Post Messenger Recorder -

The more things change, the more they stay the same. No, I'm not talking about COVID. Well, not entirely anyway. I'm talking here about rivalries - good old fashioned football rivalries. The Packers have the Bears; Ohio State has Michigan; and New Glarus (NGM) and Belleville have each other. It's a rivalry that has been in existence since before electricity first graced the barns of southern Wisconsin. And whether this game is played in the Spring or the Fall, nothing changes...it's the football game that is the ultimate expression of this rivalry. Always has been. Always will be.

The more tenured residents of these communities will no doubt recognize this game as the last vestige of the once proud State Line League...a league that for reasons that escape me went the way of the rotary phone. Now played in the shadow of that league's tombstone, we can all hope that this game, this rivalry, shall live on in perpetuity. To that end there is good news as despite more conference re-alignments these two teams will play again soon...real soon, as the WIAA 2021 Fall football season is set to kick off on August 20.

Oh yes, the game.

If ever these two teams fought a classic, spirited donnybrook this was it! In the end it was the Wildcats of Belleville that would prevail by the slimmest of margins, 20-21. Like all rivalry games, you can throw the record book out the window. The pundits at the J&M were touting their current 5-1 record and #7 State ranking whilst their counterparts at Puempel's claimed their school's 14-3 record of late against Belleville would be enough. The actual game would give each bar room plenty to talk about for days to come.

This game had it all with offense, defense, quantum momentum changes and miscues galore. You could feel the energy from the start when NGM's junior center Dain Walter pancake-blocked his 300 pound adversary on the first play of the game. The NGM offense then marched the length of the field and drew first blood when senior quarterback Darris Schuett found senior Peter Gustafson in the northwest corner of the end zone with a 21-yard strike for a score. Their try for 2 came up short.

Belleville came right back with matching energy on their first play from scrimmage as their talented southpaw junior quarterback Trevor Syse kept it and bolted 30 yards. Facing a 4th and 7, Syse would keep the drive alive finding his twin brother Carson in the left flat for a 12-yard gain. (Most readers will no doubt recognize the surname "Syse" and associate it with Blanchardville athletic prowess. These two brothers are about to change that discussion). Facing another 4th down, Syse (the quarterback) would find his sophomore receiver Andrew Ace and move the ball to the NGM 17.

NGM's Peter Gustafson would intercept a Syse pass on the 1-yard line to shut down this drive. NGM would then drive 99 yards, helped in large part by Darris Schuett's 77-yard run, and Gustafson would collect his second touchdown of the quarter on a pass from Schuett. Again, the 2 point try would fail leaving NGM up 12-0 as this frenetic first quarter came to a close. Early momentum was clearly with NGM.

The Wildcats would start the second quarter with a long drive of their own behind the strong running of senior Sawyer Fahey and deft passing of Trevor Syse. They would reach the NGM 4-yard line but the NGM defense would hold and force a field goal try by the "ambidextrous" Trevor Syse. Kicking now with his right foot, the ball sailed wide left. Ever gratuitous, NGM gave the ball right back with a fumble on their own 23, but again the defense would hold and prevent a score as Syse's pass in the end zone was broken up.

The NGM offense was stymied and forced to punt. This time the Wildcat offense would not be denied as Syse hit his senior receiver Jaxson Pier, who, with some crafty running, would put the Cats on the scoreboard. Syse's extra point kick was good and it was 12-7 at the 6:12 mark in the second.

The Belleville defense, now invigorated, forced another NGM fumble on the NGM 32, recovered by senior Mason Markiewicz. The Cats' talented Fahey would take runs to the 12, and then to the 3 but again the NGM defense would rise to the challenge and prevent a score as junior defensive back Cale Weeden put his athleticism on display and batted away another Syse pass in the end zone. NGM would run out the clock on this most entertaining first half and take a 12-7 lead to the locker room.

At half time NGM would celebrate Parent's Night, as all players and their parents were introduced and welcomed by the NGM crowd. This is always a nice touch as it gives credit where credit is due, the families playing a central role in supporting their sons (and daughter) through the grueling process of a football season and career. And here I am remiss for not also mentioning that the game's introductions started with the seniors as it was also Senior Night.

Belleville got the ball to start the second half. The NGM defense was a veritable wrecking crew, with Dain Walter spending almost as much time in the Belleville backfield as a Belleville running back. Facing a 4th and 23, the Wildcat punter could not reach the high snap and NGM would take over on the Wildcat 5-yard line. If ever there was an opportunity squandered it was here, as NGM would again turn the ball over on this drive, now via an interception. After some back-and-forth by both teams, NGM found its footing as quarterback Darris Schuett would find junior Jackson Parman in the end zone with a 7-yard strike. A cleverly crafted shovel pass to Parman was good for a 2-point conversion and NGM was up 20-7 with 0:36 to play in the third. Momentum NGM.

Many a team could have folded at this point but the Wildcats answered with their most impressive drive of the evening. With passes from Syse to Syse and a mix of strong runs, it was Syse (the quarterback) on a 4th and 11 who called his own number and ran for a score, taking multiple NGM tacklers with him into the end zone. His kick was good and at 20-14 with 7:33 to play, Belleville served notice it was now anybody's game. Momentum Belleville.

Here again NGM would prove to be a most gracious host as they gifted the Cats with another fumble on their own 30. This was the gift Trevor Syse (who would throw for 256 yards in the evening) was looking for as on the next play he scrambled away from a sack and found junior Anthony Nolden all alone for the Wildcats' second touchdown in a mere 69 seconds of play. The kick was good and all of a sudden NGM found themselves down 21-20 with 6:24 to play, their 13-point lead having vanished like some mysterious morning mist.

Sue Moen

But did I mention that this is a rivalry game where no one goes away quietly? NGM came right back with a spirited and promising drive of their own, only to have the Cats' Dylan Posthuma intercept Schuett and return it to the NGM 30. At the 2:36 mark, it would be the strong running of Sawyer Fahey and Trevor Syse that would get two key first downs, run out the clock and seal the deal for Belleville with a 21-20 hard fought victory.

And there it was on full display: "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat"...one side funereal...the other unbridled jubilation. And this is what makes these rivalry games worthy of continuation.

We'll see you back here soon as the WIAA starts its Fall 2021 football season in less than 90 days and these two teams are scheduled to play each other early. Like I said, "the more things change..."