MONROE - The game plan according to Monroe senior Jacob Flannery against No. 7 ranked Monona Grove was to swarm to the ball to bottle up running back Toren Young.
The Cheesemakers eliminated Young from breaking off a big run in the first half, but Young bolted for a 47-yard TD run in the second half, rushed for 189 yards and scored two touchdowns to propel Monona Grove to a 35-3 win over Monroe on homecoming Friday.
"We played with 100 percent effort," Flannery said. "We played fast and hard. We knew Toren was really good. They beat us on a couple of long passes where we messed up our coverages."
Monroe (2-4, 0-4 Badger South) could still finish with a winning record if they can win three straight games to finish the season. The Cheesemakers still play Madison Edgewood (1-5), Sauk Prairie (2-4) and Fort Atkinson (0-6).
"It's all we want to go 3-0 baby," Flannery said. "We compete to win. We don't compete to lose. All of these teams are beatable. None of them are out of our league."
The Cheesemakers started nine sophomores with five on defense, including defensive tackle Kyle Walter, linebacker Hayden Arneson, linebacker Isaac Allen, cornerback Cole Murray and safety Carter Sawdey. The Silver Eagles (5-1, 3-0), ranked No. 7 in the WisSports.net Division 2 Coaches' poll, racked up 405 total yards. The Cheesemakers played without several starters, including Sean Saxby (offensive line, defensive line), senior linebacker Alex Borowitz and junior Jaron Kuester (wide receiver, defensive back).
"Defensively, we had a great effort," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "There are a couple of plays we would like to have back. What was most impressive to me is we didn't back down from them. That is not easy to do against a team like MG. Play for play we went toe-to-toe with one of the better teams in the state."
One of those plays the Cheesemakers would like to have back was Monona Grove senior Steve Martine's 57-yard TD pass to Trey Powers with about 4 minutes to go in the first quarter that gave the Silver Eagles a 14-0 lead. Another was Martine's 63-yard TD pass to Powers in the second quarter that gave the Silver Eagles a 21-0 lead at the half. Powers finished with three receptions for 127 yards and two touchdowns.
"We knew Powers is one of the best wide receivers in the conference," Miller said. "It was a tough matchup for any of our defensive backs. He stepped up and made some nice plays."
Monroe sophomore quarterback Tyler Elmer was 7 of 11 passing for 104 yards. He hooked up with sophomore Jacob Kind on several passes, including a 47-yard pass that Kind juggled before making an acrobatic catch while on his back in the second half. Kind had five receptions for 74 yards.
"Jacob and I have had a connection since Blaze football," Elmer said. "I just did what the coaches wanted me to do. I really have confidence in my wide receivers. They are some of the best in the state. I have a lot of confidence in the offensive line. They do all the dirty work and get us the yards."
The Silver Eagles limited Wolf to 15 rushing yards on 20 carries. Flannery and Alex Tordoff each had one catch for 15 yards. The Cheesemakers had some success with the short passing game when they switched to the spread offense in the third quarter. The Silver Eagles were plagued by 10 penalties for 90 yards.
"We didn't want to get into a shootout," Miller said. "There were opportunities for Tyler to make plays and he did a good job of that tonight. He did a good job of managing the game."
Murray had a sack in the second half and Sawdey had an interception to thwart a Silver Eagles' drive.
"We got some big plays from our sophomores," Miller said.
The only score for the Cheesemakers came on freshman Dempzy Foley's 32-yard field goal.
Elmer is looking forward to trying to finish the season 3-0. If the Cheesemakers can win three straight games they would finish 5-4 and could be on the playoff bubble even though they would be less than .500 in conference.
"It would really mean a lot to finish 3-0 and maybe make the playoffs," Elmer said. "You usually have to be 3-3 in conference, but you have to finish the season strong no matter what."
The Cheesemakers eliminated Young from breaking off a big run in the first half, but Young bolted for a 47-yard TD run in the second half, rushed for 189 yards and scored two touchdowns to propel Monona Grove to a 35-3 win over Monroe on homecoming Friday.
"We played with 100 percent effort," Flannery said. "We played fast and hard. We knew Toren was really good. They beat us on a couple of long passes where we messed up our coverages."
Monroe (2-4, 0-4 Badger South) could still finish with a winning record if they can win three straight games to finish the season. The Cheesemakers still play Madison Edgewood (1-5), Sauk Prairie (2-4) and Fort Atkinson (0-6).
"It's all we want to go 3-0 baby," Flannery said. "We compete to win. We don't compete to lose. All of these teams are beatable. None of them are out of our league."
The Cheesemakers started nine sophomores with five on defense, including defensive tackle Kyle Walter, linebacker Hayden Arneson, linebacker Isaac Allen, cornerback Cole Murray and safety Carter Sawdey. The Silver Eagles (5-1, 3-0), ranked No. 7 in the WisSports.net Division 2 Coaches' poll, racked up 405 total yards. The Cheesemakers played without several starters, including Sean Saxby (offensive line, defensive line), senior linebacker Alex Borowitz and junior Jaron Kuester (wide receiver, defensive back).
"Defensively, we had a great effort," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "There are a couple of plays we would like to have back. What was most impressive to me is we didn't back down from them. That is not easy to do against a team like MG. Play for play we went toe-to-toe with one of the better teams in the state."
One of those plays the Cheesemakers would like to have back was Monona Grove senior Steve Martine's 57-yard TD pass to Trey Powers with about 4 minutes to go in the first quarter that gave the Silver Eagles a 14-0 lead. Another was Martine's 63-yard TD pass to Powers in the second quarter that gave the Silver Eagles a 21-0 lead at the half. Powers finished with three receptions for 127 yards and two touchdowns.
"We knew Powers is one of the best wide receivers in the conference," Miller said. "It was a tough matchup for any of our defensive backs. He stepped up and made some nice plays."
Monroe sophomore quarterback Tyler Elmer was 7 of 11 passing for 104 yards. He hooked up with sophomore Jacob Kind on several passes, including a 47-yard pass that Kind juggled before making an acrobatic catch while on his back in the second half. Kind had five receptions for 74 yards.
"Jacob and I have had a connection since Blaze football," Elmer said. "I just did what the coaches wanted me to do. I really have confidence in my wide receivers. They are some of the best in the state. I have a lot of confidence in the offensive line. They do all the dirty work and get us the yards."
The Silver Eagles limited Wolf to 15 rushing yards on 20 carries. Flannery and Alex Tordoff each had one catch for 15 yards. The Cheesemakers had some success with the short passing game when they switched to the spread offense in the third quarter. The Silver Eagles were plagued by 10 penalties for 90 yards.
"We didn't want to get into a shootout," Miller said. "There were opportunities for Tyler to make plays and he did a good job of that tonight. He did a good job of managing the game."
Murray had a sack in the second half and Sawdey had an interception to thwart a Silver Eagles' drive.
"We got some big plays from our sophomores," Miller said.
The only score for the Cheesemakers came on freshman Dempzy Foley's 32-yard field goal.
Elmer is looking forward to trying to finish the season 3-0. If the Cheesemakers can win three straight games they would finish 5-4 and could be on the playoff bubble even though they would be less than .500 in conference.
"It would really mean a lot to finish 3-0 and maybe make the playoffs," Elmer said. "You usually have to be 3-3 in conference, but you have to finish the season strong no matter what."
