For sports fans and reporters, there's no better time than the kick off to a new high school football season.
The staff at the Monroe Times are looking forward to telling all of the stories that emerge from the prep football season. Readers can follow our coverage by subscribing to the paper. We'll also be updating our Facebook page as the season progresses at facebook.com/monroetimes.
There are some interesting week 1 matchups, and these are sports editor Adam Krebs and Mark Nesbitt's picks:
Monroe at Mount Horeb-Barneveld
Mark: The Cheesemakers have one of the toughest first four game stretches in the state that includes No. 1 Waunakee and No. 2 ranked Monona Grove. Mount Horeb-Barneveld is 19-14 the last three years and has a first team all-conference running back Matt Fargo. Fargo proved to be a versatile weapon last year catching six passes for 200 yards in a 39-36 loss to Milton and rushing for 215 yards and three touchdowns against Jefferson in the first round of the playoffs. It will be interesting to see how Monroe's power I and single wing offense fair in their first test.
Pick: Mount Horeb-Barneveld
Adam: The Cheesemakers have a lot of enthusiasm for this year, and return a few key parts. A return to the power running game will help them stay in many more games than in recent years. However, MH was a playoff team a year ago.
Pick: Mount Horrible
New Glarus-Monticello at Pecatonica-Argyle
Mark: The Vikings and Glarner Knights are renewing an old Stateline League rivalry. The Vikings will have one of the most balanced offenses in the Six Rivers this year and will contend for a conference title. I expect several big runs from Monticello quarterback Lukas Kolasch. Even with a young and new cast, I like the Knights' chances of putting on some pressure and forcing turnovers to edge their former rivals.
Pick: New Glarus-Monticello
Adam: This is a game that can go either way. I've learned to never doubt the heart and grit of NGM. But this Pec-Argyle team is looking to build off of last year in hopes of returning to the football power it was several years ago.
Pick: Pec-Argyle
Brodhead-Juda at River Valley
Mark: Brodhead-Juda quarterback David Earleywine had an efficient year last season leading the Cardinals to the state championship game. Earleywine is on the Dave Kraig Preseason watch list. The Dave Kraig Award is presented to the top senior quarterback every year. The award is named after the former D.C. Everest and Milton College athlete Dave Kraig, who played 12 years in the NFL and still ranks in the top 15 in most passing categories. The Cardinals lost to River Valley 28-14 last year and started 1-3 before making a run to state. I see the Cardinals getting off to a faster start this season.
Pick: Brodhead-Juda
Adam: River Valley opened last season by punching the Cardinals in the face in Brodhead. The Cards got the last laugh, ending their season at Camp Randall. River Valley is always a good team, but I think Jesse DeLorme has a dominating game on both sides of the ball and Brodhead-Juda wins by 3 (scores).
Pick: Brodhead-Juda
Darlington at Platteville
Mark: The Redbirds will begin a new journey with Zach McArthur at quarterback. The Redbirds will still have a physical running game and a stingy defense. Expect the Redbirds to roll in the season opener.
Pick: Darlington
Adam: The Redbirds graduated so many great athletes, starters and all-conference players from a year ago. Though RB Seth Rowe has all the makings of a guy any team would want to give the ball to, Platteville is ready to have it's senior-dominated team make some music.
Pick: Platteville
Belleville-Albany at Edgerton
Mark: Barry Lengfeld is excited about not having to teach his offense again this year. Edgerton returns playmakers in quarterback Collin Gregory and Tyler Oren. Belleville-Albany quarterback Collin Adams is on the Dave Kraig Preseason watch list.
Pick: Edgerton
Adam: Edgerton is a passing team that returns its QB and top WR. Will the Wildcats be able to disrupt the passing game? Can B-A run the ball well enough to milk the clock and get some scores? Edgerton is always on the cusp of the playoffs, and this may be their year.
Pick: Crimson Tide
Black Hawk vs. Shullsburg at UW-Platteville
Mark: Warrior Nation faces a tough test in trying to slow down Shullsburg running back Nate Carrier, who was first team all-conference last year. Stopping the run will be key for Black Hawk. Carrier, living up to his name, rushed for 127 yards and two touchdowns in the Miners' 34-18 win last year. The Miners had more than 281 total rushing yards last year. Black Hawk is also breaking in new starting quarterback Merik Meythaler.
Pick: Shullsburg
Adam: The Warriors have to contain Nate Carrier, who dominated nearly every game he played in last year. The Miners went 7-3 last season while Black Hawk was 6-4. Playing on a neutral field, this game could go either way. I like the Warriors to win some big games this year, but the QB questions may be the difference against Carrier.
