By,
Rob Reischel
Middleton Times-Tribune
Janesville — Tom Cabalka doesn't want to compare units.
And he certainly isn't ready to place this year's Middleton defense in the same class of
the ‘99 unit.
But after four weeks, Cabalka will say this.
''I'm pretty proud of them,'' the Cardinals' defensive coordinator said.
And why not.
Despite losing 10 starters from last year's defense that allowed just 5.67 points in nine
regular season-games, the 2000 edition has been equally impressive. Through four
games, Middleton has allowed just 25 points, an average of 6.25 per contest, and has
been the biggest reason the Cardinals are tied atop the Big Eight at 3-1.
''It takes three or four games to gel and we're getting there,'' Cabalka said. ''We had to
shuffle a lot of things at the start of the year. But the guys in there now are definitely
getting it and we're playing pretty solidly.''
During the Cardinals' 13-10 win at Janesville Craig Friday, Middleton's defense carried
the day. Again.
In the first half, the Cougars average starting field position was the Craig 46 and on
three occasions, Craig drove inside the Middleton 20. Yet the Cougars could score just
three points and trailed, 6-3, at intermission.
''Tom and his defensive staff have done just a great job,'' Middleton coach Kurt
Gundlach said. ''Those guys saved us tonight.''
One tough Cougar: Darius Jones, a Beloit Memorial fullback last year and currently a
University of Wisconsin outside linebacker, packed the biggest punch in the Big Eight
last year. This season, Janesville Craig senior fullback Jim Scalissi earns that honor.
Scalissi, who is being courted by several Division 1 programs, carried 26 times for 118
yards. And an overwhelming majority of that yardage came after contact.
''He's just a bull,'' Gundlach said of Scalissi. ''He's kind of similar to Jones only Scalissi
runs a lot lower to the ground. But neither one was real fun to try and tackle.''
Injury update: Middleton kicker Brandon Hellenbrand, who Gundlach calls ''the best
kicker in the league'', is expected to miss at least the next two games due to hematoma
in his right (kicking) leg.
Meanwhile, sophomore offensive guard and defensive end Brian McNally was given the
OK to play after it was determined the vertebrae problem in his neck had healed.
''He had a couple of people look at it and he got the OK,'' Gundlach said. ''But we'll be
extremely careful. You better be when you're dealing with a neck.''
Also, junior left tackle Ryan Steele (knee sprain) and senior right tackle Dan Rockwell
(ankle) both made it through the Craig game without re-injuring what ailed them and
Gundlach said they're both nearing 100 percent.