By,
Rob Reischel
Middleton Times-Tribune
Kyle Brodd isn't the biggest back in the Big Eight Conference.
He may not be the fastest, the strongest or possess the most moves.
But there is one thing Middleton coach Kurt Gundlach believes he is.
''He's the Back of the Year in our league,'' Gundlach said.
Anyone who watched Brodd dominate Rockford East on Oct. 12 wouldn't argue. The
junior tailback scored a career-best five touchdowns, three in the most spectacular of
fashion, and led his Cardinals to an impressive 41-26 non-conference victory over an
extremely athletic and talented E-Rabs squad.
The win lifted Middleton to 6-2 overall heading into its regular season finale versus
Madison West Oct. 18. The E-Rabs, meanwhile, fell to 3-5.
''Kyle's the guy,'' said Middleton quarterback Jeremy Ziegler. ''Whatever we need, he's
been giving us.''
That was certainly the case against East.
Brodd scored Middleton's first five touchdowns, ran for 100 yards on 22 carries and
finished with 134 total yards. He pushed his total touchdowns this season to 15 and
closed within 55 yards of 1,000 on the year.
Brodd, who combines quickness, savvy and improved strength to baffle defenders, has
had some stellar days in a Middleton uniform since becoming the featured back last fall.
But this, he admitted, may have been the best.
''I know I've never had a five touchdown game,'' he said. ''That's something else. But
our line is so good, it makes running pretty easy.''
True, the Cardinals front did dominate the E-Rabs for much of the contest. But there
were times when Brodd did much of the damage on his own.
Consider the Cardinals' first score.
Middleton faced a first down at the East 12 late in the first quarter, when Brodd came
left and was greeted by an E-Rabs defensive end. Instead of going down, though, Brodd
spun away then broke two more tackles on his way to the endzone.
''One of the biggest differences is that Kyle's so much stronger this year than he was
last year,'' Gundlach said. ''He doesn't go down on first contact anymore.''
Never was that more evident than Brodd's third score. Leading, 14-6, late in the first
half, the Cardinals faced a second-and-11 at the East 34. Ziegler found Brodd free on
the right sideline at the 20 and a pack of E-Rabs converged on Brodd.
Only Brodd didn't go down. Instead he broke three tackles on his way to the endzone
for a 34-yard score that gave the Cardinals a 21-6 intermission advantage.
''That was probably my favorite one of the night,'' Brodd said.
His fifth and final one probably wouldn't fall too far behind.
On the second play of the fourth quarter, and Middleton leading 28-12, Brodd looked
more like Terrell Davis than a high school athlete with a terrific cutback move. From the
E-Rabs 11, Brodd followed his blocking around the right side, only when the play
appeared as though it would bog down, Brodd saw a lane back to the left.
So he stopped on a dime, cutback through a gaping hole on his left, and went into the
endzone unscathed.
''I'll tell you, he's fun to watch on film,'' Gundlach said. ''Everyone feels something good
is about to happen when you get the ball in his hands.
''If he gets to that second level, it's scary. And if he can get that third level, forget about
it. He's awfully, awfully good.''
After a poor showing in a 16-14 loss at Janesville Parker the previous week, the
Cardinals were awfully good against the E-Rabs, too.
East, undoubtedly the most athletic team the Cardinals have butted heads with all year,
had no answers for not only Brodd, but an aerial attack in which Ziegler picked the
E-Rabs apart. The senior quarterback completed 67 percent of his 12 throws to seven
different receivers for 127 yards and one TD.
''When you can run it and throw it at this level you're already ahead of so many other
teams,'' Gundlach said. ''Jeremy gives us that.''
Middleton's defense also gave it plenty.
Although the Cardinals gave up a season-high of 26 points, 14 of those came after the
game was decided. And outside of East tailback Steve Neely (30 carries, 218 yards),
none of the E-Rabs high powered offensive players killed Middleton.
''I'm glad we're done with them,'' said Gundlach, whose team will play next year's
non-conference game against Oconomowoc. ''They're awfully talented.''
After losing to Parker, Middleton needed a game like this. One in which it could rebuild
some confidence by handling a very good team.
''I don't think there's any doubt our psyche was damaged after Parker,'' Gundlach said.
''I think we gained some confidence back and our kids realize if we don't beat ourselves,
we're pretty good. And we showed that.''