MIDDLETON -- Middleton coach Kurt Gundlach was concerned that Friday night's game against Janesville Craig would turn into a track meet.

But after Middleton's defense was finished with the speedy Cougars, it was Craig that was left gasping for air.

Middleton rallied from an early six-point deficit to dominate Janesville Craig, 20-6, and take over sole possession of first-place in the Big Eight Conference.

"You've got to trust your kids, and Tom (Cabalka) does,'' Middleton coach Kurt Gundlach said of his defensive coordinator.

"He said three weeks ago that we had the opportunity to be a great defensive football team. The kids are starting to make believers out of me.''

Middleton defensive back Matt Niesen, who broke up two crucial passes to stymie Craig's comeback in the game's final minutes, admitted being fuzzy with the details.

But the senior co-captain agreed the Cardinals' defense caused the Cougars fits all night.

"I think I got a concussion near the end of the game, so I'm not going to remember much,'' Niesen admitted. "All I remember is the (defensive) line had great pressure. They helped us out a lot.''

The Cardinals forced just one turnover but held Craig on downs four times.

"Our defensive linemen controlled the game, bottom line,'' Gundlach said. "Everybody was making plays there.''

Middleton, which was tied for seventh in the first Associated Press Division 1 poll of the season, improved to 4-0 overall and in the Big Eight. Fifth-ranked Craig fell to 3-1, 3-1.

After allowing only two touchdowns in victories over Sun Prairie, Madison La Follette and Madison East, Middleton's defense was tested early.

Chris Holznecht returned the opening kickoff 73 yards to the Middleton 13. Craig then grabbed a 6-0 lead three plays later when quarterback Eric Dougal hit end Sean Kennedy on a slant pattern for a 10-yard touchdown.

"They scare you every time they touch the ball, literally,'' Gundlach said of the Cougars, who won the teams' previous matchup a year ago when Holznecht returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown.

Niesen said the Cardinals knew it would be different this time.

"I started thinking about last year and I didn't want that to get us down,'' Niesen said of Holznecht's kickoff return. "I said, `This wasn't going to happen again. No way.' ''

The Cardinals' defense made sure Niesen's promise held up.

Sam Criscione stuffed Dougal for a 6-yard loss on fourth down on Craig's next drive, which had reached the Middleton 12.

"Their team defense won the game. I was very impressed,'' Craig coach Dan Thorpe said. "We couldn't get any consistency offensively.''

Holznecht, who entered the game averaging 9.7 yards per carry, was held to 38 yards in nine attempts. Craig could muster only 82 yards in 31 rushes as a team.

"This was a big step for our program,'' said Middleton defensive end Dale Ripp, who had four quarterback sacks and also recovered a fumble. "It was fun.''

Cardinals' quarterback Jeremy Ziegler engineered an 11-play, 82-yard drive that tailback Matt Meinholz ended with a 31-yard TD scamper just 8 seconds into the second quarter.

Dougal then misfired on a pass on fourth down to end Craig's next drive on the Middleton 28.

The Cardinals promptly extended their lead to 14-6 with a 3-play, 71-yard drive that ended when Ziegler hooked up with end Ryan Oliversen on a 26-yard TD pass. The duo had opened the drive with a 42-yard completion.

"I don't think we awed them with stats again, but we made some big plays when we had to,'' Gundlach said.

Ryan Hellenbrand converted a 28-yard field goal with 3:39 left before halftime to give Middleton a 17-6 lead. He added a 39-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to end the scoring.

Middleton's defensive line kept the pressure on the rest of the way and kept Craig from getting any closer than the Cardinals' 16-yard line.

"It's not because of a physical presence,'' Gundlach said. "Other than Dannon (Haas) who is a big kid (6-feet-2, 265 pounds), we're playing some pretty small, undersized kids at those positions. But they're fighters.''