August 2023

SUAMICO — Visions of Bay Port Stadium have given Bryce Falk nightmares the last two years.

Falk, Middleton’s standout senior running back and the Big Eight Conference’s reigning ‘Back of the Year’, had brilliant seasons with the Cardinals in 2021 and 2022. But Falk was still bothered by his varsity debut at Bay Port, when he fumbled a late kickoff that led to a Pirates’ touchdown and an eventual win.

“It didn’t end well for me sophomore year when I was here,” Falk said. “I took it a bit personal.”

He sure did.

And on Aug. 17, Bay Port paid the price.

In the 1980s, the Washington Redskins powerful offensive line was given the nickname ‘The Hogs.’

A decade earlier, Buffalo’s sensational offensive line earned the nickname ‘The Electric Compa-ny’ for its ability to turn on the juice.

Middleton’s offensive line doesn’t have a nickname right now. Don’t be surprised if that changes, though, by the end of the 2023 campaign.

On a roster packed with stars, Middleton’s line could eventually shine the brightest. And as the Cardinals try making their first trip to the state finals at Camp Randall Stadium since 1987, it could be the offensive line that paves the way.

“Every line has its own stamp on my heart,” said Middleton co-interim head coach Joe Poehls, who also coaches the offensive line. “But this one could be really special.”

Indeed.

TOWN OF MERTON — Twenty four months ago, Middleton traveled to Bay Port and led the Pirates, 14-6, after three quarters of its season opener. Host Bay Port answered with 20 straight fourth quarter points, though, and rallied past the Cardinals, 26-14.

One year ago, the same teams opened their seasons in Middleton and the results were similar. Bay Port dominated on both sides of the ball, outgained the host Cardinals, 487-232, and toppled MHS, 38-21.

Now, Middleton is hoping the latest chapter in this trilogy will have a much different ending.

The Cardinals travel to Bay Port Thursday at 7 p.m. hoping to get a modicum of revenge. That won’t be easy, though, as the Pirates are 22-3 over the last two seasons and are once again expected to be one of the elite teams in the state.

Twelve months ago, Will Garlock could have left his cell phone on in church — or the library — and it probably wouldn’t have mattered much.

Oh sure, the Middleton High School junior-to-be got his share of calls and texts from buddies and family members.

But colleges? To them, Garlock was the Invisible Man.

“I didn’t get a single call last summer,” Garlock said. “Not one.”

Boy, how things have changed.

These days, Garlock — who has grown to nearly 7-feet tall — better have his phone muted when he walks into a movie theater. That’s because Garlock’s stock has skied and the interest from colleges has reached a fevered pitch over the last few months.

Since Middleton’s season ended in March, Garlock has received offers from Wisconsin, Marquette, Virginia Tech and Penn State. Garlock has also received interest from schools such as Purdue, Michigan State, Iowa, Iowa State, Minnesota and Belmont.