Now you know what it was like for eight Big Eight Conference and four playoff opponents to line up and face the Middleton prep football team's defense this season.

Feisty and aggressive, though a bit on the small side, the Cardinals' defense is not to be taken lightly.

Although Middleton won the WIAA Division 2 state title in 1983 and 1987, it hadn't advanced any farther than the third round of the playoffs since moving into Division 1.

That changed last Saturday when the Cardinals beat Fond du Lac, 28-20 to advance to the state semifinals.

Middleton (12-0) meets top-ranked Marshfield (12-0) Friday in Baraboo at 7 p.m. for the right to advance to the state title game at Camp Randall Stadium Nov. 20.

"We knew we had three very good linebackers in Casey Cramer, who has played solidly for us for three years, Kenny Marra and Fred Macklin, our middle linebacker,'' said Tom Cabalka, the Cardinals' defensive coordinator.

"But we had a number of questions coming into the season, especially on the defensive line. We had to replace three kids there. But Sam Criscione, Dale Ripp and Travis Kakuske have played tremendously.''

Without a wealth of size, strength or individual talent Middleton found a way to win its second Big Eight Conference title in three years and secure a No. 3 ranking in the final Associated Press Division 1 poll.

Simply put, the Cardinals refused to be outworked.

"It all starts with our defensive line,'' said starting defensive tackle Dannon Haas, the unit's lone returning starter when practice began in August. "If we control the offensive line, it frees up our linebackers which in turn frees up our corners and free safeties and allows them to do what they need to.''

Yet Haas said it comes down to the players doing what it takes off the field as well as on it to build a championship team.

"We watch a lot of film on our own time together to see where we've gone wrong as well as what we can do against other teams to advance our situation in the game,'' he said.

Cabalka agreed that it was that kind of preparation each week that helped Middleton overcome teams like Arrowhead, which enjoyed more than a 50-pound advantage per man in the line.

"Size doesn't scare our kids because we play a gap-controlled defense. They understand their responsibility. They have to stop that one gap,'' said Cabalka, who played tight end at the University of Iowa and has been with the program since 1975.

"They've come a long ways and have surprised themselves and they've surprised us as a coaching staff. Now, they've certainly become believers in themselves.''

For Macklin, it all began with a 27-6 victory over defending conference champion Sun Prairie in the season-opener.

"We didn't know what to expect. That game jump-started us for the season, said Macklin, who along with Haas, Ripp and safety Eric Simon earned first team All-Big Eight Conference honors on defense. "We learned to believe in each other and trust each other. That made it easier.''

It didn't hurt that the Cardinals checked their egos at the door and did what was best for the team.

"No doubt. We're feisty and quick. But it's technique, too. We don't just line them up and go,'' Gundlach said. "Because we don't have a lot of size, they all realized how important each one's responsibility is to the strength of our defense.''

Gundlach, who was named the Big Eight Conference coach of the year, said the Cardinals' success begins off the field with the work of his staff. That includes Cabalka, who was named the Big Eight assistant coach of the year, defensive line coach Brad Rogeberg and defensive back coach Rick Vander Sanden.

"We didn't know what to expect coming in this year,'' Gundlach admitted. "But it's been a fun year for me not only to work as the head coach but to watch what's been going on with our staff and how they take their responsibilities seriously. It makes my job a lot easier.''

Cabalka said the Cardinals' ability to play team defense has overcome any perceived shortcomings they may have.

"If we don't play as a unit, the kids know our defense can really break down. We make a point of that in our film sessions,'' he said. "When teams do have success against us, it's due to a breakdown in our play. But they've learned from those mistakes.''

The defense apparently learned its lessons well, holding opponents to 7.7 points and 199 yards total offense per game this season.

"We have no stars other than we have a number of very good kids who have become very good football players as students of the game,'' Cabalka said.

"The recognition we've received just shows that it's a total team effort. That's the way we coach and that's the way our kids have learned to play. They go out there day after day and for the past three months have just worked their tails off and done a great job.''