MONROE - With the kickoff to the high school football season just six days away, fans got an advanced glimpse of what Monroe and a couple of local teams will look like, as Monroe hosted a scrimmage with New Glarus-Monticello and Evansville-Albany on Friday, Aug. 16.
"Number one, we wanted our kids to feel the speed of football," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "We don't simulate it too often in practice because we have to stay healthy. We can't expect these kids to come out and play great right away. That is why we scrimmage."
The Cheesemakers started their offensive scrimmage against the Glarner Knights with a bang. Monroe junior Cody Wolf broke a tackle and ripped off an 18-yard run on the first play. Each team ran 25 plays on offense or defense before rotating in the scrimmage. The Cheesemakers' first drive stalled when the Knights recovered a fumble inside the 10-yard line. The highlights of the scrimmage against the Knights included junior Turner Beernink scoring two touchdown runs. Beernink powered his way in for a 3-yard score and moments later scored on a 12-yard run. The Cheesemakers had two fumbles against the Knights and two against Evansville-Albany.
There are still three candidates battling for the starting quarterback position including junior Jake Flannery, sophomore Garrett Gogin and sophomore Jaron Kuester.
"They all have the ability to be the starter," Miller said. "They are all equal right now. What will separate them is how they manage the team and take care of the ball. We are not going to ask the quarterback to do the same level of playmaking that we asked Alex (Barenklau) to do the last couple of years. I feel good about our backfield, wide receivers and tight ends. They will be able to make plays for us. Seth Calaway had some big runs."
Miller said Kuester and Gogin are also vying for linebacker spots on defense.
The Knights scored one touchdown in 25 offensive plays against the Cheesemakers' defense. New Glarus-Monticello senior Jim Chenoweth was a featured weapon on several plays, running between the tackles and catching the ball out of the backfield. Chenoweth is one of three running backs from Green and Lafayette County selected to the preseason watch list for the Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch award, which is given to the state's top senior running back. The other running backs on the watch list include Pecatonica-Argyle's Alec Treuthardt and Black Hawk's Tanner Sweeney. Chenoweth showed his breakaway ability when he raced for a 30-yard TD run against Evansville-Albany.
The lone touchdown for the Knights against the Cheesemakers came on Patrick Elzen's 4-yard pass to Tanner Holfer. Elzen is making the switch from a wingback to the quarterback position.
"He has picked up the veer (option) quick," New Glarus-Monticello coach Desie Breadon said. "I'm happy with his progression."
The Cheesemakers were able to keep the Blue Devils out of the end zone by forcing a fumble and coming through with a goal line stand.
"We have a lot of kids new to varsity football," Miller said of the Cheesemakers. "As we went on, I think our aggressiveness and athleticism came out."
Breadon said the goal of the scrimmage was to find the best 11 players on offense and defense, as well as to see what weaknesses the team has entering the season.
"It's nice scrimmaging against Monroe and Evansville the last couple of years," Breadon said. "They are both bigger schools. It gives us a good look playing against them. At the end of the day we are happy, but we are not satisfied. We can always improve."
"Number one, we wanted our kids to feel the speed of football," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "We don't simulate it too often in practice because we have to stay healthy. We can't expect these kids to come out and play great right away. That is why we scrimmage."
The Cheesemakers started their offensive scrimmage against the Glarner Knights with a bang. Monroe junior Cody Wolf broke a tackle and ripped off an 18-yard run on the first play. Each team ran 25 plays on offense or defense before rotating in the scrimmage. The Cheesemakers' first drive stalled when the Knights recovered a fumble inside the 10-yard line. The highlights of the scrimmage against the Knights included junior Turner Beernink scoring two touchdown runs. Beernink powered his way in for a 3-yard score and moments later scored on a 12-yard run. The Cheesemakers had two fumbles against the Knights and two against Evansville-Albany.
There are still three candidates battling for the starting quarterback position including junior Jake Flannery, sophomore Garrett Gogin and sophomore Jaron Kuester.
"They all have the ability to be the starter," Miller said. "They are all equal right now. What will separate them is how they manage the team and take care of the ball. We are not going to ask the quarterback to do the same level of playmaking that we asked Alex (Barenklau) to do the last couple of years. I feel good about our backfield, wide receivers and tight ends. They will be able to make plays for us. Seth Calaway had some big runs."
Miller said Kuester and Gogin are also vying for linebacker spots on defense.
The Knights scored one touchdown in 25 offensive plays against the Cheesemakers' defense. New Glarus-Monticello senior Jim Chenoweth was a featured weapon on several plays, running between the tackles and catching the ball out of the backfield. Chenoweth is one of three running backs from Green and Lafayette County selected to the preseason watch list for the Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch award, which is given to the state's top senior running back. The other running backs on the watch list include Pecatonica-Argyle's Alec Treuthardt and Black Hawk's Tanner Sweeney. Chenoweth showed his breakaway ability when he raced for a 30-yard TD run against Evansville-Albany.
The lone touchdown for the Knights against the Cheesemakers came on Patrick Elzen's 4-yard pass to Tanner Holfer. Elzen is making the switch from a wingback to the quarterback position.
"He has picked up the veer (option) quick," New Glarus-Monticello coach Desie Breadon said. "I'm happy with his progression."
The Cheesemakers were able to keep the Blue Devils out of the end zone by forcing a fumble and coming through with a goal line stand.
"We have a lot of kids new to varsity football," Miller said of the Cheesemakers. "As we went on, I think our aggressiveness and athleticism came out."
Breadon said the goal of the scrimmage was to find the best 11 players on offense and defense, as well as to see what weaknesses the team has entering the season.
"It's nice scrimmaging against Monroe and Evansville the last couple of years," Breadon said. "They are both bigger schools. It gives us a good look playing against them. At the end of the day we are happy, but we are not satisfied. We can always improve."
