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Tritons looking for another deep run

By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor


GREEN BAY – The Notre Dame Academy football team will have to replace two dynamic players on the offensive side of the ball, but the Tritons are still hoping to make a deep run in the WIAA Division 3 state playoffs.

Notre Dame lost 17-3 in a Level 3 game last season to West De Pere to finish 9-3 overall.

“Last season was a great year for us,” said third-year head coach Mike Rader, who was an offensive lineman at UW-Madison. “We did a lot of good things and made a deep run – hopefully, we can get back to that point and beyond this season again.”

Tritons quarterback Wes Glime, who threw for 2,324 yards and 27 touchdowns, and running back Brandon Limoni (1,479 yards rushing, 14 touchdowns) were a big reason for the success in 2018.

“I don’t think you ever replace players like Wes and Brandon,” Rader said. “They were both special players – even more so at the quarterback position. The numbers are one thing but replacing the leadership lost is a big key. They were really good leaders for us – we have some work to do. We have a lot of young guys that have room to step up.”

Glime will be playing this fall at Johns Hopkins University.

The Tritons also lost first-teamers Tommy Martzahl (wide receiver), Josh Cribben (defensive end) and Mitch Chosa (inside linebacker) due to graduation.

Cribben was also an FRCC second-team tight end selection.

In addition, Fuzz French (second team, lineman), Grady Brick (second team, outside linebacker) and Matthew Re (honorable mention, defensive back) also graduated.

The only returning all-conference player is senior Joel Meglic, who was a first-team pick on the offensive line.

Can Notre Dame advance deep in the postseason again this year?

“It’s very early to be predicting things,” said Rader. “We have to pretty much replace our entire offensive production from last season, so it depends on everyone else at the same time.”

The Tritons will most likely get a chance to figure things out with opening games against the Sheboygan teams, who were a combined 1-17 last season.

Notre Dame should be undefeated heading into a week-three home showdown with Bay Port, one of the top teams in the state.

“The schedule is the schedule you have to play,” Rader said. “We’ve had the Sheboygan teams early in the schedule the past few years – it’s worked out well for us, and hopefully it will again this year – especially with some new guys at different positions. Bay Port will be tough for everybody, no matter if you play them week one or week nine. They bring back everybody, especially on defense.”

Defensively, the Tritons bring back players from all three levels on that side of the ball.

“We bring back our middle linebacker, our defensive tackle and a couple of guys in the defensive backfield,” Rader added. “There is some experience there with our leadership guys. We don’t have a lot of numbers. I feel confident they will know the scheme well and execute it.”


Coach’s Spotlight

Name: Mike Rader

School: Notre Dame Academy

Years coaching at Notre Dame: 3

Mike Rader

Other football coaching gigs: Assistant coach at Notre Dame

Hometown: Green Bay

Most memorable coaching moment: “We’ve had some really good football teams over the years so any team which made it to the state championship game was memorable. Most recently in 2015 – that was special. Our last three games were really close. In the 2003 state championship game – our undefeated season, I was the offensive line coach – I remember late in the first quarter, I looked up at the big board at Camp Randall, and we had five rushes for 225 yards. As an offensive line coach, that was a dream come true.”

Coaching mentor: “Longtime coach John Nowak [from Notre Dame] had a huge impact on me, but from style of play, I’d say Bill Callahan from my UW-Madison playing days. He was an offensive line coach guru. I try to take a little bit from a lot of people. I do my best to coach to the talent we have.”

Best high school player you’ve coached against: “Alec Ingold from Bay Port is up there, as is Mike Taylor from Ashwaubenon. Ingold did what he wanted to on the field. Drew Nowak from De Pere was a hell of a player, too. In a playoff game several years ago, Austin Ramish from Northland Pines was only a sophomore, but he was very good, too.”

Goals for 2019: “My goals are the same every year – get the most out of the kids, have them enjoy the experience and do it the right way.”

My style of coaching is: “I feel I’m a good mix. I’m not a player’s coach, but I’m also not a dictator. I adjust as time goes on and try to coach. I try to coach each athlete like I’d treat my own children and hope people can see I care.”


Notre Dame Academy 2019 regular season schedule

8/22 – Sheboygan North

8/29 – @ Sheboygan South

9/6 – Bay Port

9/13 – @ De Pere

9/20 – @ Pulaski

9/27 – Ashwaubenon

10/4 – @ Green Bay Preble

10/11 – Green Bay Southwest

10/18 – @ Manitowoc Lincoln

  • All games begin at 7 p.m.
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