BRODHEAD - The Brodhead-Juda football team is right where they wanted to be when they kicked off the season.
Brodhead-Juda's run to the WIAA Division 4 state semifinals is almost a mirror image of its opponent, Walworth Big Foot. Both Brodhead-Juda (10-2) and Big Foot (10-2), the defending Division 4 state champions, overcame 2-2 starts and have rolled through the playoffs. Big Foot has won 10 straight games and Brodhead-Juda has won nine consecutive games. This Rock Valley showdown has a lot on the line with the winner advancing to the state championship game Nov. 18 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.
"One of our goals at the beginning of the season was to be in this position," Brodhead-Juda coach Jim Matthys said. "It feels great to be in the Level 4 playoffs and have one more to go to get to Camp Randall."
There is a challenge in playing a familiar conference opponent again in the playoffs. The Cardinals are 0-5 against the Chiefs the last several years. The last time Brodhead-Juda beat Big Foot was during the 2005-06 season. The Cardinals are looking to qualify for state for the first time since 2003.
"They know a lot about us and we know a lot about them," Matthys said. "Sometimes watching film is a little stressful. You are looking for the one little thing that can make the difference."
The Cardinals last loss was a 21-20 overtime heartbreaker to Big Foot in September. With Brodhead-Juda breaking in several new starts and playing a strong schedule out of the gate was a big test early on.
"To say that either one of us is the same team, I think you would be mistaken," Matthys said. "You can learn a lot when you play great competition. We gained a lot of confidence. We got better. We evolved."
The Chiefs are led by the dynamic running back duo of Mason Dixon and Kenneth Walker. Dixon has rushed for 1,184 yards and 11 touchdowns this year. Walker (812 rushing yards, 13 TDs) is a breakaway running back who can score any time he touches the ball. The biggest difference in the rematch may be Big Foot starting quarterback Jake Wedig. Wedig missed the game against Brodhead-Juda earlier this year when he was battling an ACL injury.
"Wedig can throw it a little better," Matthys said. "They have been on a nice run since they got Jake back."
Brodhead-Juda junior quarterback David Earleywine has continued his stellar season with 1,283 passing yards, 19 TDs and four interceptions. Fellow junior Jesse DeLorme is a bruising running back who has racked up 988 yards and 18 TDs this year. Senior Alex Wallace has rushed for 962 yards and 12 TDs. The top two leading receivers are senior Mike Peterson (30 catches for 556 yards and 10 TDs) and Wallace. Matthys said the keys will be not turning the ball over and limiting penalties.
"You can't turn the ball over," Matthys said. "One turnover can cost you the game."
Brodhead-Juda's run to the WIAA Division 4 state semifinals is almost a mirror image of its opponent, Walworth Big Foot. Both Brodhead-Juda (10-2) and Big Foot (10-2), the defending Division 4 state champions, overcame 2-2 starts and have rolled through the playoffs. Big Foot has won 10 straight games and Brodhead-Juda has won nine consecutive games. This Rock Valley showdown has a lot on the line with the winner advancing to the state championship game Nov. 18 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.
"One of our goals at the beginning of the season was to be in this position," Brodhead-Juda coach Jim Matthys said. "It feels great to be in the Level 4 playoffs and have one more to go to get to Camp Randall."
There is a challenge in playing a familiar conference opponent again in the playoffs. The Cardinals are 0-5 against the Chiefs the last several years. The last time Brodhead-Juda beat Big Foot was during the 2005-06 season. The Cardinals are looking to qualify for state for the first time since 2003.
"They know a lot about us and we know a lot about them," Matthys said. "Sometimes watching film is a little stressful. You are looking for the one little thing that can make the difference."
The Cardinals last loss was a 21-20 overtime heartbreaker to Big Foot in September. With Brodhead-Juda breaking in several new starts and playing a strong schedule out of the gate was a big test early on.
"To say that either one of us is the same team, I think you would be mistaken," Matthys said. "You can learn a lot when you play great competition. We gained a lot of confidence. We got better. We evolved."
The Chiefs are led by the dynamic running back duo of Mason Dixon and Kenneth Walker. Dixon has rushed for 1,184 yards and 11 touchdowns this year. Walker (812 rushing yards, 13 TDs) is a breakaway running back who can score any time he touches the ball. The biggest difference in the rematch may be Big Foot starting quarterback Jake Wedig. Wedig missed the game against Brodhead-Juda earlier this year when he was battling an ACL injury.
"Wedig can throw it a little better," Matthys said. "They have been on a nice run since they got Jake back."
Brodhead-Juda junior quarterback David Earleywine has continued his stellar season with 1,283 passing yards, 19 TDs and four interceptions. Fellow junior Jesse DeLorme is a bruising running back who has racked up 988 yards and 18 TDs this year. Senior Alex Wallace has rushed for 962 yards and 12 TDs. The top two leading receivers are senior Mike Peterson (30 catches for 556 yards and 10 TDs) and Wallace. Matthys said the keys will be not turning the ball over and limiting penalties.
"You can't turn the ball over," Matthys said. "One turnover can cost you the game."
