Monona Grove Pulls Away From La Follette for 52–14 Week 2 Win

mgfootball

Aug 29

7 min read

Monona Grove’s Week 2 trip to Madison La Follette came with a unique storyline before kickoff: former MG standout Toren Young, now in his first season as La Follette’s head coach, facing his alma mater and Brandon Beckwith for the first time. Young’s Lancers made sure the storyline mattered once the game began. Unlike MG’s 42–0 opening-night victory over Janesville Parker, the Silver Eagles were challenged early. La Follette scored twice in the first quarter and briefly held a 14–7 lead.

Then MG took control.

From that point, the Silver Eagles scored 45 consecutive points, leaning on a punishing running game, an increasingly effective passing attack and a defense that overwhelmed La Follette as the night progressed. The result was a convincing 52–14 victory Thursday night at Lussier Stadium.The win moved Monona Grove to 2–0 and extended its winning streak over La Follette to six consecutive games.

La Follette Takes a 14–7 Lead

Monona Grove established its physical approach immediately, driving down the field before junior running back Carson Schoenherr finished the opening possession with a one-yard touchdown run at 9:30.

La Follette answered behind senior quarterback Patrick Toomey, who kept a drive alive with an improbable third and long conversion and eventually scored on a quarterback keeper to tie the game at 7–7. After MG went three-and-out, senior defensive lineman Deangelo Clay exploded into the backfield for a nine-yard tackle for loss. One play later, however, La Follette delivered the type of explosive play MG had hoped to prevent. A deep pass down the right sideline was tipped by senior Henry Parrott, but the Lancers gathered the deflection and continued for a 65-yard touchdown.

Suddenly, MG trailed 14–7.

For a stretch, Young’s Lancers looked prepared to make his first game against MG uncomfortable. They had answered the opening touchdown, extended drives and demonstrated an ability to create explosive plays through the air.

MG Answers

The response came from with 19 seconds remaining in the first quarter junior quarterback Jaxon Zukowski took off to his right, reversed direction and worked all the way back across the field before breaking into the end zone on a 17-yard touchdown run. Junior receiver Diego Adame supplied an important downfield block and stayed engaged as the play changed direction. Senior kicker Hans Haffele converted the extra point, pulling MG even at 14–14 after one quarter.

The run foreshadowed how important the quarterback rushing game would become. Zukowski eventually finished with 150 yards on 14 carries, while Schoenherr added 109 yards and two touchdowns on 10 attempts.

Turnovers Test MG, Defense Responds

Early in the second quarter, juniors Gavin Weiss and Adame combined for one of the defensive highlights of the night.

Weiss broke on a La Follette pass and tipped the football into the air. Adame reacted immediately, secured the interception near midfield and returned it deep into Lancers territory.

MG gave the opportunity back on the next snap when Zukowski attempted a shot into the end zone and was intercepted.

The defense quickly erased the mistake. Cole Kessenich and Clay collapsed the pocket on a third-down pressure, forcing another La Follette punt. MG moved the football again on its next possession, but another pass attempt ended in an interception at 7:28.

The two giveaways prevented MG from immediately separating, but neither turned into La Follette points. In fact, the Lancers’ 14–7 lead would prove to be their final scoring of the night.

Clay Powers MG Ahead, Haffele Adds From 47

The Silver Eagles returned to what La Follette was struggling most to stop: the running game.

With Zukowski, Schoenherr and Clay attacking the interior, MG repeatedly forced the Lancers to defend downhill. Clay supplied the finishing blow, powering into the end zone from one yard with 2:37 remaining in the half.

Haffele converted the extra point to give MG a 21–14 advantage.

Clay finished with 35 rushing yards and a touchdown on five carries, but his influence extended well beyond offense. The senior captain also recorded eight tackles and a team-high four tackles for loss.

La Follette punted again late in the half, giving MG possession at its own 46 with 49 seconds remaining. The Silver Eagles advanced far enough to give Haffele an opportunity on the final play.

He delivered, drilling a career-long 47-yard field goal as time expired to send MG into halftime ahead 24–14.

Despite the early turnovers and deficit, MG stayed with its approach. The offensive line and running game continued creating opportunities, while the defense prevented La Follette from capitalizing on mistakes.

Third-Quarter Avalanche

The game changed quickly after halftime.

La Follette’s opening possession immediately went backward when Adame diagnosed a quick pass and tackled the receiver for a four-yard loss. Two incompletions followed, forcing a punt.

MG answered with one of its best drives of the night. Zukowski used several quarterback runs to move the chains and continued finding 6-foot-5 junior tight end Nic Busalacchi through the middle of the field before connecting with Adame for a touchdown at 8:45.

Haffele converted again, making it 31–14.

The Silver Eagles struck again on their next possession. Schoenherr continued finding running room before Zukowski connected with senior receiver Zander Vosberg for a touchdown at 6:06.

