NEW GLARUS - New Glarus-Monticello football coach Jeff Eichelkraut might not need to come up with a fiery pregame speech like Vince Lombardi or Mike Ditka before the Knights play Marshall in the regular season finale tonight.
That's because New Glarus-Monticello (6-2, 3-1 Capitol South) still has a lot to play for.
If the Knights beat Marshall (6-2, 4-0) they can assure themselves at least a share of the conference title. Waterloo (6-2, 3-1), who beat the Knights, 21-12, last week, is also in contention to share the championship.
"Everyone wants to be playing for something at the end of the year," Eichelkraut said. "Last week we had a little bit of a setback. We still control our own destiny."
The Knights are vying to host a home playoff game and a win in the finale would get them one step closer.
Eichelkraut said points allowed is one of the tiebreakers in determining seeding for the playoffs. The Knights have given up 114 points (14.2 per game).
"We feel pretty good about where we sit in the tiebreaker," Eichelkraut said. "None of that means anything, if you don't win the game. If three teams are tied for the conference in a six-team league, that probably doesn't look good to the WIAA. They probably would give (a top seed) to a sole conference champion. My assumption is one of us will have a home game and hopefully it is us."
Marshall averages (27.2 ppg) and runs an offense that features the option based attack out of the I-formation. Marshall running back Luis Acosta has rushed for 393 yards and 10 touchdowns this year to lead the Cardinals. David Jones, who has played quarterback some this year has rushed for 362 yards. Marshall senior quarterback Skyler Meyers has passed for 352 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions.
"You have to account for everybody and stay disciplined," Eichelkraut said of defending the option. "The first thing is that we have to take the ball out of the fullback's hands. You can't take a play off because if you do, that's when the fullback will waltz in there."
New Glarus-Monticello senior quarterback Ryan Bright is approaching 1,000 total yards. Bright has 888 total yards (593 passing yards, 295 rushing and nine touchdowns).
The Knights' offense averaged 28.4 ppg through the first five games, but has sputtered in the red zone in the last three games. The Knights are averaging 11.3 ppg in their last three games.
"We have bogged down on a few drives," Eichelkraut said. "We want to run plays where we can get Bright out on the edge and he can make plays."
New Glarus-Monticello junior running back Tyler Dorn leads the Knights in rushing (415 yards and five touchdowns). The Knights also have a weapon in senior wide receiver Cameron Jeglum, who has caught 21 passes for 394 yards and five touchdowns.
"He has a great knack for getting position on the defense," Eichelkraut said. "He has great hands. He has a really good rapport with Bright. He has been playing football with him since sixth grade."
That's because New Glarus-Monticello (6-2, 3-1 Capitol South) still has a lot to play for.
If the Knights beat Marshall (6-2, 4-0) they can assure themselves at least a share of the conference title. Waterloo (6-2, 3-1), who beat the Knights, 21-12, last week, is also in contention to share the championship.
"Everyone wants to be playing for something at the end of the year," Eichelkraut said. "Last week we had a little bit of a setback. We still control our own destiny."
The Knights are vying to host a home playoff game and a win in the finale would get them one step closer.
Eichelkraut said points allowed is one of the tiebreakers in determining seeding for the playoffs. The Knights have given up 114 points (14.2 per game).
"We feel pretty good about where we sit in the tiebreaker," Eichelkraut said. "None of that means anything, if you don't win the game. If three teams are tied for the conference in a six-team league, that probably doesn't look good to the WIAA. They probably would give (a top seed) to a sole conference champion. My assumption is one of us will have a home game and hopefully it is us."
Marshall averages (27.2 ppg) and runs an offense that features the option based attack out of the I-formation. Marshall running back Luis Acosta has rushed for 393 yards and 10 touchdowns this year to lead the Cardinals. David Jones, who has played quarterback some this year has rushed for 362 yards. Marshall senior quarterback Skyler Meyers has passed for 352 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions.
"You have to account for everybody and stay disciplined," Eichelkraut said of defending the option. "The first thing is that we have to take the ball out of the fullback's hands. You can't take a play off because if you do, that's when the fullback will waltz in there."
New Glarus-Monticello senior quarterback Ryan Bright is approaching 1,000 total yards. Bright has 888 total yards (593 passing yards, 295 rushing and nine touchdowns).
The Knights' offense averaged 28.4 ppg through the first five games, but has sputtered in the red zone in the last three games. The Knights are averaging 11.3 ppg in their last three games.
"We have bogged down on a few drives," Eichelkraut said. "We want to run plays where we can get Bright out on the edge and he can make plays."
New Glarus-Monticello junior running back Tyler Dorn leads the Knights in rushing (415 yards and five touchdowns). The Knights also have a weapon in senior wide receiver Cameron Jeglum, who has caught 21 passes for 394 yards and five touchdowns.
"He has a great knack for getting position on the defense," Eichelkraut said. "He has great hands. He has a really good rapport with Bright. He has been playing football with him since sixth grade."
