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Dodgeville's non-conference schedule is...well.....tough to say the least.
After opening with New Glarus/Monticello who is favored to win the Capitol South, they take the field in the opening game at their new stadium Friday against SWAL two time defending champion and conference favorite Mineral Point.
Dodgeville coach Josh Busch sees those two opponents as valuable learning tools for the team that will battle in the newly reconfigured SWC this season.
"Playing these two teams will help us be ready by seeing what we need to improve on as a team and as individuals," Busch said. "It also helps us with the intensity that we need to play with against better teams. If we can match that intensity in our conference games we will be in good shape."
Last Friday New Glarus took less than a minute before they got on the scoreboard at 11:09 on a Darris Schuett to Mason Martinson 30 yard pass play and an extra point kick from Connor Siegenthaler.
The Dodgers moved the ball with sophomore quarterback Garrett Busch mixing the pass and RJ Veinberg's running until they got to the one where Veinberg stepped in for the score at the 7:51 mark of the second quarter. He also toed up the extra point.
The Knights then began to put some distance between the two teams on the way to a 42-7 win. Schuett carried for the next touchdown at 5:57 then hit Josh Wieser for a score with 49 seconds left in the half.
NGM did all the scoring in the second half. With 4:56 left in the third frame Siegenthaler scored on a one year plunge.
The Glarner Knights punched it in twice in the final quarter, first on a Schuett to Siegenthaler pass at 9:25 and again at 8:04 when Martinson ran for a 29 yard score.
Even though the game got away late in the second half Busch felt the Dodgers had a good night in their first test.
The Dodgers are a young squad this season but they did not let their youth stand in the way of a good performance.
"I thought that everyone battled pretty hard on Friday," Busch said. "We were right there with them for three quarters and if we make a few more plays on both sides of the ball then we might of had a chance at the end. Overall it was a positive first game, and I am excited to see this group start making plays and seeing them grow over the season. I was also happy with the way our offensive line played for the most part. They did a nice job communicating and protecting in pass protection and were able to open some holes in the run game."
The Dodgers have been working on taking their game to the next level this week.
"I think one of the biggest things we need to help us improve is making plays when they present themselves," Busch said which is what the team is concentrating on this week. "It might be a making a tackle that keeps a play three yard play instead of a 20 yard play, making a catch on third down to extend a drive, or linemen getting downfield to make a block that springs us for a longer gain. Those plays are out there for us to make, and if we can make them we will be in the mix of every game."
Busch knows the Pointers will be another strong opponent and feels they have one thing a lot of teams do not.
"Speed...they are fast on both sides of the ball," Busch said. "A lot of their kids have been in this system for a while and they really understand what Coach Palzkill wants from them. We are going to have to be fundamental and make sure tackles when we have the opportunity. Offensively we will have to be willing to take what they give us, and grind out yards where we can."
STATS VS NGM
Passing
Garrett Busch
11/25 for 108 yards
Rushing
RJ Veinberg 8 for 29
Wiley Hilst 8 for 22
Colton Rikli 7 for 25
Busch 11 for 35
Receiving
Veinberg 2 for 9
Rikli 3 for 32
Jacob Buchanan 1 for 9
Hilst 1 for 9
Grant Roh 1 for 9
Jason Gleichauf 2 for 33
Casey Weier 1 for 7