MONROE - The Monroe YMCA Blaze football teams played early-season 2011 games this past weekend. From grades 4 through 8, the Blaze players wear full padding and play against other area teams from southern Wisconsin. Here is their submitted game reports from Saturday:
Fourth Grade
Playing in their first tackle football game on Saturday, the fourth-grade Blaze football team lost a close game 18-12 against Poynette.
After allowing a long touchdown on the first series of the game, Monroe's defense, led by Travis Edmunds and Aaron Ziolkowski, stepped up and slowed down the Poynette offense for the rest of the first half.
Monroe's first score came on a long drive in the third quarter, with Nick Bansley scoring from seven yards out. Poynette answered that score with a long drive of their own, making the score 12-6 Poynette at the end of the third quarter.
Defense was evident again in the fourth quarter, as both offenses struggled to move the ball.
However, with two minutes and thirty-four seconds left in the game, Poynette's running back made a series of cuts and weaved his way to the end zone from 60 yards out. Monroe got the ball back with just under two minutes to play. Behind the blocking of Brandon Blum, Hunter Snider, Lee Gertsch, Carson Foesch and Ziolkowski, Alex Witt scored on a 76-yard touchdown as time expired, ending the score at 18-12.
Fifth Grade Red
The fifth-grade Red Blaze football team lost to Pec-Argyle 19-12.
Despite rushing for 295 yards as a team, Monroe was still unable to punch the ball into the end zone on three drives inside the 15-yard-line.
Colby Argall and Evan Thompson each had a rushing touchdown. The team had a chance to get within one with a touchdown and a PAT to either tie or win but the play was called back on a penalty with 17 seconds left in the game.
The Fifth Grade Red team plays home this Saturday, Sept. 17 vs. Mt. Horeb White at 11:30 a.m.
Fifth Grade White
The Blaze fifth-grade White team defeated Waunakee Purple 7-6 at Waunakee's Woodland Field in a physical, defensive oriented game.
The Blaze opened the scoring in the second quarter on a 50-yard run by Jordan Montgomery and then Nick Schumacher ran in from the 2-yard-line to earn the extra point.
Early in the third quarter, Waunakee scored on a 27-yard run, but the extra point run attempt was stopped.
The Blaze turned in a strong defensive performance with 10 tackles for loss led by the entire front line of Nick Schumacher, Ross Jacobson, Chris Dahmen, Gage Noble, Garrett Schroeder, Hunter Huschitt, Jacob Brennan, and Trevor Meier.
For the game, the Blaze ran for 116 net yards on 29 carries and did not attempt a pass. Waunakee ran for 84 net yards on 35 carries and completed 1 of 4 passes for 9 yards. Both teams lost 2 fumbles.
Sixth Grade
The sixth-grade Blaze team started off their season with a victory over New Glarus/Monticello on Saturday, Sept. 10.
Playing an important role in their win was third-year player, first-year quarterback Dylan Scace.
The first half proved to be an offensive struggle for the Blaze. In the third quarter, after a key block by Robert Leden, Scace's handoff to Sam Kind rewarded with a touchdown putting them up by 6.
Then the two-point kick attempt by Dempzy Foley was successful putting the score at 8-0. The defense held strong all game keeping NG/M scoreless.
The offense looked to score again in the fourth quarter with first-year quarterback Jonah Tostrud, working with both Jevon Gibson and Travis Wolf. However, their efforts fell short as time ran out.
Seventh Grade
The seventh-grade Blaze team traveled to Wisconsin Heights and won the season opener 36-0.
The Blaze had a heavy run game and scored with five different players, Carter Sawdey scored on a 40-yard run, Cole Murray scored on a 10-yard run, Alex Tordoff scored on a 5-yard run, Ryan Miller scored on a 5-yard run, and Issac Allen caught a 36-yard TD pass from Tyler Elmer. PAT kicks were added by Alex Tordoff, Hayden Arneson and Carter Sawdey.
The defense, led by Jake Kind and Hunter Weckerly, held Heights to 75 total yards and only 7 yards rushing.
Eighth Grade
The Monroe Blaze eighth-grade team continued their 2011 youth football season this past Saturday with a 22-0 win at home against Poynette.
The Blaze played an all around strong game for the team win. After fumbling on Monroe's first series, the defense was able to force a Poynette punt.
Starting at the Monroe's 4-yard-line, Brent Edmunds ran for 18 yards before Jaron Kuester caught a pass from Garrett Gogin and was tackled at the Poynette 10-yard line after a 68-yard gain. On 4th down from the 2-yard-line, Cam Shaw scored the touchdown. McKenzy Foley kicked the PAT for an 8-0 lead and the only scoring in the first half.
After a blocked punt by Traiten Gorr, Monroe only needed 25 yards to score capped off by a 10-yard touchdown run by Tanner Thompson. Foley was again successful on the PAT for a 16-0 lead.
Late in the fourth quarter, Thompson was able to break free for a 52-yard touchdown run to solidify the victory. Thompson's PAT was unsuccessful for the final 22-0 score.
The Blaze had 245 yards of offense with Edmunds leading the rushing with 9 carries for 68 yards, Thompson's 62 yards and first-year player Ian Salzwedel picking up 15 yards on four rushes. Gogin was 4 of 8 passing for 106 yards and an interception.
Defensively, 19 of 20 players recorded at least one tackle. Shaw led the way with six tackles (two sacks), followed by Thompson and Gorr (one sack) with 5 while Rylee Mellenberger, Trevor Signer, Jared Amacher (also interception), Ben Latimer and Edmunds each had four tackles. With the win, the eighth-grade Blaze record now stands at 1-1 (1-0 in league play).
