Week 3 Preview: Unbeaten Monona Grove Hosts Milton in Badger Large Opener
Milton Red Hawks at Monona Grove Silver Eagles
Friday, September 4, 2026 — 7:00 p.m.
John Klement Stadium — Monona Grove High School
Monona Grove began the school year on Tuesday Sept. 1st and its football team returns home Friday night at 2–0, having overwhelmed Janesville Parker and Madison La Follette by a combined 94–14 through the first two weeks.
Milton enters at 0–2 following losses to Oconomowoc and Janesville Craig, but the Red Hawks’ record may be misleading. Recent history suggests MG should expect another fight. The last two meetings have been decided by just 12 combined points. In 2024, Monona Grove needed a late fourth-quarter touchdown to escape John Klement Stadium with a 26–21 victory. Last fall brought even more drama, with the Silver Eagles surviving a back-and-forth 36–29 battle at Milton.
The series itself dates back to 2006, when MG defeated Milton 22–6 in the WIAA playoffs in their first ever match-up. Milton joined the Badger Conference two years later and handed the Silver Eagles an 18–0 loss in 2008. Since then Monona Grove has controlled the matchup, winning 12 of the last 14 meetings, with Milton’s only victories coming in 2014 and 2019.
Overall, Monona Grove holds a commanding 13–3 advantage in the all-time series — but the last two years have shown that when MG and Milton meet, the final score rarely comes easily.
Friday carries additional significance as the Silver Eagles' first Friday-night home game and first game in the 2026 Badger Large Conference season.
Monona Grove enters Week 3 ranked No. 3 in Division 2 in the Wisconsin High School Football Coaches Poll presented by Bound Wisconsin.
MG Arrives 2–0 After Two Very Different Wins
Monona Grove's opening two games have already given plenty of players opportunities to make an impact.
The Silver Eagles overwhelmed Janesville Parker 42–0 in Week 1, producing 375 total yards while holding the Vikings to 71. Junior quarterback Jaxon Zukowski completed 7 of 12 passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns while adding 65 rushing yards before sitting out the second half with MG ahead 35–0. The defense controlled the game as well. Senior captain Deangelo Clay delivered one of the biggest individual performances of the opener with 11 tackles and five tackles for loss, while Liam Maday recorded an interception. Logan Donkersgoed, Jay Hurley, Dom Melone, Cole Kessenich, Diego Adame, Landry Ganshert, Carson Schoenherr and others helped MG repeatedly disrupt Parker and keep the Vikings scoreless.
Week 2 against Madison La Follette brought a completely different challenge.
The Lancers jumped ahead 14–7 before MG responded by scoring the game's final 45 points. The Silver Eagles finished with a 52–14 victory and 497 total yards, showing they could respond after an opponent grabbed early momentum. That game also broadened the list of early-season contributors. Landry Ganshert finished with nine tackles, Clay added eight tackles and four more tackles for loss, Jay Hurley recorded seven tackles and Diego Adame contributed five tackles and an interception. Santana Jackson had four tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack, while Carson Schoenherr added a sack of his own.
Through two weeks, MG is averaging 47 points per game while allowing only seven.More encouraging than the numbers has been the number of players contributing to them.
Milton Rebuilding Through Early Adversity
Milton entered the season replacing a significant amount of offensive production after graduating Jake Cummings, the 2025 Badger Large Offensive Player of the Year, along with its leading rusher and leading receiver. The transition became more difficult almost immediately when sophomore quarterback Colston Pernot fractured his wrist on Milton's second offensive possession against Oconomowoc. Junior Brice Remington took over and completed 9 of 15 passes for 80 yards in the 41–0 loss. Milton produced 203 total yards but did not score.
Week 2 brought another difficult night. Janesville Craig defeated the Red Hawks 44–20 and held Milton to only 28 yards of offense. Junior running back Brayden Dopkins scored Milton's lone offensive touchdown late in the game. Dopkins is one of several players being asked to take on larger roles after the Red Hawks lost most of their rushing production from 2025. Milton rushed for 1,376 yards last season, but returning players accounted for only 157 of those yards.
The Red Hawks are also adjusting to interim head coach Jeff Spiwak, Milton's Activities and Athletics Director. Spiwak previously coached Clinton from 2012 through 2018 and led the Cougars to three consecutive Rock Valley Conference championships.
Milton’s Big-Play Ability
Through two games, their offense has struggled, but Max Grady and Caden Pernot remain two players MG already knows can make important plays. Grady caught seven passes for 69 yards against Oconomowoc, while Pernot added three receptions for 33. Both also made significant plays against Monona Grove last season. Pernot caught a 59-yard touchdown pass, while Grady scored Milton's final touchdown to pull the Red Hawks within 36–29 late in the fourth quarter. Their biggest contributions so far in 2026 have come on special teams. Pernot returned a kickoff for a touchdown against Craig, while Grady returned a punt for another score. Those two plays briefly gave Milton a 13–6 lead despite the Red Hawks struggling to move the ball offensively. Recent MG-Milton history has included similar momentum-changing moments. Makai Fowler returned a kickoff for a touchdown in last year's meeting, while Milton produced a 50-yard kickoff return late in the 2024 game.
