on defense.
"We need to be in our run fits and everyone has to handle their responsibilities and be disciplined," he said. "We will put pressure on when we need to. If you are concentrating on just putting pressure on then they will hit you with a screen pass."
Golembiewski said Milton runs a similar defense to Madison Edgewood. He said the Cheesemakers have prepared in practice for any defensive front or coverage the Red Hawks may play.
"They will not defend us the same way they did a spread team like Sauk Prairie," he said.
Monroe senior fullback Isaac Allen has rushed for 450 yards and scored seven touchdowns. He has also caught two touchdown passes. Senior running back Jacob Kind (441 rushing yards and five TDs) and senior Cole Murray (317 rushing yards, three TDs) are also proven playmakers. Monroe senior quarterback Tyler Elmer has been efficient, passing for 124 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. He's completing 57.8 percent of his passes.
"One guy will be top dog one week and one other guy will be top dog the next week," Golembiewski said. "We take what the defense gives us."
If it comes down to kicking a field goal or making an extra point, the Cheesemakers are in good hands with junior Dempzy Foley. Foley has made 17 of 18 extra points and is 2-for-4 on field goals.
"In high school that is huge," Golembiewski said. "If you don't have to ever go for a two-point conversion that is an advantage. The depth on kickoffs and the punting we have been getting (from Tyler Elmer) has been an advantage. It's hard to get all 11 guys to do everything right all the time to drive 80 yards."