Another PAT made it 38–14.

By then, La Follette was being forced to defend too many threats. Zukowski could hurt the Lancers with his legs or arm, Schoenherr was consistently reaching the second level, Busalacchi was working the middle of the field and MG continued rotating productive runners.

The rushing depth showed throughout the night. In addition to the 150 yards from Zukowski and 109 from Schoenherr, sophomore Mario Melone added 44 yards on seven attempts and Clay contributed 35 yards on five carries.

Defensive Domination

As MG’s offense accelerated, its defense became increasingly difficult for La Follette to handle.

The Silver Eagles finished with 13 tackles for loss and two sacks. Junior defensive back Landry Ganshert led MG with nine tackles, while Clay added eight tackles and four tackles for loss. Senior edge defender Jay Hurley finished with seven tackles and a tackle for loss.

Junior defensive end Santana Jackson recorded four tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack, while Schoenherr was credited with MG’s other sack. Kessenich, Adame, senior linebacker Dom Melone and junior Aiden Dennis also recorded tackles for loss as the production spread throughout the defense.

That disruption showed most clearly against La Follette’s running game. Sophomore Bry’Shaun Dillard was the Lancers’ most productive runner with 60 yards on 11 carries, but the rest of La Follette’s offense combined for only 17 rushing yards. Toomey finished with 15 yards on nine attempts and Shaun Peeler managed two yards on eight carries.

La Follette finished with just 77 rushing yards on 28 attempts, an average of 2.8 yards per carry.

One of the third quarter’s defining defensive plays came when Jackson dropped Toomey on fourth down at 4:02. MG took advantage of the field position, with Zukowski and Schoenherr moving the football before Schoenherr finished the drive with his second touchdown at 2:32.

The PAT pushed MG’s advantage to 45–14 and completed a 21-point third quarter.

Halverson Closes It Out

With the game firmly under control, Monona Grove expanded its rotation in the fourth quarter.

Sophomore quarterback Bryson Halverson completed 2 of 3 passes for 22 yards, with senior receiver Steven Brumm catching two passes for 22 yards on the drive. Halverson then finished it himself with an eight-yard touchdown run at 8:55.

Haffele converted his seventh extra point of the evening to complete the scoring at 52–14.

The backup quarterback’s two completions pushed MG’s team passing total to 151 yards. Seven different Silver Eagles caught at least one pass, including senior Hunter Meyer, who contributed a 21-yard reception.

Impact Players

Few MG players affected more areas of the game than Adame.

Offensively, he caught three passes for a team-high 45 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, he recorded five tackles, one tackle for loss and the interception created by Weiss’ deflection.

He also handled MG’s kickoffs, producing five touchbacks on eight attempts.

Ganshert also contributed on special teams as both a kick returner and punt returner while leading the defense with nine tackles.

Meanwhile, Haffele finished a perfect 7-for-7 on extra points and added his career-long 47-yard field goal for a 10-point night.

By the Numbers

The statistical contrast reflected how decisively the game shifted after La Follette’s early lead.

Monona Grove finished with 497 total yards, including 346 rushing and 151 passing. The Silver Eagles averaged 9.4 yards per rushing attempt and scored five touchdowns on the ground.

La Follette finished with 270 total yards. Toomey completed 11 of 22 passes for 193 yards, one touchdown and one interception, but MG limited the Lancers to just 77 rushing yards.

Defensively, the Silver Eagles recorded 13 tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception. La Follette was credited with only 30 total tackles against 58 MG offensive plays, another indication of how often Monona Grove generated chunk gains and reached the second level before multiple defenders could rally to the football.

MG Playing Through Injuries and Building Depth

The Silver Eagles have opened 2–0 despite playing without several athletes expected to make significant varsity contributions. Senior running back Jay Ramsey was injured on the opening kickoff after breaking the return near midfield and did not return. All-Conference senior Kai Fowler and senior linebacker Colten Jenkins have also remained sidelined. Defensive back Liam Maday missed Week 2 after being injured in the opener, while defensive back and wide receiver Austin Donkersgoed has yet to play this season because of a hand injury. Their absences have placed greater responsibility on MG’s developing depth, and Week 2 provided encouraging signs. Schoenherr, Melone, Ganshert, Busalacchi, Adame, Weiss, Dennis and Jackson were among the younger players making significant contributions.

MG Moves to 2–0

Monona Grove is now 2–0 after victories of 42–0 over Janesville Parker and 52–14 over La Follette, outscoring its first two opponents 94–14.

Week 1 showed MG could control a game from the opening possession. Week 2 provided a different test.

Young’s La Follette team landed the first meaningful punch of MG’s season and held a 14–7 advantage. The Silver Eagles responded to the deficit and two first-half turnovers by relying on their offensive line, running game and defense, eventually scoring the final 45 points.

For La Follette, the night offered another measuring point as Young continues building the program.