Holmen High School football coach Travis Kowalski didn’t anticipate using senior Jagger Jepson on his defensive line as much as he has this season.
Jepson was an anchor on the offensive line — and still is — but seeing the results when asking Jepson to stop the ball made it too tempting to keep asking him to do it.
“We knew it was a possibility because it gave us three big seniors up there (on the defensive line) with Jagger, Ayden (Smith) and Tristen (Brennan),” Kowalski said. “It was working, and we got to where we are using James Wing to spell him on the offensive line to keep Jagger out there on defense.”
It makes sense.
Jepson stands 6-foot-1 and weighs in at 280 pounds. Brennan is listed at 6-5, 310 pounds, and Smith checks in the smallest of the bunch at 6-2, 225.
All three are full of power, happy to get physical and able to move quicker than their sizes would indicate. They have made the lives of opponents miserable this season, and they are aiming to continue that with a big test that goes by the name Christian Rudrud invades Empire Stadium on Friday.
A share of the MVC championship is on the line when the Vikings (7-0 overall, 5-0 MVC) host Central (5-2, 5-0) for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
How Rudrud fares against a Holmen defense that has recorded a pair of shutouts and allowed just one opponent to score more than 16 points will paint the picture of success or frustration for the RiverHawks.
“They are solid across the board defensively,” Central coach Mitch Olson said of the Vikings. “Brennan at the nose is so athletic, explosive and fast, (Smith) is stronger and faster, and then they throw Jepson in there to play the other end spot, and that’s quite a group.”
They will contend with an offensive line that has probably outperformed expectations in helping Rudrud have such a big season.
“Week by week, we’ve seen growth,” Olson said. “Hopefully, this is another week of growth for them.
“We had three-year starters graduate after last season, and we had one returning starter and guys who played other positions when they were younger this year.
“It takes time to build cohesion, and we finally believe that things are clicking well.”
Rudrud has taken full advantage by rushing for 1,126 yards and 16 touchdowns and passing for 661 and seven TDs with a 75-percent completion percentage. He has rushed for 466 yards and eight touchdowns in wins over Sparta and Tomah the past two weeks and thrown a touchdown pass in each game.
Rudrud leads the couleesports.com area in touchdowns scored and has been a big-play machine for the RiverHawks.
“He just makes plays when he has to make plays,” Kowalski said of Rudrud. “He’s one of those kids who is clutch, whether it’s throwing the ball or running it, in the biggest moments.”
Finding the right times to unleash junior Gabe Servais (382 rushing yards, 228 passing yards, 127 receiving yards) and senior Connor Groth (26 catches-461 yards, 7 TDs) will also be key for Central.
The challenge will be figuring that out against Holmen’s line and a group of linebackers led by junior Mason Flury. The Vikings have been good front to back all season on the defensive side of the ball and present the RiverHawks with their biggest challenge since a Week 1 loss to Waunakee.
“You look at all of those kids, and they can run and pursue the ball well,” Olson said. “They are really good up front, but they also have so many good athletes, track athletes, on the back end, and the linebackers play so well.”
Central’s defense has had some suspect moments and will have to find a way to make some stops against an offense that has been cruising through most of the season. Onalaska and Reedsburg have managed to slow it down a bit, but Holmen averages 39 points and more than 297 rushing yards per game.
Senior running backs Eli Kane (74 carries-633 yards, 13 TDs) and Jack Barth (51-630, 9) and senior quarterback Colin Williams (47-440) have all run at will on plenty of Friday nights, and Central will need an answer.
“With Holmen, it always comes down to discipline and doing what you are supposed to do,” Olson said. ” They have athletes who can run and move well in space, and you have to be physical against that.
“Things can get ugly really fast if you aren’t physical.”