In the Trenches: Plenty of Familiar Names Up Front
One of the strongest early stories for Monona Grove has been the work of its offensive and defensive fronts. MG has rushed for 565 yards through two games, while the defense has accumulated 21 tackles for loss. Those numbers have come from a large group of players rather than one isolated matchup.
MG Offensive Line Off to a Strong Start
The starting offensive line of Juniors: Cal Bennett, Brody Thomsen, Diego Delfin-Garcia and Seniors Logan Donkersgoed and Owen Hadden has established a productive rushing attack through the first two weeks. The Silver Eagles ran for 219 yards against Parker and followed with 346 rushing yards against La Follette. Milton brings a very tall offensive-line group including Alex Mitchell, Bryce Skemp, Maddox Hagen, Brayden Skatrud and Connor Janisch. Skemp stands 6-foot-6 and Skatrud 6-foot-5, giving the Red Hawks unusual length across the line.
Clay Leads a Productive MG Defensive Front
No MG defender has produced more negative plays through two weeks than Deangelo Clay. The senior captain has 19 tackles, 12 solo stops and nine tackles for loss. He recorded five TFL against Parker and added four more against La Follette.Those numbers place Clay at the center of MG's fast defensive start, but he has hardly been alone.
Senior Logan Donkersgoed continues to contribute on both sides of the line, while junior Lucas Jordan has provided valuable snaps inside. On the edge, Jay Hurley, Nic Busalacchi, Carson Schoenherr and Santana Jackson have all contributed. Jackson produced one of the more noticeable Week 2 performances, finishing with four tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack against La Follette. Schoenherr added a sack, while Hurley increased his production to seven tackles. That depth has allowed several different players to leave their mark during the first two weeks.
Linebackers Adding to the Production
Diego Adame has contributed 12 tackles while also making one of Week 2's biggest defensive plays with an interception against La Follette. Together with the defensive line, that group has helped MG accumulate 21 tackles for loss, including 13 against La Follette.
Milton has an experienced linebacker of its own in junior Evan Jagodzinski, who tied for the team lead with 77 tackles as a sophomore last season. Jack Kempf and Caden Pernot give the Red Hawks additional experience around him. Friday will provide another early measure of two front-seven groups built around very different combinations of size, experience and youth.
Young MG Defenders Are Also Making Their Mark
One of the more encouraging aspects of MG's 2–0 start has been how many first-year or expanded-role varsity players have contributed defensively. Junior Landry Ganshert already has 15 tackles, including nine against La Follette. Liam Maday intercepted a pass against Parker, while Diego Adame followed with an interception against La Follette. Gavin Weiss, Aiden Dennis, Henry Parrott, Kyle Carey and Daniel Strohbusch have all appeared on the defensive stat sheet during the opening two weeks. Sophomores Ben Knickmeyer and Mario Melone each recorded three tackles against La Follette, while Devaron Green, Evan Rosol, Austin Stubblefield, Alonzo Garcia and others have also contributed during MG's first two victories.
For a team that entered the season introducing a large group of new varsity starters, that spread of production may be as important as any single statistic.
The Early Trench Numbers Favor MG
The statistical contrast through two games is significant. MG has rushed for 565 yards, while Milton has produced 231 total offensive yards. The Silver Eagles have recorded 21 tackles for loss, while Craig produced eight TFL against Milton last week. Those numbers do not decide Friday's game, but they explain why MG's offensive line and defensive front have become two of the biggest stories of the Silver Eagles' 2–0 start. The encouraging part for MG is how many names are attached to that success: Bennett, Thomsen, Donkersgoed, Hadden and Delfin-Garcia offensively; Clay, Hurley, Busalacchi, Schoenherr, Jackson, Jordan, Melone, Kessenich and Adame defensively.
The production has been collective.
MG-Milton History: Silver Eagles Lead 13–3
Monona Grove has enjoyed considerable historical success against Milton. MG leads the series 13–3. The teams met annually from 2008 through 2019 before a four-year break and resumed the series in 2024. MG has won both meetings since.
Year | Result |
2025 | MG 36, Milton 29 |
2024 | MG 26, Milton 21 |
2019 | Milton 27, MG 20 |
2018 | MG 35, Milton 0 |
2017 | MG 64, Milton 26 |
2016 | MG 42, Milton 14 |
2015 | MG 35, Milton 32 |
2014 | Milton 10, MG 3 |
2013 Playoffs | MG 42, Milton 12 |
2013 Regular Season | MG 14, Milton 7 |
2012 | MG 49, Milton 22 |
2011 | MG 42, Milton 0 |
2010 | MG 19, Milton 7 |
2009 | MG 31, Milton 12 |
2008 | Milton 18, MG 0 |
2006 Playoffs | MG 22, Milton 6 |
All-time: MG leads 13–3 Last five meetings: MG leads 4–1 WIAA playoffs: MG leads 2–0 Current streak: MG has won two straight
The historical record is decisive. The recent games have not been.
