MONROE - In a game that had a feeling of a must-win for both teams, it was Oregon that took advantage of opportunities Friday.
The Panthers' Jeff Hurda picked off three passes in the fourth quarter that led to two late scores, and the Cheesemakers fell to 0-3 on the season with a 23-6 loss.
"We knew they were down coming into the game, 0-2. We came in with confidence," senior lineman Nick Walker said. "We played hard, but they made plays and we didn't."
Trailing 10-0 at the start of the fourth quarter, Monroe senior Dylan Schwitz returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown.
"I didn't know it was just me and green grass, I felt like I was running a 5.4 (second) 40 (yard dash)," Schwitz said. "I felt like I was going so slow. But when I got in the end zone I felt relieved."
Monroe head coach Curt Miller thought Schwitz's play was the spark his team needed.
"Dylan Schwitz did a great job of giving us a spark, but unfortunately we got no points out of our offense again," Miller said.
Oregon blocked the extra point, but a 3-and-out by the Cheesemakers' defense put Monroe in position to take its first lead of the season. Instead, on first down from the Monroe 10-yard line, Alex Barenklau's deep pass to Alex Dahlk, who never turned for the ball, fell into the hands of Hurda.
Three plays later, Oregon quarterback Joshn Brauns found Joe Turner - who was left uncovered in the slot - on a slant for a 37-yard touchdown, making the score 17-6.
"That last interception really killed us. We were driving the ball and moving, but it took the momentum right out of us," Schwitz said.
Hurda picked off Cam Elmer on Monroe's next possession at his own 25. Elmer was filling in for Barenklau who was dinged up the play before.
After another 3-and-out by the Cheesemakers defense, Barenklau tried to rally the troops again. On 3rd-and-7, Barenklau again was picked off by Hurda, who took it to the house while breaking a couple of tackles.
"When Schwitz took it to the house for the touchdowns, we had confidence. We felt like we could win," said Walker, a two-way starter who made note of the defense's play. "They scored 23 points, but that doesn't indicate how well we played defense. Our linebackers did a phenomenal job.
"But we have a lot of two-way players. There isn't a defensive unit or offense - we're all one team, one unit. We know we can stop teams on defense, but we know on offense that we can be as good as we think we can be. We just have to put it together all at once, not at different sections of the game."
Monroe's offense did little to help out the defense for the third straight week. The Cheesemakers gained just 151 total yards of offense, including 89 yards rushing on 42 carries. In Monroe's three losses, the defense has been stout, with much of the scoring coming late in the game off of turnovers.
"We again had a lot of miscues," Miller said. "We can't expect to win any games if we can't put any points on the board.
"Our defense did a good job. We had a couple of miscues that led to their first early touchdown and a field goal, but the rest of those were turnovers. (The defense) played tough like they have been doing. I wish the other end of the ball could get them a little help."
Schwitz led Monroe with 66 yards rushing on just eight carries. Oregon's Jake Gundlach had 21 carries for 101 yards. Gundlach gained most of his yardage on a 54-yard run in the first quarter. The big run set up Brauns touchdown pass to Tyler Doering with 3:13 left in the opening frame.
In the second quarter, Oregon's Adam Gorman blocked a Monroe punt, which led to a 22-yard field goal by Andrew Nagel.
The Cheesemakers had a chance early in the game. Nigel Tourdot intercepted a Brauns pass early in the first quarter that gave Monroe the ball at the Oregon 13.
"It was like last week all over again - we get down ready to score and we have a couple miscues that take us backwards," Miller said.
Monroe turned the ball over on four plays, going backwards six yards on the drive. The Cheesemakers also had a touchdown run by Barenklau pulled back in the third quarter on a holding penalty.
Monroe (0-3, 0-1 Badger South), knows a win next week at Fort Atkinson will be huge.
"I think we'll savor this one tonight and see how it feels. The scoreboard shows that we lost, and we did. After tonight we can move on to Fort," Schwitz said.
Miller said he and his team will try to iron out the problems that have plagued the Cheesemakers all season.
"It's frustrating, but we've got to correct them. Hopefully we have a great week of practice and preparation and get after it at Fort next week," Miller said.
