MONROE - After a hard-fought 7-0 loss to Oregon in the regular season finale, Monroe senior Brayden Zettle hoped he didn't play his final prep football game and the Cheesemakers' playoff bubble standing wouldn't burst.
Zettle, who missed most of the season due to a broken and dislocated thumb, returned and helped spearhead a Cheesemakers' defense that forced five turnovers (four fumbles and an interception). However, with a hard rain and a sloshy field, the Cheesemakers couldn't capitalize on any of the turnovers. Both teams combined for eight turnovers and a soggy field plagued both offenses.
"I'm just glad my doctor cleared me and my mom gave me the OK," Zettle said of playing in the regular season finale after the injury. "It's all healed now and I didn't wear a cast. I thought we had a great season and a lot of adversity we fought through together. Hopefully, we get another game playing against a Division 3 team."
Monroe (4-5, 3-4 Badger South) had to wait after the game to find out if they had made the playoffs as a team under .500 in the conference. They did.-
With 1 minute, 24 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Monroe recovered a fumble by Oregon quarterback Cedric Girard, who was trying to kneel down. The Cheesemakers took over at the Panthers' 32-yard line. Monroe senior Jordan Montgomery had a 4-yard run, then sophomore quarterback Alex Witt slipped in a mud pile and was ruled down for a 4-yard loss. Oregon, which had three sacks in the game, got a pass rush on fourth-and-15 from the 37-yard line, and Witt's throw on the run was incomplete, resulting in a turnover on downs. The Panthers limited the Cheesemakers to just 96 total yards of offense.
"We had to try something different," Golembiewski said. "What we were doing was not panning out. We had to get a long pass completion down the field."
Early on in the first quarter the Cheesemakers had a golden opportunity - recovering an Oregon fumble at the Panthers' 42-yard line. Monroe had a promising drive, and senior running back Sam Kind had a 5-yard run down to the Panthers' 8-yard line. The possession was short-circuited when the Cheesemakers were called for holding. The drive ended in a turnover on downs.
"I think the weather had an affect on both teams," Golembiewski said. "The weather was the big equalizer. I'm sure there were some upsets tonight and we were not one of them. In my 35 years of coaching, there has only been two other games where it rained this hard."
Monroe senior Anthany Hernandez had the interception and a fumble recovery.
"I feel like we played really well compared to when we played DeForest," Hernandez said. "I think (the difference) was just the big plays. They made more big plays."
Girard hooked up with Jack Haufle on a 47-yard touchdown pass on a third-and-8 play with 4:57 left in the second quarter.
"We had a breakdown in coverage," Golembiewski said. "Those guys (Oregon) have been scoring 28 to 35 points per game. I thought holding them to one score was great. It was tough for both offenses. They just were a little bit better."
Montgomery rushed for 41 yards on 11 carries to lead the Cheesemakers. Foley ran for 39 yards on 14 carries.
Golembiewski was going to watch tape and stay up late until he got the call whether the Cheesemakers were in the playoffs.
"We will wait to see if we get the call," he said. "If we get the call we will go and be ready. If we make it in on a tiebreaker we will not turn it down because it will be something we have earned."
Zettle, who missed most of the season due to a broken and dislocated thumb, returned and helped spearhead a Cheesemakers' defense that forced five turnovers (four fumbles and an interception). However, with a hard rain and a sloshy field, the Cheesemakers couldn't capitalize on any of the turnovers. Both teams combined for eight turnovers and a soggy field plagued both offenses.
"I'm just glad my doctor cleared me and my mom gave me the OK," Zettle said of playing in the regular season finale after the injury. "It's all healed now and I didn't wear a cast. I thought we had a great season and a lot of adversity we fought through together. Hopefully, we get another game playing against a Division 3 team."
Monroe (4-5, 3-4 Badger South) had to wait after the game to find out if they had made the playoffs as a team under .500 in the conference. They did.-
With 1 minute, 24 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Monroe recovered a fumble by Oregon quarterback Cedric Girard, who was trying to kneel down. The Cheesemakers took over at the Panthers' 32-yard line. Monroe senior Jordan Montgomery had a 4-yard run, then sophomore quarterback Alex Witt slipped in a mud pile and was ruled down for a 4-yard loss. Oregon, which had three sacks in the game, got a pass rush on fourth-and-15 from the 37-yard line, and Witt's throw on the run was incomplete, resulting in a turnover on downs. The Panthers limited the Cheesemakers to just 96 total yards of offense.
"We had to try something different," Golembiewski said. "What we were doing was not panning out. We had to get a long pass completion down the field."
Early on in the first quarter the Cheesemakers had a golden opportunity - recovering an Oregon fumble at the Panthers' 42-yard line. Monroe had a promising drive, and senior running back Sam Kind had a 5-yard run down to the Panthers' 8-yard line. The possession was short-circuited when the Cheesemakers were called for holding. The drive ended in a turnover on downs.
"I think the weather had an affect on both teams," Golembiewski said. "The weather was the big equalizer. I'm sure there were some upsets tonight and we were not one of them. In my 35 years of coaching, there has only been two other games where it rained this hard."
Monroe senior Anthany Hernandez had the interception and a fumble recovery.
"I feel like we played really well compared to when we played DeForest," Hernandez said. "I think (the difference) was just the big plays. They made more big plays."
Girard hooked up with Jack Haufle on a 47-yard touchdown pass on a third-and-8 play with 4:57 left in the second quarter.
"We had a breakdown in coverage," Golembiewski said. "Those guys (Oregon) have been scoring 28 to 35 points per game. I thought holding them to one score was great. It was tough for both offenses. They just were a little bit better."
Montgomery rushed for 41 yards on 11 carries to lead the Cheesemakers. Foley ran for 39 yards on 14 carries.
Golembiewski was going to watch tape and stay up late until he got the call whether the Cheesemakers were in the playoffs.
"We will wait to see if we get the call," he said. "If we get the call we will go and be ready. If we make it in on a tiebreaker we will not turn it down because it will be something we have earned."