Pick: Miners
The staff at the Monroe Times are looking forward to telling all of the stories that emerge from the prep football season. Readers can follow our coverage by subscribing to the paper. We'll also be updating our Facebook page as the season progresses at facebook.com/monroetimes.
There are some interesting week 1 matchups, and these are sports editor Adam Krebs and Mark Nesbitt's picks:
Monroe at Mount Horeb-Barneveld
Mark: The Cheesemakers have one of the toughest first four game stretches in the state that includes No. 1 Waunakee and No. 2 ranked Monona Grove. Mount Horeb-Barneveld is 19-14 the last three years and has a first team all-conference running back Matt Fargo. Fargo proved to be a versatile weapon last year catching six passes for 200 yards in a 39-36 loss to Milton and rushing for 215 yards and three touchdowns against Jefferson in the first round of the playoffs. It will be interesting to see how Monroe's power I and single wing offense fair in their first test.
Pick: Mount Horeb-Barneveld
Adam: The Cheesemakers have a lot of enthusiasm for this year, and return a few key parts. A return to the power running game will help them stay in many more games than in recent years. However, MH was a playoff team a year ago.
Pick: Mount Horrible
New Glarus-Monticello at Pecatonica-Argyle
Mark: The Vikings and Glarner Knights are renewing an old Stateline League rivalry. The Vikings will have one of the most balanced offenses in the Six Rivers this year and will contend for a conference title. I expect several big runs from Monticello quarterback Lukas Kolasch. Even with a young and new cast, I like the Knights' chances of putting on some pressure and forcing turnovers to edge their former rivals.
Pick: New Glarus-Monticello
Adam: This is a game that can go either way. I've learned to never doubt the heart and grit of NGM. But this Pec-Argyle team is looking to build off of last year in hopes of returning to the football power it was several years ago.
Pick: Pec-Argyle
Brodhead-Juda at River Valley
Mark: Brodhead-Juda quarterback David Earleywine had an efficient year last season leading the Cardinals to the state championship game. Earleywine is on the Dave Kraig Preseason watch list. The Dave Kraig Award is presented to the top senior quarterback every year. The award is named after the former D.C. Everest and Milton College athlete Dave Kraig, who played 12 years in the NFL and still ranks in the top 15 in most passing categories. The Cardinals lost to River Valley 28-14 last year and started 1-3 before making a run to state. I see the Cardinals getting off to a faster start this season.
Pick: Brodhead-Juda
Adam: River Valley opened last season by punching the Cardinals in the face in Brodhead. The Cards got the last laugh, ending their season at Camp Randall. River Valley is always a good team, but I think Jesse DeLorme has a dominating game on both sides of the ball and Brodhead-Juda wins by 3 (scores).
Pick: Brodhead-Juda
Darlington at Platteville
Mark: The Redbirds will begin a new journey with Zach McArthur at quarterback. The Redbirds will still have a physical running game and a stingy defense. Expect the Redbirds to roll in the season opener.
Pick: Darlington
Adam: The Redbirds graduated so many great athletes, starters and all-conference players from a year ago. Though RB Seth Rowe has all the makings of a guy any team would want to give the ball to, Platteville is ready to have it's senior-dominated team make some music.
Pick: Platteville
Belleville-Albany at Edgerton
Mark: Barry Lengfeld is excited about not having to teach his offense again this year. Edgerton returns playmakers in quarterback Collin Gregory and Tyler Oren. Belleville-Albany quarterback Collin Adams is on the Dave Kraig Preseason watch list.
Pick: Edgerton
Adam: Edgerton is a passing team that returns its QB and top WR. Will the Wildcats be able to disrupt the passing game? Can B-A run the ball well enough to milk the clock and get some scores? Edgerton is always on the cusp of the playoffs, and this may be their year.
Pick: Crimson Tide
Black Hawk vs. Shullsburg at UW-Platteville
Mark: Warrior Nation faces a tough test in trying to slow down Shullsburg running back Nate Carrier, who was first team all-conference last year. Stopping the run will be key for Black Hawk. Carrier, living up to his name, rushed for 127 yards and two touchdowns in the Miners' 34-18 win last year. The Miners had more than 281 total rushing yards last year. Black Hawk is also breaking in new starting quarterback Merik Meythaler.
Pick: Shullsburg
Adam: The Warriors have to contain Nate Carrier, who dominated nearly every game he played in last year. The Miners went 7-3 last season while Black Hawk was 6-4. Playing on a neutral field, this game could go either way. I like the Warriors to win some big games this year, but the QB questions may be the difference against Carrier.
Pick: Miners
