MAYVILLE — The sky was grey as clouds loomed over the Mayville High School football field. There was thought to be a chance for heavy rain, but the rain that fell was just a couple drops.
All the while the anticipation for more than just a couple drops filled the air and conversation as fans took in the Week 1 matchup of Cedar Grove-Belgium at Mayville.
It was like the weather knew how the game would go. There was a steadiness to the game, just like the clouds passing overhead. There was always a chance that rain would start pouring down and ponchos and umbrellas would be needed. On the field there was almost a feeling that either offense would start to pour points on the board.
But in the end, the weather stayed steady, just like Mayville who won 23-0 to start its 2026 season.
“To be able to get a shutout against a quality opponent like Cedar Grove-Belgium, we’ll take it every time,” Mayville head coach Scott Hilber said. “We’re really happy about that.”
The defending 2025 Division 5 state champions didn’t get off to the fastest start. Mayville ended its first two drives with punts but bounced back with an 11-play drive that ended with seven points on the board.
“They were just really putting a lot of pressure. They were just kind of jumping on the snap and firing guys through the gaps, and when teams do that to us, we like it because we’re like, ‘Let’s take advantage of it.’ But some of our less experienced guys were really struggling with picking that stuff up,” Hilber said.
Mayville took a 14-0 lead into halftime and continued its success in the second half.
Here are three takeaways from Mayville’s Week 1 win.
Dominic Schuelke’s big night
Week 1 proved to be the coming out party for Mayville junior Dominic Schuelke. In Schuelke’s sophomore season, he had a total of 12 carries for 126 yards and a touchdown. He passed every single one of those stats in his first game as a junior, with 26 carries for 137 yards and two touchdowns.
“Coming into the year, it was kind of like trying to put the puzzle pieces together,” Hilber said. “Dom worked really hard in the weight room and just got bigger. He’s 6’2, 190 pounds, he grew.”
Schuelke was quick to credit his teammates for his success.
“My line. A lot of great blocks for me to cut off of,” Schuelke said.
Schuelke’s longest run of the game was 13 yards, and his touchdowns came on a 4-yard run and a 2-yard run. Joe Promersberger also had a touchdown on a 6-yard rush.
Early Season Test
Mayville and Cedar Grove-Belgium may not be conference opponents but have gotten familiar by opening the season against each other the past six seasons. With Friday’s result, the series is 4-2 in favor of Mayville.
The game proves to be used as a measuring stick for both Mayville and Cedar Grove-Belgium who are accustomed to postseason runs.
“That’s why we play them the first game of the year every year because we’re able to identify some of our weaknesses,” Hilber said. “Every year it’s a grind playing these guys.”
Shutout defense
In the six total matchups that Mayville and Cedar Grove-Belgium have had since 2021, no team has been held scoreless until Friday, Aug. 21.
Mayville’s defense proved to be a key factor instantly and forced a punt on Cedar Grove-Belgium’s first drive. Whether it was a run play one of the few pass plays that the Rockets ran, the Cardinals appeared ready.
“Everyone tackled. They played hard and tackled hard,” Hilber said. “We had a lot of guys going both ways, rotating our defensive line throughout, those guys being unselfish for each other, given each other opportunities to get a break but then get right back on the first to get the next guy off to keep them fresh. But they just play gritty, gritty defense.”
Cedar Grove-Belgium finished with an unofficial count of 125 yards on offense. The closest the Rockets ever came to scoring was making it to the Cardinal’s 12-yard line before having a field goal blocked.
Next up
Mayville’s Week 2 opponent is a familiar one as it will hit the road to play Lake Country Lutheran. The two teams faced off in the Division 5 state semifinals in 2025, where Mayville won 27-15.
It will be an opportunity for Mayville to improve to 2-0 and go into conference play undefeated.
“We’re looking for better execution offensively next week for sure and defensively we’re going to find our spots trying to cover some guys in open field,” Hilber said.
Contact or send game stats/info to Ben Schultz at BSchultz@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @benschultz52.
This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Dominic Schuelke’s breakout performance leads Cardinals past Rockets
Reporting by Ben Schultz, Oshkosh Northwestern / Oshkosh Northwestern
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ben Schultz, Oshkosh Northwestern | USA TODAY Network