The Panthers' Jeff Hurda picked off three passes in the fourth quarter that led to two late scores, and the Cheesemakers fell to 0-3 on the season with a 23-6 loss.
"We knew they were down coming into the game, 0-2. We came in with confidence," senior lineman Nick Walker said. "We played hard, but they made plays and we didn't."
Trailing 10-0 at the start of the fourth quarter, Monroe senior Dylan Schwitz returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown.
"I didn't know it was just me and green grass, I felt like I was running a 5.4 (second) 40 (yard dash)," Schwitz said. "I felt like I was going so slow. But when I got in the end zone I felt relieved."
Monroe head coach Curt Miller thought Schwitz's play was the spark his team needed.
"Dylan Schwitz did a great job of giving us a spark, but unfortunately we got no points out of our offense again," Miller said.
Oregon blocked the extra point, but a 3-and-out by the Cheesemakers' defense put Monroe in position to take its first lead of the season. Instead, on first down from the Monroe 10-yard line, Alex Barenklau's deep pass to Alex Dahlk, who never turned for the ball, fell into the hands of Hurda.
Three plays later, Oregon quarterback Joshn Brauns found Joe Turner - who was left uncovered in the slot - on a slant for a 37-yard touchdown, making the score 17-6.
"That last interception really killed us. We were driving the ball and moving, but it took the momentum right out of us," Schwitz said.
Hurda picked off Cam Elmer on Monroe's next possession at his own 25. Elmer was filling in for Barenklau who was dinged up the play before.
After another 3-and-out by the Cheesemakers defense, Barenklau tried to rally the troops again. On 3rd-and-7, Barenklau again was picked off by Hurda, who took it to the house while breaking a couple of tackles.
"When Schwitz took it to the house for the touchdowns, we had confidence. We felt like we could win," said Walker, a two-way starter who made note of the defense's play. "They scored 23 points, but that doesn't indicate how well we played defense. Our linebackers did a phenomenal job.
"But we have a lot of two-way players. There isn't a defensive unit or offense - we're all one team, one unit. We know we can stop teams on defense, but we know on offense that we can be as good as we think we can be. We just have to put it together all at once, not at different sections of the game."
Monroe's offense did little to help out the defense for the third straight week. The Cheesemakers gained just 151 total yards of offense, including 89 yards rushing on 42 carries. In Monroe's three losses, the defense has been stout, with much of the scoring coming late in the game off of turnovers.
"We again had a lot of miscues," Miller said. "We can't expect to win any games if we can't put any points on the board.
"Our defense did a good job. We had a couple of miscues that led to their first early touchdown and a field goal, but the rest of those were turnovers. (The defense) played tough like they have been doing. I wish the other end of the ball could get them a little help."
Schwitz led Monroe with 66 yards rushing on just eight carries. Oregon's Jake Gundlach had 21 carries for 101 yards. Gundlach gained most of his yardage on a 54-yard run in the first quarter. The big run set up Brauns touchdown pass to Tyler Doering with 3:13 left in the opening frame.
In the second quarter, Oregon's Adam Gorman blocked a Monroe punt, which led to a 22-yard field goal by Andrew Nagel.
The Cheesemakers had a chance early in the game. Nigel Tourdot intercepted a Brauns pass early in the first quarter that gave Monroe the ball at the Oregon 13.
"It was like last week all over again - we get down ready to score and we have a couple miscues that take us backwards," Miller said.
Monroe turned the ball over on four plays, going backwards six yards on the drive. The Cheesemakers also had a touchdown run by Barenklau pulled back in the third quarter on a holding penalty.
Monroe (0-3, 0-1 Badger South), knows a win next week at Fort Atkinson will be huge.
"I think we'll savor this one tonight and see how it feels. The scoreboard shows that we lost, and we did. After tonight we can move on to Fort," Schwitz said.
Miller said he and his team will try to iron out the problems that have plagued the Cheesemakers all season.
"It's frustrating, but we've got to correct them. Hopefully we have a great week of practice and preparation and get after it at Fort next week," Miller said.
