MIDDLETON -- Special teams blunders in Middleton's playoff loss to Wisconsin Rapids last season ``left a bad taste in our mouths,'' said Cardinals football coach Kurt Gundlach.

Any lingering aftertaste was wiped out Tuesday night as Middleton's special teams cooked up a masterful performance at home in the opening round of the WIAA Division 1 playoffs.WIAA DIVISION 1 The Cardinals (10-0) washed down an undefeated regular season with a 24-10 victory over Hartland Arrowhead (7-3) to set up a delicious entree in the second round, a rematch with Big Eight Conference nemesis Sun Prairie.

While the Cardinals' defense was in the midst of devouring another foe, Middleton's offense could muster only one first down on each of its first three drives, which ended in two punts and a blocked field-goal attempt.

With the Cardinals desperate for some points, the special teams served up the first touchdown and set up another.

Midway through the second quarter, Michael Morris took a punt at his own 40 and streaked down the right sideline for a 60-yard score, giving the Cardinals a 7-3 lead and rejuvenating the Middleton bench.

Moments later, the Cardinals forced a fumble on the kickoff return and parlayed the turnover into a 20-yard Brandon Hellenbrand field goal and a 10-3 halftime lead.

``We said everybody here has got to make something happen on special teams,'' Gundlach said. ``It was kind of prophetic, but the kids believed it.''

Middleton's special teams came up huge again in the third quarter as the Cardinals nursed a 17-10 lead.

Casey Cramer -- a two-time all-conference tight end who has also earned acclaim at linebacker -- made his biggest contribution of the game as Middleton's punter.

A bad snap sailed well over Cramer's head and over the Cardinals' goal line. The senior chased the ball down 7 yards deep in the end zone and launched a punt that was downed at the Middleton 43, where the Cardinals' defense stopped the Warhawks.

``I don't think I can say those words that were in my head,'' Cramer said before repeating the PG-13 version of his thoughts. ``It was just `Oh shoot, oh shoot -- get the ball out.' ... All I tried to do was get it as far out of the end zone as possible.''

Middleton added some insurance with 4:30 remaining when junior tailback Matt Meinholz scampered in from 15 yards out on the first play following an interception by Dan Lohr.

Meinholz was the Cardinals' leading rusher with just 32 yards, as Middleton struggled to get its ground game on track.

``We've got to work some kinks out on our offense,'' Cramer said. ``We're not clicking like we want to be yet.''

Meanwhile, Arrowhead's triple-back offensive set gobbled up small chunks of yardage all night long to keep the Warhawks in the game. Arrowhead had a 270-198 edge in total yardage.

``We bent a little bit more tonight, but that's going to happen in the playoffs,'' Gundlach said. ``Teams are here for a reason.''

Two interceptions -- one that set up Meinholz's touchdown and another that Eric Simon snared in the endzone for a touchback -- hurt the Warhawks, along with the special teams miscues.

``We made some mistakes,'' Arrowhead coach Tom Taraska said. ``When you make mistakes in a big playoff game, it's going to come back and haunt you.''

The Cardinals will face Sun Prairie (8-2) on Saturday in a matchup of the two teams who have combined to win the last eight Big Eight titles.

Senior linebacker Fred Macklin, who was all over the field while recording 15 tackles, says Middleton's approach is the same as it's always been -- one game at a time. But he admitted that thoughts of a state title have been creeping into his head.

``It's been a goal all season,'' Macklin said. ``At least for me personally. I don't want to jinx the team.''

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