Football Cardinals have great expectations
Nine months ago, Jackson Mefford walked off the field in Sun Prairie dejected, disheartened, doleful.
Mefford and his Middleton football team had just fallen to Sun Prairie in Level 3 of the WIAA Division 1 playoffs. And if that loss wasn’t bad enough, Mefford had a sobering thought as he left the field.
“I thought to myself, this was going to be the best team I ever played on at Middleton,” said Mefford, now a senior offensive lineman.
That seemed like a reasonable belief.
The 2021 Cardinals reached Level 3 of the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Middleton finished second in the rough and tumble Big Eight Conference.
And even though Middleton’s season ended against eventual state runner-up Sun Prairie, MHS experienced a joyride many weren’t sure could be repeated.
Today, Mefford has a different outlook.
“Now, I’m thinking this year’s team is going to be even better than last year’s,” Mefford said. “I want state this year and I think we’re going. I’m very excited.”
There’s a lot to be excited about.
Middleton figures to have a dominant defense. The offense has the potential to be explosive.
And with Sun Prairie now split into two schools and off the Badger Large Conference, Middleton becomes the frontrunners to win its first Big Eight title since 2015.
“I told our kids this week, ‘guys who work hard and do things right, good things happen to them,’ ” Middleton coach Jason Pertzborn said. “That’s where I’m going to leave it. But I’m expecting good things to happen because they put in the work.”
There’s a lot of reasons to expect good things from Middleton’s offense.
Junior quarterback Gabe Passini is back for his second year under center. Junior running back Bryce Falk has the potential to become the Cardinals’ next great back.
And Mefford leads a retooled offensive line that could eventually become a force.
“I think we’re getting there,” senior fullback Tyler Mayhew said of the offense. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re one of the best teams in the state this year because we had 50, 60 guys in the weight room starting (last) November. We’re 113 workouts in and that’s really brought us together.”
Middleton averaged 31.3 points per game last season, but could be even better thanks in large part to the duo of juniors Passini and Falk.
Passini had a tremendous sophomore season, completing 76-of-115 passes (66.1%) for 1,076 yards. He threw 11 touchdowns, five interceptions and ran for two more scores.
Passini rebounded from an injury in the spring of 2021 and made it back by the Cardinals’ Week 2 game against Waunakee. Passini entered that game with Middleton in a big hole, nearly engineered a comeback victory and took over the starting job from that point forward.
Today, the 6-foot-4 Passini is up 20 pounds to 185. And he looks sharper and more confident than ever.
“He’s a winner,” Pertzborn said of Passini. “He’s a great competitor. He prides himself a lot, he’s a tough critic, but he also demands a lot out of us as coaches and he demands a lot out of his teammates. It’s awesome.”
Pertzborn said sophomore Troy Teff would start at quarterback most years. Instead, he’ll be Middleton’s top backup in several seasons. And junior safety Thomas D’Onofrio has quarterbacking experience, as well.
“We’re incredibly deep at that spot,” Pertzborn said.
Falk figures to be the next great running back in the program.
A year ago, with Falk backing up starter Elijah Gray, he ran for 481 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 5.3 yards per carry. This year, the powerful, yet ultra-quick Falk (6-0, 180) will be the bellcow and could be one of the state’s most improved players.
“We only need to give Bryce a little bit of room and he can make anything out it,” Mayhew said. “He’s big, strong and explosive. So if we give him a yard, he can take that the rest of the way.”
Mefford agreed.
“If you give Bryce just any sort of space, he'll make a play out of it,” Mefford said. “There’s no one who’s going to catch him.”
Junior Trey Suttle (6-0, 210) will get a fair share of the carries, too.
“He’s a load,” Pertzborn said of Suttle. “Big, thick kid, more of a downhill runner. Trey likes to get his head down and run people over.”
The offensive line took some hits, losing four starters including first-team all-conference players Jack Alexander and Kevin Spahn. But the Cardinals had outstanding depth last year, and now, many that waited their turn have a chance to shine.
Mefford, a second-team all-conference player at right guard last year, will lead the group.
“He might lead the whole offense,” Pertzborn said of Mefford. “He’s an outstanding leader.”
Senior Kaleb Roessler will start at left guard, and Pertzborn is expecting big things from him.
“His work ethic is unbelievable,” Pertzborn said of Roessler. “Him and Mefford look like twin brothers. They fit in well together.
“And those two guards, they’re strong as hell. They move well. I look to those two to be our leaders on the line.”
Senior Ellis Goeden is the frontrunner at center, but is being pushed by junior Dillon Walser. Junior left tackle K.J. Peterson (6-1, 290) has made huge strides and seems ready for big things.
“K.J. looks like an animal,” Pertzborn said. “Him and Mefford are the strongest kids in program.”
And junior right tackle Hudson Cleary (6-6, 250) has made tremendous gains in the weight room, which has translated to the field.
“Hudson’s really physical and playing with really good technique,” Pertzborn said. “And he was a kid I wasn’t sure would be ready. But he was in the weight room since our season ended and he’s put on a lot of good weight.”
Mefford, who was the young gun on last year’s veteran line, loves what he’s seen from this group through two weeks of practice.
“We had a lot of guys that didn't play last year who are really stepping up,” Mefford said. “So it’s really looking good. We’re going to be able to run the ball all over everybody.”
If that happens, one reason figures to be the extremely physical Mayhew, who could be one of the better fullbacks in the area.
Last season, Mayhew played both linebacker and fullback. This year, Mayhew has moved strictly to fullback and looks to make the most of it.
“Fullback is fun because when you get it going, you can cream people and put ‘em in the dirt,” Mayhew said.
According to Pertzborn, that’s just what his fullback has been doing.
“Tyler’s been unbelievable,” Pertzborn said. “In the weight room this offseason, he missed the fewest workouts of anybody … and it’s showing.”
Middleton will have a new group of wide receivers and tight ends, but Pertzborn likes what he’s seen to date.
Senior Alden Cleary (6-3, 185) is a big, strong physical wideout. And senior Dayton Devine missed most of last season with a broken foot, but has the speed and quickness to be a nightmare for opposing defenses.
“They’re catching everything that touches their hands right now,” Pertzborn said of his receivers. “I can't think of a dropped pass.”
Pertzborn is trying to work Teff in as his No. 3 receiver, while junior Billy Panagopoulos is also battling for time.
The tight end group should be strong, as well.
Senior Owen Cooney played sparingly last year, but has taken a nice jump.
“He looks really good,” Pertzborn said of Cooney. “He looks awesome. His hands are like gloves. He catches everything. He blocks really well. Good pad level.”
And 6-foot-8 junior Carter Kadow could eventually become a force.
Kadow is battling back from a torn ACL and will be limited the first two games. If things go well, though, Kadow will be fully cleared by Week 3 and could be trouble for foes.
“He shouldn’t even be ready right now,” Pertzborn said of Kadow. “But he’s just a driven kid. He does his rehab religiously. Some kids with injuries you have to remind them every day to do their stuff. He did his every day and came to every workout, even though he couldn’t do legs. He’s going to be a really good one for us.”
Add it all up and the Cardinals could have the pieces to do big things.
“We were so close last year, we could taste it,” Mefford said. “I mean, if we had beat Sun Prairie (in the playoffs), we’re just one step from state.
“This year, I know we can do it. We have plenty of talent, and I’ve never seen guys work as hard as we did in the weight room. I can’t wait.”
