Middleton's defense could be dominant

Brad Rogeberg knows he’s been dealt a terrific hand.

Middleton’s defensive coordinator has had years where he’s missing a card here or there.

That won’t be the case in 2022.

“If we have to go big, we can go as big as we need to,” Rogeberg said. “And if we play a team that spreads us out and throws the ball all over the place, we can adjust to that, too.

“We’ve got a lot of players and a lot of options. On paper, the kids have worked really hard and are doing good things. It could be a special group.”

Middleton, which opens its season by hosting Bay Port on Aug. 18, seemingly has standouts all over the field.

Junior outside linebacker Sam Pilof holds four NCAA Division 1 scholarship offers and is quickly becoming one of the most heavily recruited players in school history. Gus Wenning was an all-region defensive end last year and moves to inside linebacker where he could be a terror.

The secondary — aided by the recent transfer of safety Thomas D’Onofrio — could be sensational. And there’s some potential playmakers up front that could destroy offensive game plans.

“I’m starting to think we can have a top-three, top-five defense in the state,” Wenning said. “I’m pretty confident in our team right now.”

Pilof sang a similar song.

“Our defense is stifling,” Pilof said. “I’d say we’ll be top-five in the state.”

Middleton, which runs a 3-4 base, could have one of the top linebacking groups in the state.

It starts with the dynamic duo of Pilof and Wenning, who were both named first-team all-Big Eight Conference last season.

Pilof had a sensational sophomore season, leading the Cardinals in sacks (12.5) and tackles (98) last fall. His 18 tackles for loss ranked second on the team, he forced six fumbles and had two passes defensed.

Since then, Pilof has picked up scholarship offers from Wisconsin, Penn State, Rutgers and Iowa State. And after a terrific offseason in the weight room, Pilof seems poised for a huge junior year.

“I want to go crazy this year and blow up,” Pilof said. “That’s the plan. That’s the goal.”

Wenning could do the same.

Wenning tied for the team lead with 19 tackles for loss in 2021 and was third in both tackles (61) and sacks (6.5). He also forced four fumbles and had a safety.

Even though Wenning (6-1, 220) was a man child in the trenches last fall, it became clear his height would send him to linebacker at the college level. So Wenning and Rogeberg opted to make that change a year early.

Wenning has dropped 15 pounds since last season ended and worked on speed training much of his offseason. Now, he could be ready to put up some eye-popping numbers from his new middle linebacker position.

“Gus has made a really nice transition moving from D-line,” Rogeberg said. “He’s lost some weight and he’s really fast. He’s making a really nice transition and he’s going to be really good.

“We needed him there this year and he’s going to play there in college. He won’t play defensive line in college, so it was up to him and he did it. He lost weight, got faster and he’s moving better. He looks really good.”

Garrett Ballweg, a second-team all-conference linebacker last season, is also back in the middle. A year ago, Ballweg was fourth on the team in tackles (45), had five tackles for loss, forced a fumble, recovered two fumbles, and had a fumble return for a touchdown.

Jack Madigan (6-1, 181) will play the other outside linebacker spot, opposite of Pilof.

“Jack’s undersized, but he’s strong as hell and plays bigger than he is,” Rogeberg said of Madigan.

Seniors Logan Roy Lewis and Justin Lima should provide quality depth.

“Our linebackers have a great mix between physicality and speed,” Wenning said. “Our speed is really good.”

The secondary should be an enormous strength, as well.

Senior Hayden Hellenbrand will be the Cardinals’ top cornerback and is likely to shadow No. 1 receivers, much like all-state corner Cole Toennies did a year ago.

“Hayden has that ability,” Rogeberg said. “He’s going to be really good.”

Senior Caleb Haverberg (5-9, 140) is small, but quick as a hiccup and will be Middleton’s other starting corner. Juniors Isaiah Dean and Nolan Waldorf are also pushing for time.

Middleton’s safety duo could be frightening.

Senior Avery Passini (6-1, 170) is big, strong and physical, and according to Rogeberg, “has taken control of the secondary.”

D’Onofrio — whose father, Mark, is the inside linebackers coach at the University of Wisconsin — recently moved into the district. Thomas D’Onofrio has played quarterback and cornerback in the past, but has the size (6-1, 190) and physicality to become a dominant safety.

“The D’Onofrio kid is a game changer,” Rogeberg said. “His football IQ is really good, which you’d kind of expect with who his Dad is.”

Senior Noah Schmitt and sophomore Harrison Armstrong will be top reserves at safety.

Up front, Middleton will be young. But the Cardinals could also be extremely dangerous.

Sophomore Quone Burks (6-1, 305) is an intimidating figure at nose tackle.

“He’s super strong and he’s put a lot of time into it,” Rogeberg said of Burks. “It’s important to him already and he’s doing a really good job.”

Junior defensive end Asher Kolodziej (6-1, 235) is up 25 pounds from a year ago and has the strength and quickness to be a force. And junior Dominic Frost (6-3, 290) is almost unmovable in the run game.

Sophomore Arjay Johnson, senior Andrew Stiehl and senior Kaleb Roessler — who will be starting on the offensive line — will rotate in, as well.

“That group is really young, but they’re going to be really good,” Rogeberg said of his defensive linemen. “They’ve got just a ton of potential.”

Middleton shutout three teams last year and held six of its 12 opponents to six points, or less. In all, the Cardinals allowed just 13.7 points per game, 205.3 yards per contest and limited foes to a 31.6% conversion rate on third down.

As good as that group was, the 2022 Cardinals believe they can be even better.

“I think everything’s really clicking right now for us,” Wenning said. “Everyone on defense is really starting to get the flow of things, getting the calls right, getting formations going. So we’re really starting to put everything together right now.”

Pilof agreed.

“We all like to hit and practices are really competitive,” he said. “There’s a lot of talking, but it’s all love.

“And I think this defense will be good enough to get us to state. That’s the goal and I think as hard as we’ve worked we can beat anyone. We worked really hard and it’s showing.”