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Dennis Semrau: Silver Eagles draw inspiration from a Titan

Dennis Semrau  —  10/11/2008 9:27 am

STOUGHTON -- Anyone who has played high school football since the release of the movie "Remember the Titans" has most likely watched the film as motivation before a key game.

But members of the Monona Grove football team will never look at the film the same way again after a series of events took place this week gave them a fresh perspective on it.

First, the Silver Eagles were privy to a screening Tuesday night at school.

Then assistant coach Brandon Beckwith arranged for coach Herman Boone, whose team the film is based on, to stop by practice Wednesday to meet the players and offer a few words of wisdom.

Finally, Boone addressed the entire Monona Grove student body and faculty Thursday morning in a special assembly about some of his experiences coaching at T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Va.

MG coach Mike Stassi said the message Boone delivered was straightforward and had an impact in the Silver Eagles holding off Stoughton 14-7 Friday night to keep their playoff hopes alive with two weeks left in the regular season.

"He's an impressive man and you see why he's had the success that he did," Stassi said.

Boone made a positive impression on the Silver Eagles and left them a few lessons to remember him by.

"The first thing (Boone) said is that the offensive linemen are the stars of the game," said bruising running back Beau Goff, who rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown. "If they can get that one yard, a push, the running backs get the girls and the glory. But if they can get that one yard, you're good to go for the game. We focused on that this week."

MG (4-3 overall, 2-2 Badger South) also emphasized putting a damper on Stoughton's Homecoming party after Oregon ruined the Silver Eagles' own Homecoming ceremonies a week ago.

With a playoff berth on the line and a potential three-game losing streak staring them in the face, Silver Eagles defensive end Kevin Reuter said there wasn't the luxury of being even a bit accommodating when a sorely needed victory was on the line.

Reuter anchored a tenacious defense that forced Stoughton to turn the ball over on downs on its final three possessions of the game to help Monona Grove sink the Vikings.

"Coach (Stassi) told us coming in that the more physical team would win this game," Reuter said. "Stoughton definitely came out and was physical, but this was a must-win game and we came out and got it.'

Quarterback Aaron Kondrasuk got MG on the scoreboard first when he capped a nine-play, 56-yard drive with a 34-yard TD scamper down the left sideline with 3 minutes, 37 seconds left in the first quarter.

Goff made it 14-0 when he capped another nine-play, 56-yard drive in the second quarter on 8-yard TD blast up the middle with 7:01 left before halftime.

That proved to be enough to stymie Stoughton, which got a 59-yard TD dash in the third quarter from Jordan Adams but saw its final drive stall at the MG 35 with 1:39 to play. The Silver Eagles than ran out the clock to rain on the Vikings' parade.

"If we played in the first half the way we played in the second half, it's probably a little different ball game for us. But we just didn't come out very prepared to play, particularly offensively," Stoughton coach Sean Stokes said. "We didn't put a lick of pressure on them and we left our defense out there a long time and we paid the price for it."

Both teams were hoping to keep their playoff dreams alive and rebound from tough losses last week.

It was MG, though, that got its wish, which Stassi and several players credited to Boone's inspirational appearance.

"Just to hear him come and tell his story gave us plenty of motivation," Kondrasuk said of Boone. "He told us we have to get in there and fight as hard as we can. Our O-line has to do a great job, which they did. It was just a fun game."

Stoughton (4-3, 2-2) made its only previous playoff appearance in 1998, while Monona Grove has been to the playoffs the last seven consecutive seasons.

But with two games to play in the regular season, both teams need to win at least one game to be in contention for a playoff berth and both games to lock in the bid.

"I'm proud of the way we played tonight," Stassi said of his Silver Eagles. "This is the kind of football we preach here. Coach Boone is one of the most awesome people you'd ever meet. He was just preaching to our kids to win that line of scrimmage and always get that extra yard from your offensive line guys.

"Nobody cares about second or runner-up. He said it's okay to always shoot for the gold. He certainly did with his programs. It was just unbelievable to listen to that man speak."

Stassi said that MG was able to control the clock and keep Stoughton at bay when it came down to crunch time because the Silver Eagles offensive line was up to the challenge.

"Our offensive line was just phenomenal tonight," Stassi said of the unit that includes: sophomore Riley Quaema at left tackle, junior Merrick Grumke at left guard, senior Dave Peiss at center, senior Jamie Beyer at right guard, junior Austin Barlow at right tackle and junior Will Stearns at tight end.

"The offensive line did a great job but our backs ran hard tonight. They fought to get that extra yard. I really loved that. And our defense made two huge stops on fourth down. It was a great team effort. That's what wins ball games, a great team effort."

Just like in the movies.

dsemrau@madison.com

Dennis Semrau  —  10/11/2008 9:27 am