Easily predicted matchup makes for a tough-to-guess outcome for the Chiefs
By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
When the WIAA football playoff pairings were released a little more than a month ago and Big Foot was in Division 4, many fans could guess at what two teams would meet for the title in Madison.
Now there’s no need to guess – because the matchup is set.
Unbeaten Big Foot (12-0) and once-beaten Somerset (11-1) clashed in the championship battle at Camp Randall Stadium Thursday night in a highly anticipated contest.
For Somerset, the trip to Madison gave it a chance to avenge a two-point loss to Wrightstown in last year’s Division 4 final. The last time Big Foot made it to Camp Randall, it returned with the 2009 gold ball after a win over Kewaunee.
Somerset advanced to the final with a 33-8 win last week over Black River Falls, while Big Foot earned its third state trip with a 45-22 win over Freedom.
Big Foot coach Rodney Wedig knew his team would be in for a battle – as it should be – in the state championship matchup.
“They run the option, and they run it very well,” he said. “They also run a unique defense that utilizes different zone blitzing techniques that have been tough for their opponents to move the ball on.
“They are experienced, they run the system very well, and they have a very quick, athletic line. They get off the ball and get to the backers in a hurry.”
Wedig and his staff dove into film study shortly after the semifinal victory last week, and he came to at least one definitive conclusion.
There aren’t many holes in the Somerset attack.
“They are sound,” Wedig said. “We simply cannot give them extra opportunities to score.”
While his team has plenty of big-game experience to its credit, Wedig said he felt Somerset was at least even with the Chiefs in that department as the two prepared to play this week.
After its tough loss in the finals last year, Somerset spent the off-season and all of 2012 with its eyes on one thing – to bring home a different color trophy this time around.
“They have the edge because they have been expecting to be there all year after losing a heartbreaker last year,” Wedig said. “Mason (Dixon) and Garett (Cary) were the only kids that suited up for our state championship team that are on this team.
“But with that being said, I don’t expect us to be nervous and overwhelmed. We will be ready.”
Somerset’s offense features a two-headed rushing attack that is led by senior Tyler Ledbeter (6-1, 172) and senior Vernon Breault (5-11, 192), who have rushed for 1,593 and 1,444 yards, respectively.
Ledbeter has 18 touchdowns heading into the finale, while Breault has scored 19. The two combined for more than 300 yards in Somerset’s win last week.
Dixon continued his amazing senior year last week with five rushing touchdowns to bring his season total to 40. He has rushed 168 ties for 2,080 yards, a 12.4 per-carry average.
Senior quarterback Carter Hehr, who has thrown for 1,140 yards and 16 touchdowns, also has 782 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns, followed by sophomore Brandon Hausner with 443 yards rushing and six touchdowns.
Senior Matt Ripkey leads the Big Foot receiving corps with 38 catches for 749 yards and nine touchdowns.
Close games will help
While his team has enjoyed blowout after blowout this season, the last two playoff games have seen the Chiefs fall behind for at least a portion of the first half.
Having to overcome at least some adversity isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
“It helps a lot,” Wedig said. “We have had a perfect draw to prepare us for that; a physical and tough Brodhead team, an undefeated Lakeside Lutheran team and a Freedom team that was very confident and on a roll.
“We were able to get through those games, and now we play the team everyone expected to be in the state championship game. Perfect.”
Wedig said his team’s preparation for the state finals would focus more on the mental side of things than the physical.
And he admitted that, with so many outside activities going on around school, the week will be anything but normal.
“The first thing I learned (during the first trip to state) is to forget about trying to stay on a routine,” he said. “It is impossible.
“The second thing with the short turnabout (between games) is we have a lot more mental preparation than physical. We are not going to get physically better, and we need to keep our legs fresh.”
