New faces, same results for MHS' defense?

MADISON — Seven starters from last year’s championship defense have graduated.

An eighth will miss the early part of the season due to injury.

The coaches might need a roster nearby to remember the names of all the newcomers.

While the personnel on Middleton’s defense has changed dramatically, though, expectations certainly haven’t.

“We expect our team to be great every year,” said Middleton co-coach Tim Simon, whose team hosts defending state runner-up Bay Port in its season opener on Aug. 20. “That’s just the standard we’ve tried to establish. There hasn't been a trophy here since the 80’s, but we’ve been very successful.”

The Cardinals certainly enjoyed tremendous success last season, going unbeaten in the Big Eight Conference and winning their first league title since 2015. Middleton finished 9-2 overall and reached Level 2 of the WIAA Division 1 playoffs before losing to Lake Geneva Badger, 31-7.

While the Cardinals excelled on both sides of the ball, the defense more than carried its weight.

Middleton allowed 39 points in a Week 1 loss at Bay Port. From there, the Cardinals allowed just 9.1 points per game over the final 10 weeks.

Middleton pitched shutouts against both Janesville Craig and Janesville Parker, and held seven of its 11 foes to single digits. Part of that was due to the demise of the once-proud Big Eight Conference, but the Cardinals certainly had enough firepower to match up with any offense in the state.

Middleton produced the Big Eight’s Defensive Player of the Year in linebacker Tyler Vogt, the conference’s Outside Linebacker of the Year in Oliver Wenning, the league’s Defensive Back of the Year of the Year in Patrick Passini and the conference’s Defensive End of the Year in Reed Falk.

In all, 10 Middleton defenders earned all-conference honors.

“That was a heck of a defense,” MHS co-head coach Joe Poehls said.

While the names and faces have changed, Middleton believes it will field a high-level unit once again. That’s because the four returning starters all had big years in 2025 and the newcomers are packed with potential.

Falk will be a frontrunner for Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year honors after a magnificent junior season where he finished with a team-high 8.5 sacks, which was fourth in the state. Falk also forced a team-high four fumbles, recovered one, tied for fourth on the team with 63 tackles and earned all-Region honors.

“You’ve got to feel for the other offensive line and the other team going against someone like that,” said Middleton right tackle Madden Cleary, who goes head to head with Falk many days in practice. “He’s awfully tough to block.”

Unfortunately for Falk and the Cardinals, he broke his ankle at a national wrestling tournament in Las Vegas on April 22. Falk, who won a WIAA Division 1 state wrestling championship at 190 pounds in March, is nearly recovered and is targeting a Week 3 return at Madison Memorial.

“It’s unfortunate,” Falk said of missing the start of the season. “But I think we’ll be fine until I get back. And then, I’ll be ready.”

Falk, who will wrestle collegiately at Utah State, is in fantastic shape. And when he returns, he could be poised for another sensational season.

“Reed’s a stud. He just is,” said Simon, who runs the defense. “He’s got even bigger things in front of him.”

Middleton’s other returning starters had big years in 2025, as well. Senior defensive tackle Breon Gazaway was a second-team all-Big Eight selection, while junior safety Vincent Jiru and senior cornerback Anthony Pellitteri earned honorable-mention all-conference honors.

The 5-foot-8, 220-pound Gazaway is extremely quick and strong, which helped him post five tackles for loss and 22 total tackles last year.

“We were watching film of him against Kenosha Indian Trail (in Week 2) from last year and he was just blowing stuff up,” Simon said of Gazaway. “He’s low, he’s quick, he’s strong. He’s got some fight in him and I think he’ll give some centers some problems. For a thicker kid, he’s really quick.”

Jiru and Pellitterri will lead a secondary that aims to be both physical and opportunistic.

Jiru played the boundary safety position last season, tied for fourth on the team with 63 tackles and had two tackles for loss.

“He’s a really smart kid,” Simon said of Jiru. “He also could probably play our ‘Hawk’ linebacker. He’s versatile. He’s a good communicator on the field.”

Pellitteri is undersized (5-10, 145), but is extremely quick and feisty. Last season, he tied for second on the team with eight passes defensed, had one interception, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and had 16 tackles.

“He’s a smaller guy, but he’s got a little spitfire in him,” Simon said of Pellitteri. “He’s a competitor. He doesn’t mind how big or small the guys are he’s defending. He takes that on as a challenge.”

From there, the Cardinals will be breaking in several newcomers inside their 4-2-5 defense.

Up front, juniors Tim McKee (6-3, 250) and Eric Henke (5-11, 215) are battling for the second defensive tackle position next to Gazaway. Senior Emontae Napier (6-3, 380), who was injured last season, is also fighting for playing time.

Falk figures to be one of the state’s top defensive ends again when he returns. Seniors Barrett Wochos (6-0, 200) and Roman Blaha (6-2, 205), along with junior Yanni Potamousis (6-1, 210) and sophomore Parker Klein (6-4, 195) all have tremendous upside, as well.

“We are really deep at end,” Poehls said. “Yanni has such natural technique. He’s extremely strong, extremely fast. He squeezes and dips so well. He and Eric Hanke were giving us fits last year on scout.

“And Parker Klein is just really built. His hands are huge. He has a natural dip. It’s going to be a good group.”

Senior inside linebackers Ben Blackmore (5-10, 185) and Mason Martin (5-11, 230), who backed up standouts Vogt and Ben Cutler last season, get their turn to shine.

“They got some playing time in games where we had big halftime leads last year,” Simon said. “And they showed last year they’re ready to go.”

Juniors Clayton Yapp, Luca Whitson and Kohen Look will be the likely backups at inside linebacker.

Middleton employs a hybrid linebacker/safety that it calls its ‘Hawk.’ That player has to have the ability to cover, tackle and excel mentally.

Wenning was sensational in that role last year, and leaves huge shoes to fill. But Simon is excited from what he’s seen of seniors Caymus Roberts and Aiden Bell.

Junior Carter Parks, a standout tight end, could also get some time at ‘Hawk.’

“It just clicks for him,” Simon said of Parks. “He just looks so natural there and he wants to play. He’s like Reed (Falk). He wants to play on both sides of the ball.”

Senior Peter Statsick, who got some playing time last year, is the frontrunner for the cornerback spot opposite Pellitteri. Senior Zach Daniels and junior Brody Robertson are also competing for playing time.

Senior Will Russell, who could also play wide receiver, is the favorite to line up next to Jiru at safety. Seniors Cahner Vitense and Seth Reber are also in the mix for snaps.

“The defense is going to have a lot of new faces, but that’s high school football,” Simon said. “There’s a lot of positions that are still up grabs.”

A year ago, Middleton rarely substituted. The Cardinals’ starters were both gifted and versatile, and Simon estimated they played 90% of the snaps, or more, many weeks.

“They were our best 11 against the run and the pass,” Simon said.

Things could be much different this year, as Simon anticipates rotating players far more often.

“I think some of our guys who will play the same position have different strengths and we’ll try taking advantage of that,” Simon said. “So our goal is to have different packages. We want 14-to-16 guys for different situations now.”

While Middleton’s inexperience could lead to some early growing pains, the Cardinals believe their defense could grow into an elite unit once again.

“We play to trust the process,” Simon said. “And I think our strength is going to be how well they play together.

“I think intelligence should be one of our strengths, and I think the guys we have out there have gotten a better of understanding of not just what we’re doing, but how and why we’re doing it. It should be fun.”