MONROE - Making solid tackles and filling the gaps on defense will be key for Monroe after the Cheesemakers lost their Badger South Conference opener to Stoughton 33-9 on a sticky Friday night.
With the loss, Monroe drops to 2-1, 0-1 Badger South.
"I feel like when we called some blitzes we just got out of position and made some bad reads," Monroe junior cornerback Cole Murray said. "I guess it happens. At halftime, we felt like we could come out and score some touchdowns. We came out on a high, and it just went downhill from there."
Stoughton senior quarterback Jake Kissling tossed two touchdowns in the second half as the Vikings scored 20 unanswered points. Schipper had four runs of 29 yards or more. There were three in the second half, including a 37-yard TD run and a 50-yard run that set up Kissling's 2-yard TD pass.
The temperature at kickoff was 85 degrees, and the muggy night took a toll on several Monroe players playing both offense and defense.
"They were able to rotate some players more than we have," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "As the game went on it wore on us."
Stoughton sophomore running back Brady Schipper rushed for 178 yards on 19 carries and scored two touchdowns.
"He's a nice back. We definitely didn't tackle well tonight. A lot of his big runs came when we missed tackles. We have to realize this is one game and it's a long season. There will be a lot more opportunities for us."
Murray said players hydrated all week.
"I think it (humidity) took a bit of a toll on our bodies," he said.
Monroe junior Jacob Kind, who entered the game with three touchdowns, suffered an arm injury on a 7-yard run at the end of the first quarter.
"It's an arm injury," Miller said. "I don't know how severe it is."
The Cheesemakers got off to an inauspicious start. Monroe senior running back Cam Shaw fumbled, and the Vikings recovered at the Cheesemakers' 41-yard line. The Vikings raced in on the short field with a five-play drive culminating in Schipper's 29-yard TD run.
The Cheesemakers fumbled on their first two possessions. With Stoughton leading 7-0 midway through the second quarter, Monroe senior Garrett Gogin recovered a Vikings' fumble at the Cheesemakers' 23-yard line.
Monroe junior Tyler Elmer and the Cheesemakers rolled the dice on their ensuing drive. With the Cheesemakers facing a fourth-and-2 from their own 23-yard line, Elmer who served as the Cheesemakers' punter and quarterback, darted up the sideline on a fake punt and picked up a first down on a 5-yard run. The Cheesemakers' 16-play, 79-yard drive was capped off by junior Carter Sawdey's 30-yard field goal.
Elmer was 6 of 13 passing for 53 yards. Murray rushed for a team-high 51 yards on 14 carries. Shaw added 47 rushing yards on 14 carries. Monroe senior Jaron Kuester had three receptions for 15 yards and Gogin had one catch for 27 yards.
Despite two turnovers and being 1-for-5 on third-down conversions in the first half, the Cheesemakers trailed the Vikings 7-3 at the half.
"We made some big mistakes in the first half," Miller said. "We felt lucky to only be down by four points at halftime."
Schipper had a 37-yard TD run on the Vikings' first drive of the third quarter.
Kissling then hooked up with Jacob Benson for a 21-yard TD pass to give the Vikings a 21-3 lead with 1:12 left in the third quarter. Kissling completed 10 of 14 passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns.
The Cheesemakers finished 2 of 11 on third-down conversions compared to 6 of 11 for the Vikings.
The lone touchdown for the Cheesemakers came on Shaw's 8-yard run and fumble into the end zone that was recovered by junior wide receiver Alex Tordoff.
Monroe will gear up for a conference game at Milton next Friday.
"We have to keep fighting and playing hard the whole game," Murray said. "Anything can happen. One play can change the whole game."
With the loss, Monroe drops to 2-1, 0-1 Badger South.
"I feel like when we called some blitzes we just got out of position and made some bad reads," Monroe junior cornerback Cole Murray said. "I guess it happens. At halftime, we felt like we could come out and score some touchdowns. We came out on a high, and it just went downhill from there."
Stoughton senior quarterback Jake Kissling tossed two touchdowns in the second half as the Vikings scored 20 unanswered points. Schipper had four runs of 29 yards or more. There were three in the second half, including a 37-yard TD run and a 50-yard run that set up Kissling's 2-yard TD pass.
The temperature at kickoff was 85 degrees, and the muggy night took a toll on several Monroe players playing both offense and defense.
"They were able to rotate some players more than we have," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "As the game went on it wore on us."
Stoughton sophomore running back Brady Schipper rushed for 178 yards on 19 carries and scored two touchdowns.
"He's a nice back. We definitely didn't tackle well tonight. A lot of his big runs came when we missed tackles. We have to realize this is one game and it's a long season. There will be a lot more opportunities for us."
Murray said players hydrated all week.
"I think it (humidity) took a bit of a toll on our bodies," he said.
Monroe junior Jacob Kind, who entered the game with three touchdowns, suffered an arm injury on a 7-yard run at the end of the first quarter.
"It's an arm injury," Miller said. "I don't know how severe it is."
The Cheesemakers got off to an inauspicious start. Monroe senior running back Cam Shaw fumbled, and the Vikings recovered at the Cheesemakers' 41-yard line. The Vikings raced in on the short field with a five-play drive culminating in Schipper's 29-yard TD run.
The Cheesemakers fumbled on their first two possessions. With Stoughton leading 7-0 midway through the second quarter, Monroe senior Garrett Gogin recovered a Vikings' fumble at the Cheesemakers' 23-yard line.
Monroe junior Tyler Elmer and the Cheesemakers rolled the dice on their ensuing drive. With the Cheesemakers facing a fourth-and-2 from their own 23-yard line, Elmer who served as the Cheesemakers' punter and quarterback, darted up the sideline on a fake punt and picked up a first down on a 5-yard run. The Cheesemakers' 16-play, 79-yard drive was capped off by junior Carter Sawdey's 30-yard field goal.
Elmer was 6 of 13 passing for 53 yards. Murray rushed for a team-high 51 yards on 14 carries. Shaw added 47 rushing yards on 14 carries. Monroe senior Jaron Kuester had three receptions for 15 yards and Gogin had one catch for 27 yards.
Despite two turnovers and being 1-for-5 on third-down conversions in the first half, the Cheesemakers trailed the Vikings 7-3 at the half.
"We made some big mistakes in the first half," Miller said. "We felt lucky to only be down by four points at halftime."
Schipper had a 37-yard TD run on the Vikings' first drive of the third quarter.
Kissling then hooked up with Jacob Benson for a 21-yard TD pass to give the Vikings a 21-3 lead with 1:12 left in the third quarter. Kissling completed 10 of 14 passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns.
The Cheesemakers finished 2 of 11 on third-down conversions compared to 6 of 11 for the Vikings.
The lone touchdown for the Cheesemakers came on Shaw's 8-yard run and fumble into the end zone that was recovered by junior wide receiver Alex Tordoff.
Monroe will gear up for a conference game at Milton next Friday.
"We have to keep fighting and playing hard the whole game," Murray said. "Anything can happen. One play can change the whole game."
