Vanguards roll past Monticello

The beat goes on. And boy, what a rhythm it’s been. Wisconsin Heights’ football team rolled to its third straight convincing win last Friday, routing visiting Monticello, 56-20. The Vanguards improved to 4-2 overall and are 3-2 in the Ridge & Valley 8 Conference. In the last three games, the Vanguards have outscored their foes by an average score of 52.7-10.7. Heights has also scored 50 points, or more, in all three of those games. “This team really found the rhythm that we have been wanting,” Heights coach Connor Herrling said. “We have outscored our opponent’s in the last three games, 158-32. If that doesn’t get people talking, then you don’t know football. Those numbers are unreal.” There were a lot of numbers that were awfully impressive in the Vanguards’ destruction of Monticello. Quarterback Quinn Payne threw for 250 yards and had five total touchdowns. “That kid has come a very long way from starting varsity as a sophomore last year to what he’s doing his junior year,” Herrling said of Payne. Cody Blicharz continued his brilliant season with 250 total offensive yards and four touchdowns.  Blicharz now has more than 1,500 yards of total offense in six games and 23 touchdowns.  “That is a crazy stat line,” Herrling said. Blicharz also had two kick returns for touchdowns. He now holds the all-time record for most kick return touchdowns in 8-man football in the state of Wisconsin with eight. Reed Adler, Zach Sander and Brayden VanRiper all had touchdown receptions. John Reader, Damien Henning, Fin Hinderman and Luke Herrling all had great defensive nights. “I can’t stress the amount of work this team has put in, all the way from the JV to the varsity,” Herrling said. “From the start of August to now, they have been dialed in. “I will go to the goal line with these guys. We will succeed, on and off the field. These guys are student-athletes, and that’s what matters, taking care of business on the field and off.”