OREGON - The early-season struggles continued for Monroe's football team with a 42-27 loss to undefeated Oregon in a Badger South opener Friday.
Though the Cheesemakers (0-3, 0-1) trailed 34-6 at halftime, Monroe's offense controlled the second half, outscoring Oregon 21-8.
The Panthers (3-0, 1-0) scored four touchdowns in the first half on just 17 offensive plays, and added a fifth score on an interception returned for a touchdown.
Monroe opened the game with a steady drive, starting at its own 15-yard line. A steady diet of rushing plays and quick passes - plus a roughing-the-passer penalty against Oregon - had Monroe in position to score. Junior quarterback Michael Barrett's eight-yard scramble to the Panthers' 36-yard-line on third-and-long gave the Cheesemakers a much-needed first down.
On the very next play, the drive came to a screeching halt as running back Dylan Schwitz fumbled, and Oregon recovered. Two plays later, Panthers QB Josh Graber dashed 47 yards for the game's first score.
Monroe then looked like it was back in the action, as kick returner Ethan Schuttler took the ensuing kickoff 50 yards to Oregon's 37. A second personal foul penalty on the Panthers at the end of the return gave Monroe a first down at the 22.
Barrett took a keeper to the 1, and two plays later Dillon Weckerly crossed the goal line. Kevin Frint's extra-point attempt was blocked, and Monroe trailed 7-6.
The Panthers didn't waste much time to score again, returning the ensuing kickoff to Monroe's 14. On the first play, Matt Marszalek ran in for a score to make it 14-6.
On the first play of the second quarter, Graber ran a QB option keeper 73 yards for a touchdown.
The Panthers' fourth score came with 5 minutes, 47 seconds left in the second quarter. Barrett dropped back to throw on third-and-8 and Oregon's Jeff Hurda jumped in front of a slant rout up the middle, intercepting the ball and following his blockers 45 yards to the end zone.
Monroe then punted after going three-and-out, but Oregon started at Monroe's 20 after a 37-yard return by Marszalek. On the next play, Gerber connected with Alex McCauley for the final touchdown of the half.
In the second half, senior Cory Kundert took over at quarterback for the Cheesemakers.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, but Monroe's first play of the fourth sent its crowd into a frenzy. Kundert connected with Geissbuhler on a left-to-right slant, and Geissbuhler went to the sideline, scampering past defenders and diving into the end zone.
"It was awesome," Geissbuhler, a two-way starter, said of the play. "I didn't know if I had enough energy left in me, that's why I dove."
Kundert, who had 155 yards through the air on 5-for-10 passing and another 39 yards on the ground, was pleased with how he performed.
"I felt great. It's never easy to come in and play quarterback halfway through the game," he said. "The rest of the guys made some great plays and the line gave us some good blocking in the second half."
Monroe scored twice more in final period, a 9-yard TD run by Schwitz and a 19-yard TD pass from Kundert to Bryan Tordoff.
Schwitz finished with 71 yards on 19 carries and Geissbuhler had 133 total yards. Monroe outgained Oregon in first downs (19-14) and had nearly as much total yardage (328-363). However, Monroe's two turnovers and missed tackles proved costly.
Oregon's final touchdown came with 7:33 remaining. After a flubbed snap on the extra-point attempt, the Panthers' Joe Stetzer blindsided Steve Knox in the end zone after Oregon had converted the 2-point conversion. The unsportsmanlike call, coupled with a personal foul penalty for roughing the passer earlier in the game, put Stetzer another major penalty from ejection and a one-game suspension.
Though the Cheesemakers (0-3, 0-1) trailed 34-6 at halftime, Monroe's offense controlled the second half, outscoring Oregon 21-8.
The Panthers (3-0, 1-0) scored four touchdowns in the first half on just 17 offensive plays, and added a fifth score on an interception returned for a touchdown.
Monroe opened the game with a steady drive, starting at its own 15-yard line. A steady diet of rushing plays and quick passes - plus a roughing-the-passer penalty against Oregon - had Monroe in position to score. Junior quarterback Michael Barrett's eight-yard scramble to the Panthers' 36-yard-line on third-and-long gave the Cheesemakers a much-needed first down.
On the very next play, the drive came to a screeching halt as running back Dylan Schwitz fumbled, and Oregon recovered. Two plays later, Panthers QB Josh Graber dashed 47 yards for the game's first score.
Monroe then looked like it was back in the action, as kick returner Ethan Schuttler took the ensuing kickoff 50 yards to Oregon's 37. A second personal foul penalty on the Panthers at the end of the return gave Monroe a first down at the 22.
Barrett took a keeper to the 1, and two plays later Dillon Weckerly crossed the goal line. Kevin Frint's extra-point attempt was blocked, and Monroe trailed 7-6.
The Panthers didn't waste much time to score again, returning the ensuing kickoff to Monroe's 14. On the first play, Matt Marszalek ran in for a score to make it 14-6.
On the first play of the second quarter, Graber ran a QB option keeper 73 yards for a touchdown.
The Panthers' fourth score came with 5 minutes, 47 seconds left in the second quarter. Barrett dropped back to throw on third-and-8 and Oregon's Jeff Hurda jumped in front of a slant rout up the middle, intercepting the ball and following his blockers 45 yards to the end zone.
Monroe then punted after going three-and-out, but Oregon started at Monroe's 20 after a 37-yard return by Marszalek. On the next play, Gerber connected with Alex McCauley for the final touchdown of the half.
In the second half, senior Cory Kundert took over at quarterback for the Cheesemakers.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, but Monroe's first play of the fourth sent its crowd into a frenzy. Kundert connected with Geissbuhler on a left-to-right slant, and Geissbuhler went to the sideline, scampering past defenders and diving into the end zone.
"It was awesome," Geissbuhler, a two-way starter, said of the play. "I didn't know if I had enough energy left in me, that's why I dove."
Kundert, who had 155 yards through the air on 5-for-10 passing and another 39 yards on the ground, was pleased with how he performed.
"I felt great. It's never easy to come in and play quarterback halfway through the game," he said. "The rest of the guys made some great plays and the line gave us some good blocking in the second half."
Monroe scored twice more in final period, a 9-yard TD run by Schwitz and a 19-yard TD pass from Kundert to Bryan Tordoff.
Schwitz finished with 71 yards on 19 carries and Geissbuhler had 133 total yards. Monroe outgained Oregon in first downs (19-14) and had nearly as much total yardage (328-363). However, Monroe's two turnovers and missed tackles proved costly.
Oregon's final touchdown came with 7:33 remaining. After a flubbed snap on the extra-point attempt, the Panthers' Joe Stetzer blindsided Steve Knox in the end zone after Oregon had converted the 2-point conversion. The unsportsmanlike call, coupled with a personal foul penalty for roughing the passer earlier in the game, put Stetzer another major penalty from ejection and a one-game suspension.
