Spartans Beat Monarchs 30-14, Advance to AFC Championship
The Wauwatosa Spartans Football Club entered its Ironman Football League playoff game against the Shorewood Monarchs on high note. Winning its last five games, Wauwatosa came in owners of the one seed in the American Conference. But the Spartans were forced to host its first round game on an unfamiliar field, Valley Fields in downtown Milwaukee, because of scheduling conflicts. The Monarchs came in 4-5, and the conference’s four-seed, but remained one of the more dangerous teams in the league, thanks mostly to its all-star quarterback, Thomas Morris. But a punishing running game and big passing plays allowed the Spartans to control the game, winning 30-14.
The Monarchs started out on offense, and were able to reel off yardage, before being forced to punt. The Spartans took over on their own 30, and proceeded to push the ball down the field on the ground, eating up clock and setting up a 30-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tony Henner to wide receiver Raymon Porchia, opening a 6-0 lead after a missed extra point.
“When we score first, we are very tough to beat because our offense gains confidence and the defense keys off that,” said Spartan head coach Brandy Spoerl. “We’re 9-0 this season, when we put up the game’s first points.”
With time already winding down in the first quarter, the Monarchs started a drive of their own, but a couple sacks by defensive linemen Brian Witt, Justin Morrow and Joe Flick pushed them backwards and forced a 30-yard field goal attempt, which sailed wide right. The Spartans took the opportunity to again march downfield, culminating in Henner finding wide receiver Greg Rebella open over the middle for a 20-yard touchdown and a 12-0 lead, after another missed extra point.
The Monarchs offense went back to work, trying to salvage some points and momentum before the half, but the Spartan defense clamped down, and forced a turnover on downs. The offense went back to work, quickly driving down the field, only to be stopped when Henner fumbled, halting the drive at the 10-yard line. The Monarchs managed a couple plays before the half, but ran out of time.
At the start of the second half, the Spartans were unable to move the ball for the first time, resulting in a punt. The Monarchs capitalized, and mounted their first scoring drive, ending with running back Roosevelt Robertson running in from three yards out, to make it 12-6, after a blocked extra point.
Not wilting under the pressure, the Spartans offense struck back quickly. After a 5-yard run by Bobby Windom, Henner found Rebella again, this time for 70 yards and a score, making it 18-6, after another missed extra point. The Monarchs attempted to respond, but managed only a 35-yard field goal attempt, which sailed wide right. Looking to end the game, the Spartan offense returned to work and drove deep into Monarch’s territory. Running back Cedric McFadden ran left, and scampered in the end zone on a 15-yard run, making it 24-6, after a failed two-point conversion. Special teams were an issue all night for the Spartans as their normal kicker was unavailable for the game.
At the start of what would be a long fourth quarter, the Monarchs began by turning the ball over on downs. The Spartans, looking to put the game further away, drove to the Monarch’s 30, but a fumble by Windom ended the threat. Offense then came to a stand-still, as the two teams first traded punts, followed by a failed fake punt pass by the Monarchs, a Spartan turnover on downs, a Monarchs turnover and another Spartan turnover on downs.
The Monarchs mounted one final challenge late in the fourth, when Morris found wide receiver Robert Morris for a 30-yard touchdown, making it 24-14 after a successful two-point conversion pass to wide receiver Gio Carney.
But on the ensuing kickoff, Spartan returner, Nate Heard, raced down the right sideline untouched for a 40-yard touchdown, making it 30-14, after a final missed two-point conversion. With under a minute remaining, the Monarchs scrambled, but were unable to do much.
Henner finished 6-16 for 188 yards and 3 TDs. Leading the receivers was Greg Rebella who had 2 catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Raymon Porchia added 3 catches for 63 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, duties were split as usual between running backs Bobby Windom and Cedric McFadden. Windom finished with 14 rushes for 115 yards and McFadden added 12 rushes for 67 yards and a touchdown.
The Spartan defense chased Morris all over the field, forcing one interception and producing four combined sacks. Cornerback Scott Lang grabbed the interception, and sacks came from defensive linemen Justin Morrow (2), Joe Flick (.5) and Brian Witt (.5); and linebacker Darrell Jack (.5) and safety Bob LaPlante (.5).
“We are right where we wanted to be when we started the season,” says Spoerl. “Now we plan to finish strong and see where that takes us.”
The Spartans improve to 9-2 overall, and 8-2 in IFL play. As the one seed, the team will host the AFC Championship Game at Charles Hart Park at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 27th against the #2 seed Waukesha City Junkyard Dogs. In first-round playoff action, the Junkyard Dogs defeated the Southern Lakes Blue Devils 20-10, and come into the game with a 7-3 record. In the teams’ regular season matchup, the Spartans won 31-14.
