MONROE - With big expectations of making a second half push for a playoff spot, the Monroe football team is left searching for a way to cut down on penalties and turnovers after a 28-3 loss to Stoughton.
Monroe (0-5, 0-2 Badger South) was plagued by five turnovers (four interceptions and one fumble) Friday, Sept. 20. The Cheesemakers were called for seven penalties for 88 yards including four personal foul calls, as a game they expected to compete in slipped away.
"They will realize on Monday that personal fouls are not acceptable," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "If they are hitting hard through the whistle that is one thing. There were some unnecessary personal fouls. We have to clean that up if we are going to win a game."
The Cheesemakers' defense struggled to get off the field. Stoughton (2-3, 1-2) was 58.8 percent converting on third and fourth down (10-for-17). The Vikings went eight for 14 on third down and two for three on fourth down. Stoughton junior Brady Brusegar put the Vikings on the board, racing in for a 12-yard TD run with 2 minutes, 46 seconds to go in the first quarter. Monroe senior Brett Zimmerman blocked the extra point and the Vikings led 6-0. The Vikings' scoring opportunity was set up by Buck Krueger's 42-yard run.
The Vikings' 12-play, 71-yard drive in the second quarter, culminated in senior Brian Wagner's 3-yard TD run. Monroe senior Ryan Hughes blocked the extra point and the Vikings took a 12-0 lead. The Vikings converted two fourth down plays to keep the drive alive.
"They had a lot of situations where it was third and short yardage to go," Miller said. "I thought our defense at times played as hard as they could play. They played their tails off. With the type of offense Stoughton runs, they keep coming at you. Their backs made plays and picked up the extra yards they needed."
Monroe sophomore Jaron Kuester received his first start at quarterback and he was 3 of 16 passing for 22 yards with three interceptions. Monroe junior Jake Flannery, who started the first four games at quarterback, started at wide receiver.
"It was just a decision by the coaching staff to go with Jaron," Miller said. "He's a starter for a varsity football team. It's tough to do. Jaron had a very good week of practice. I think he was just nervous. He will get better."
The only score for the Cheesemakers came on senior Blake Duffy's 28-yard field goal in the second quarter that cut the Vikings' halftime lead to 12-3. Monroe junior Cody Wolf rushed for 55 yards on 10 carries.
The Vikings rolled in the second half. Krueger rammed his way in for a 4-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter and Luke Logan connected on a two-point conversion pass to Chris Lund to give the Vikings an insurmountable 20-3 lead. The Cheesemakers had a botched high snap on a punt in the fourth quarter and Brusegar intercepted Monroe senior Charlie Kind's pass and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown to give the Vikings a 28-3 lead. Krueger rushed for 87 yards on 15 carries and scored one touchdown.
"I think we are definitely as good as Stoughton," Kind said. "We just got frustrated in the end. We just lost our heads. It's too bad we couldn't come out with a win."
Monroe will look to pick up its first win in a homecoming game next week against Milton.
"The rest of the games this season are winnable," Kind said. "We have a lot of work to do in practice. I'm hoping to come out and play better than tonight."
Monroe (0-5, 0-2 Badger South) was plagued by five turnovers (four interceptions and one fumble) Friday, Sept. 20. The Cheesemakers were called for seven penalties for 88 yards including four personal foul calls, as a game they expected to compete in slipped away.
"They will realize on Monday that personal fouls are not acceptable," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "If they are hitting hard through the whistle that is one thing. There were some unnecessary personal fouls. We have to clean that up if we are going to win a game."
The Cheesemakers' defense struggled to get off the field. Stoughton (2-3, 1-2) was 58.8 percent converting on third and fourth down (10-for-17). The Vikings went eight for 14 on third down and two for three on fourth down. Stoughton junior Brady Brusegar put the Vikings on the board, racing in for a 12-yard TD run with 2 minutes, 46 seconds to go in the first quarter. Monroe senior Brett Zimmerman blocked the extra point and the Vikings led 6-0. The Vikings' scoring opportunity was set up by Buck Krueger's 42-yard run.
The Vikings' 12-play, 71-yard drive in the second quarter, culminated in senior Brian Wagner's 3-yard TD run. Monroe senior Ryan Hughes blocked the extra point and the Vikings took a 12-0 lead. The Vikings converted two fourth down plays to keep the drive alive.
"They had a lot of situations where it was third and short yardage to go," Miller said. "I thought our defense at times played as hard as they could play. They played their tails off. With the type of offense Stoughton runs, they keep coming at you. Their backs made plays and picked up the extra yards they needed."
Monroe sophomore Jaron Kuester received his first start at quarterback and he was 3 of 16 passing for 22 yards with three interceptions. Monroe junior Jake Flannery, who started the first four games at quarterback, started at wide receiver.
"It was just a decision by the coaching staff to go with Jaron," Miller said. "He's a starter for a varsity football team. It's tough to do. Jaron had a very good week of practice. I think he was just nervous. He will get better."
The only score for the Cheesemakers came on senior Blake Duffy's 28-yard field goal in the second quarter that cut the Vikings' halftime lead to 12-3. Monroe junior Cody Wolf rushed for 55 yards on 10 carries.
The Vikings rolled in the second half. Krueger rammed his way in for a 4-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter and Luke Logan connected on a two-point conversion pass to Chris Lund to give the Vikings an insurmountable 20-3 lead. The Cheesemakers had a botched high snap on a punt in the fourth quarter and Brusegar intercepted Monroe senior Charlie Kind's pass and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown to give the Vikings a 28-3 lead. Krueger rushed for 87 yards on 15 carries and scored one touchdown.
"I think we are definitely as good as Stoughton," Kind said. "We just got frustrated in the end. We just lost our heads. It's too bad we couldn't come out with a win."
Monroe will look to pick up its first win in a homecoming game next week against Milton.
"The rest of the games this season are winnable," Kind said. "We have a lot of work to do in practice. I'm hoping to come out and play better than tonight."