2025: MG Survives a 36–29 Battle
Last year's meeting remains the strongest reason not to overlook Milton. The Red Hawks entered 4–0 and ranked No. 7 in Division 2, while MG was 3–1 and ranked No. 10. Monona Grove opened with a 10-play, 73-yard touchdown drive capped by Tremayne Habeck, but Milton quickly answered with touchdown passes of 59 and 71 yards. Then Makai Fowler changed the momentum. Fowler returned a kickoff for a touchdown and later intercepted Cummings at the goal line. Luke Schwab added another interception in MG territory.
The Silver Eagles were also forced to adjust because of injuries. Habeck left the game, Colin Hablewitz was unavailable and Clay was playing through an injury, leading Fowler to take on a larger offensive role. The game remained tight into the fourth quarter before Jaxon Zukowski and Zach Dresen delivered several of the night's biggest plays. Zukowski connected with Dresen for a long third-down conversion, later converted a fourth down with his legs and eventually found Dresen for a 14-yard touchdown that gave MG a 36–22 lead.
Milton answered once more, but Colten Jenkins recovered the ensuing onside kick and MG finished the 36–29 victory. The Silver Eagles produced 403 total yards, including 214 rushing, and played turnover-free football while creating two Milton interceptions.
It was a win built around contributions from throughout the roster.
2024: Thomsen and Habeck Deliver the Winner
The 2024 meeting produced another fourth-quarter finish.
Milton arrived at John Klement Stadium undefeated, but senior quarterback Jace Thomsen helped MG build an early 14–0 lead with touchdown passes to Jackson Blotz and Cal Woerth. Milton responded and eventually took a 21–20 lead. With less than four minutes remaining, MG faced fourth-and-3 from the Milton 31. Thomsen connected with Tremayne Habeck, who escaped a tackle and raced 31 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. Milton still had an opportunity after a long kickoff return, but senior defensive lineman Will Knoeck pressured quarterback Tyler Zeal into a fourth-down incompletion. MG held on, 26–21. Thomsen finished with four touchdown passes, and all seven touchdowns scored in the game came through the air.
Four Matchups to Watch in 2026
1. MG's Front Seven vs. Milton's Offensive Line
Deangelo Clay, Logan Donkersgoed, Jay Hurley, Nic Busalacchi, Carson Schoenherr, Santana Jackson, Lucas Jordan, Dom Melone and Cole Kessenich have all contributed to a defense with 21 tackles for loss through two weeks.
Milton counters with a long offensive front highlighted by Mitchell, Skemp, Hagen, Skatrud and Janisch. The contrast between those two groups should be one of the night's most interesting position battles.
2. Milton's Playmakers vs. MG's Young Defense
Max Grady and Caden Pernot remain Milton's most proven big-play threats.
MG counters with a secondary and linebacker group that has received early contributions from Landry Ganshert, Liam Maday, Gavin Weiss, Aiden Dennis, Diego Adame, Henry Parrott, Kyle Carey and Daniel Strohbusch.
For several of those Silver Eagles, Friday will be their first Badger Large game in an expanded varsity role.
3. MG's Offensive Line Continues Its Early Test
Cal Bennett, Brody Thomsen, Logan Donkersgoed, Owen Hadden and Diego Delfin-Garcia have helped the Silver Eagles rush for 565 yards during the 2–0 start. Their continued development has been one of the quieter but most important early-season stories for MG. Friday gives that group its first opportunity to carry that momentum into conference play.
4. Special Teams
Milton has already returned a kickoff and punt for touchdowns this season, making special teams impossible to ignore. MG knows that impact firsthand. Makai Fowler's kickoff-return touchdown was one of the defining plays of last year's victory over Milton. In a series that has produced consecutive one-score games, one return, kick, punt or coverage play can carry enormous weight.
Final Outlook
Through two weeks, Monona Grove's biggest strength may be the number of players contributing.
Jaxon Zukowski has led an offense averaging 47 points per game. The offensive line of Bennett, Thomsen, Donkersgoed, Hadden and Delfin-Garcia has helped MG establish a productive running game. Clay has emerged as one of the defense's most productive players, but Hurley, Schoenherr, Jackson, Melone, Kessenich, Adame, Ganshert, Maday, Weiss, Dennis, Jordan, Busalacchi and others have all added important plays.
That makes Week 3 about more than simply protecting a 2–0 record. It is the first opportunity for this particular group of Silver Eagles to enter Badger Large play together.
Milton comes in 0–2 and dealing with significant transition, but Grady, Pernot and Jagodzinski provide experienced playmakers, and the last two meetings make one point clear: recent MG-Milton games have rarely been decided easily.
The opportunity Friday is for another collection of Silver Eagles — veterans, new starters and emerging contributors alike — to add their names to that history.
Friday night begins Chapter 17.
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