The rubber is about to meet the road for the L-Cats.
Lake Mills’ undefeated football team hosts defending Division 4 state champion Lodi on Friday, followed by a road game on Friday, Oct. 4 versus second-ranked Columbus, which won the 2022 D4 state title.
“This is a great opportunity for us,” Lake Mills football coach Tyler Huber said. “This is a chance for us to see how good we are and how we stack up against elite programs. In my five years here, we’ve been comparing ourselves to Lodi, Columbus and Lakeside. We want to fit into that caliber of football. We’ll start finding out this week if we can.”
The fifth-ranked L-Cats (5-0, 2-0 in conference) have had a lot to celebrate so far in 2024, namely a season-opening 21-12 win over Lakeside Lutheran followed by four victories by an average margin of 21 points.
Eighth-ranked Lodi (4-1, 2-1 in conference) enters on the heels of a 35-0 home thrashing of Clinton. The Blue Devils’ lone setback was a 42-14 defeat to Columbus on Sept. 6.
Lake Mills closed the 2022 regular season with a home win over Lodi, then lost to the Blue Devils on the road in Level 2 that season. Lodi had the upper hand in last year’s meeting, 48-0.
Lodi is quarterbacked by sophomore Kale Schneider, a 6-foot-2 190-pound dynamic athlete. Senior tailback Brody Ripp averages 5.1 yards per carry.
“Lodi is extremely well-coached and disciplined,” Huber said. “They are not as big as they’ve been in the past, but they still get off the ball and pursue the football really well. They play hard and know their responsibilities and assignments.
“Schneider is a basketball player who reminds me of our quarterback, Tyler Wollin. Kale is a bigger-sized kid who wants to compete and at times wills the team to win.”
The Blue Devils, who return no starters from 2023, forced five fumbles last week versus Clinton and surrendered less than 100 yards of offense. Lodi’s four opponents outside of Columbus are averaging 6.75 points per game.
“Defensively, they are fundamentally sound,” Huber said. “It’s been like that the last five years I’ve seen them play defense. It’s a tough scout because they are always doing something different, which keeps you on your toes. They show multiple looks between a 4-3 and a 3-4. We know it’s going to be a dogfight.”
Wollin, who is completing 56 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and three interceptions, is also the team’s leading rusher (41 carries for 323 yards with four scores). Sophomore Kamden Tande Habich (58 carries for 296 yards and three TDs) and junior Kaden Smolinski, who burst onto the scene last week versus Turner, each figure to play a vital role offensively, where the L-Cats will prioritize winning the line of scrimmage.
“We want to win the battle in the trenches through grittiness, toughness and attitude over every snap through four quarters,” Huber said. “Offensively, we need to take care of the football and establish a run game.
“Defensively, from a secondary standpoint, if they put it in the air, we have to capitalize and continue forcing turnovers like we have been and win the turnover battle.
“Lastly, when you go against great opponents, special teams can win or lose you games. We’ll strive to win the field position battle and be sound in the kicking game.”
The L-Cats’ defense has gone from a question mark in recent years to a real asset. That group is already responsible for four touchdowns.
Senior linebacker Nathan Hahn (31 tackles) is the team’s leading tackler. Tande Habich has chipped in 25 tackles, including four for a loss, while senior defensive lineman Tommy Cassady has contributed 23 tackles, seven for a loss, and three sacks.
Senior defensive lineman Max Ruedebusch, a Yale recruit, has posted 22 tackles, eight TFLs and four sacks. Sophomore defensive back Dylan Brinkmann has 23 tackles and three fumble recoveries.
“I’m extremely proud of our defense and our defensive staff, led by defensive coordinator Steve Navarro,” Huber said. “Linebackers coach Dan Goodman is new and was the defensive coordinator at Kettle Moraine for 20 years. We got secondary coach Michael Schatz from Arrowhead, where he also coached that position group.
“Anthony Schulist has been here the last two years, working as special teams coordinator and with the defensive backs and wide receivers. Anthony Vela was coaching the defensive line at Wartburg College, moved to Madison and is now working with our d-line guys and running backs.
“Nate Olson, our youth program director, moved from the offensive side to the defensive side. I’m proud of those guys and what they have been able to accomplish.
“In the last five years, we’ve been talking about having a championship-caliber defense. Those guys were able to help patch up some missing holes to solidify the direction we needed to go defensively. They’ve been outstanding this season and I have confidence that will continue.”
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