By,
Rob Reischel
Middleton Times-Tribune
Mike Hahn insists it won't be a factor.
''Why would it?'' the Sun Prairie coach
asked. ''It happened almost a year ago.''
But Kurt Gundlach isn't buying what
Hahn's selling.
''I think it will be an enormous factor for
them,'' Middleton's coach said.
''Enormous.''
It is revenge.
Turn back the clock to Oct. 30, 1999, a
night in which Jeremy Ziegler's ‘Hail
Mary' touchdown pass to Ryan Oliversen with three seconds remaining gave
Middleton
a shocking 14-10 win over Sun Prairie in the second round of the WIAA Division 1
playoffs. So when the two teams strap it up again Friday (7:30 p.m. at Sun Prairie) in
the season-opener for both, will revenge be a factor?
The gang from Middleton certainly thinks so.
''Oh, I think they're going to want us really bad,'' Middleton senior linebacker Shawn
Devitt said. ''They'll be really fired up after how their year ended last season. I know
they'll be gunning for us and want revenge.''
Even though emotions figure to be running high between these two rivals, what will
ultimately determine Friday's winner is talent and execution. And everybody involved
knows it.
''I think revenge only carries you so far,'' said Gundlach, whose team also beat Sun
Prairie, 27-6, in last year's season-opener. ''After that wears off, it comes down to
who
plays better football.''
Over the last several years, these programs have combined to play awfully good
football.
Sun Prairie has won six of the last eight Big Eight titles, including five straight from
1993-97, highlighted by a state championship in 1995. The two years that Sun Prairie
did
not win conference crowns Middleton captured the league, including last year when it
went 8-0 in the Big Eight and 12-1 overall.
The new millennium figures to produce old results, though, as both Middleton and
Sun
Prairie are favored to win the league again.
Sun Prairie returns eight starters, six of which were named to either the first-, second-
or honorable mention all-conference team. Sun Prairie figures to be immense in both
interior lines, as well as stout defensively.
The biggest questions come in replacing quarterback Korey Feiner and wideout Scott
Guetzlaff, both first-team all-Big Eight players last year. Hahn indicated last week
that
senior Dugan Gill, last year's opening night starter, would be his quarterback. But at
Sun
Prairie's scrimmage last Saturday, junior Justin Jacobs worked with the first-team
offense and handled most of the quarterbacking chores.
''We're waiting for some kids to step up in the skill positions,'' Hahn said.
Gundlach has few worries at the skill positions, where most of last season's explosive
talent is back. But a development at last Saturday's scrimmage could cause Gundlach
some restless nights.
Senior quarterback Jeremy Ziegler was blindsided versus Waukesha West, suffered a
sprain to his right (throwing) shoulder and did not return. But Ziegler is expected to
play
versus Sun Prairie.
''He should be fine,'' Gundlach said.
Gundlach hopes the same is true for his defense, which will be minus nine starters
since
the last time these teams met.
''That's our greatest concern right now,'' he said.
With both teams appearing to have enormous strengths and legitimate concerns,
another
classic could be in store.
''It's always fun to be in an exciting game with an opponent that's good,'' Hahn said.
''This has turned into a really good rivalry, much like our rivalry with Beloit.
''Every time we play Middleton, we know it's going to be a barnburner.''