Fourth Grade
Playing in their first tackle football game on Saturday, the fourth-grade Blaze football team lost a close game 18-12 against Poynette.
After allowing a long touchdown on the first series of the game, Monroe's defense, led by Travis Edmunds and Aaron Ziolkowski, stepped up and slowed down the Poynette offense for the rest of the first half.
Monroe's first score came on a long drive in the third quarter, with Nick Bansley scoring from seven yards out. Poynette answered that score with a long drive of their own, making the score 12-6 Poynette at the end of the third quarter.
Defense was evident again in the fourth quarter, as both offenses struggled to move the ball.
However, with two minutes and thirty-four seconds left in the game, Poynette's running back made a series of cuts and weaved his way to the end zone from 60 yards out. Monroe got the ball back with just under two minutes to play. Behind the blocking of Brandon Blum, Hunter Snider, Lee Gertsch, Carson Foesch and Ziolkowski, Alex Witt scored on a 76-yard touchdown as time expired, ending the score at 18-12.
Fifth Grade Red
The fifth-grade Red Blaze football team lost to Pec-Argyle 19-12.
Despite rushing for 295 yards as a team, Monroe was still unable to punch the ball into the end zone on three drives inside the 15-yard-line.
Colby Argall and Evan Thompson each had a rushing touchdown. The team had a chance to get within one with a touchdown and a PAT to either tie or win but the play was called back on a penalty with 17 seconds left in the game.
The Fifth Grade Red team plays home this Saturday, Sept. 17 vs. Mt. Horeb White at 11:30 a.m.
Fifth Grade White
The Blaze fifth-grade White team defeated Waunakee Purple 7-6 at Waunakee's Woodland Field in a physical, defensive oriented game.
The Blaze opened the scoring in the second quarter on a 50-yard run by Jordan Montgomery and then Nick Schumacher ran in from the 2-yard-line to earn the extra point.
Early in the third quarter, Waunakee scored on a 27-yard run, but the extra point run attempt was stopped.
The Blaze turned in a strong defensive performance with 10 tackles for loss led by the entire front line of Nick Schumacher, Ross Jacobson, Chris Dahmen, Gage Noble, Garrett Schroeder, Hunter Huschitt, Jacob Brennan, and Trevor Meier.
For the game, the Blaze ran for 116 net yards on 29 carries and did not attempt a pass. Waunakee ran for 84 net yards on 35 carries and completed 1 of 4 passes for 9 yards. Both teams lost 2 fumbles.
Sixth Grade
The sixth-grade Blaze team started off their season with a victory over New Glarus/Monticello on Saturday, Sept. 10.
Playing an important role in their win was third-year player, first-year quarterback Dylan Scace.
The first half proved to be an offensive struggle for the Blaze. In the third quarter, after a key block by Robert Leden, Scace's handoff to Sam Kind rewarded with a touchdown putting them up by 6.
Then the two-point kick attempt by Dempzy Foley was successful putting the score at 8-0. The defense held strong all game keeping NG/M scoreless.
The offense looked to score again in the fourth quarter with first-year quarterback Jonah Tostrud, working with both Jevon Gibson and Travis Wolf. However, their efforts fell short as time ran out.
Seventh Grade
The seventh-grade Blaze team traveled to Wisconsin Heights and won the season opener 36-0.
The Blaze had a heavy run game and scored with five different players, Carter Sawdey scored on a 40-yard run, Cole Murray scored on a 10-yard run, Alex Tordoff scored on a 5-yard run, Ryan Miller scored on a 5-yard run, and Issac Allen caught a 36-yard TD pass from Tyler Elmer. PAT kicks were added by Alex Tordoff, Hayden Arneson and Carter Sawdey.
The defense, led by Jake Kind and Hunter Weckerly, held Heights to 75 total yards and only 7 yards rushing.
Eighth Grade
The Monroe Blaze eighth-grade team continued their 2011 youth football season this past Saturday with a 22-0 win at home against Poynette.
The Blaze played an all around strong game for the team win. After fumbling on Monroe's first series, the defense was able to force a Poynette punt.
Starting at the Monroe's 4-yard-line, Brent Edmunds ran for 18 yards before Jaron Kuester caught a pass from Garrett Gogin and was tackled at the Poynette 10-yard line after a 68-yard gain. On 4th down from the 2-yard-line, Cam Shaw scored the touchdown. McKenzy Foley kicked the PAT for an 8-0 lead and the only scoring in the first half.
After a blocked punt by Traiten Gorr, Monroe only needed 25 yards to score capped off by a 10-yard touchdown run by Tanner Thompson. Foley was again successful on the PAT for a 16-0 lead.
Late in the fourth quarter, Thompson was able to break free for a 52-yard touchdown run to solidify the victory. Thompson's PAT was unsuccessful for the final 22-0 score.
The Blaze had 245 yards of offense with Edmunds leading the rushing with 9 carries for 68 yards, Thompson's 62 yards and first-year player Ian Salzwedel picking up 15 yards on four rushes. Gogin was 4 of 8 passing for 106 yards and an interception.
Defensively, 19 of 20 players recorded at least one tackle. Shaw led the way with six tackles (two sacks), followed by Thompson and Gorr (one sack) with 5 while Rylee Mellenberger, Trevor Signer, Jared Amacher (also interception), Ben Latimer and Edmunds each had four tackles. With the win, the eighth-grade Blaze record now stands at 1-1 (1-0 in league play).
