MONROE - The last time Madison Edgewood quarterback Jack Dunn faced the Monroe defense he seemed like a blur.
Dunn shredded the Cheesemakers defense for 329 total yards and six touchdowns in Edgewood's 40-27 win last year. It was Monroe's fifth straight loss during a skid that derailed any playoff hopes.
Dunn rushed for 172 yards and scored two touchdowns and passed for 157 yards and four touchdowns. There is no secret that when Monroe hosts Edgewood tonight, Dunn will be a marked man for the Cheesemakers defense.
"He's got the ability to throw, and he's an even better runner," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "He's physical, hard to tackle and fast. He's probably one of the most versatile players there have been in the conference the last several years. He's a big part of why they have been in a lot of conference games."
Monroe (3-3, 1-3 Badger South) enters the game in must-win mode. Monroe can become playoff eligible by beating Edgewood tonight and Fort Atkinson in the regular-season finale in two weeks. The Cheesemakers face Sauk Prairie on Oct. 9 in a nonconference game.
Even though Edgewood
(0-6) enters the matchup winless, the Crusaders still have something to play for tonight. If they win their final three conference games, they can become playoff eligible.
"We are both fighting to stay alive," Miller said of the playoff picture. "It will only make for a very good football game."
Led by Dunn, the Crusaders run an option offense that is averaging 13.9 points per game this season.
"Edgewood runs about every option play in the book," Miller said. "We have to stay responsibly sound and read our keys. They are a very dangerous team that can make a big play at any time."
Dunn has rushed for 705 yards and scored eight touchdowns this year. He is averaging 6.0 yards per carry and has passed for 481 yards with one touchdown and five interceptions.
Dunn faces a Cheesemakers defense that shut down Monona Grove last week. University of Iowa recruit Toren Young, who averages 207 yards rushing a game, was limited to 107 rushing yards on 27 carries, 3.9 yards per carry.
Miller said the Cheesemakers will not use a defensive player as a spy to keep Dunn contained in the pocket.
"We saw a player with a lot of talent in Toren Young last week, and we will see another one with Dunn," Miller said. "We will do what we have been doing. We will get 11 guys to him."
The Cheesemakers swarming defense is spearheaded by senior middle linebacker Garrett Gogin, who leads the team with 58 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and one interception.
Gogin said the biggest challenge will be stopping Dunn.
"He's a good player," Gogin said. "There's no denying that. We just have to play team defense and do our responsibility. If we play our game, we feel like we can win against anyone. If everyone does what they have been coached to do we will be fine."
Miller said Gogin's work ethic has turned him into a difference-maker on defense.
"He has put in a lot of work in the offseason," Miller said. "He prepared himself to play football. His success is a direct result of his hard work in the offseason."
The Cheesemakers rely on three senior linebackers. In addition to Gogin, Cam Shaw and Josh Richter have given the Cheesemakers a lift on defense. Monroe junior Hayden Arneson has a team-high 3.5 sacks.
"The strength of our defense is that we don't have a weakness," Miller said. "We have 11 quality players at any given time."
Dunn shredded the Cheesemakers defense for 329 total yards and six touchdowns in Edgewood's 40-27 win last year. It was Monroe's fifth straight loss during a skid that derailed any playoff hopes.
Dunn rushed for 172 yards and scored two touchdowns and passed for 157 yards and four touchdowns. There is no secret that when Monroe hosts Edgewood tonight, Dunn will be a marked man for the Cheesemakers defense.
"He's got the ability to throw, and he's an even better runner," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "He's physical, hard to tackle and fast. He's probably one of the most versatile players there have been in the conference the last several years. He's a big part of why they have been in a lot of conference games."
Monroe (3-3, 1-3 Badger South) enters the game in must-win mode. Monroe can become playoff eligible by beating Edgewood tonight and Fort Atkinson in the regular-season finale in two weeks. The Cheesemakers face Sauk Prairie on Oct. 9 in a nonconference game.
Even though Edgewood
(0-6) enters the matchup winless, the Crusaders still have something to play for tonight. If they win their final three conference games, they can become playoff eligible.
"We are both fighting to stay alive," Miller said of the playoff picture. "It will only make for a very good football game."
Led by Dunn, the Crusaders run an option offense that is averaging 13.9 points per game this season.
"Edgewood runs about every option play in the book," Miller said. "We have to stay responsibly sound and read our keys. They are a very dangerous team that can make a big play at any time."
Dunn has rushed for 705 yards and scored eight touchdowns this year. He is averaging 6.0 yards per carry and has passed for 481 yards with one touchdown and five interceptions.
Dunn faces a Cheesemakers defense that shut down Monona Grove last week. University of Iowa recruit Toren Young, who averages 207 yards rushing a game, was limited to 107 rushing yards on 27 carries, 3.9 yards per carry.
Miller said the Cheesemakers will not use a defensive player as a spy to keep Dunn contained in the pocket.
"We saw a player with a lot of talent in Toren Young last week, and we will see another one with Dunn," Miller said. "We will do what we have been doing. We will get 11 guys to him."
The Cheesemakers swarming defense is spearheaded by senior middle linebacker Garrett Gogin, who leads the team with 58 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and one interception.
Gogin said the biggest challenge will be stopping Dunn.
"He's a good player," Gogin said. "There's no denying that. We just have to play team defense and do our responsibility. If we play our game, we feel like we can win against anyone. If everyone does what they have been coached to do we will be fine."
Miller said Gogin's work ethic has turned him into a difference-maker on defense.
"He has put in a lot of work in the offseason," Miller said. "He prepared himself to play football. His success is a direct result of his hard work in the offseason."
The Cheesemakers rely on three senior linebackers. In addition to Gogin, Cam Shaw and Josh Richter have given the Cheesemakers a lift on defense. Monroe junior Hayden Arneson has a team-high 3.5 sacks.
"The strength of our defense is that we don't have a weakness," Miller said. "We have 11 quality players at any given time."
