Monte Noffke was unstoppable on the football field this past fall.
The Gillett running back will get one more shot to shine on the high school stage July 18 in the annual Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-Star Game.
Noffke will be one of five running backs on the North squad for the Small School division game at Titan Stadium on the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh campus.
“Monte’s fired up about it,” Gillett football coach Rick Kamps said. “He’s met a lot of neat kids so far from other schools. It’s a great opportunity that we get another kid from Gillett in there. It’s a tough process, it really is.”
Noffke, who started for three seasons for the Tigers, capped off his senior year by rushing for 1,691 yards on 228 carries (7.4 yards per attempt) and 31 touchdowns. He racked up those eye-popping numbers despite missing one of his team’s games.
“It’s a great honor being the only one from the M&O Conference to go, and to have the coach nominating me is awesome,” Noffke said of his selection.
Kamps will also be part of the game, being selected as one of the eight North coaches. As an assistant, Kamps was instrumental in helping form the team.
“I think there were over 110 kids nominated for 46 spots,” Kamps said. “You’re talking the best of the best kids.”
Kamps, who led Gillett to an 8-3 record last fall, has now produced three players for the all-star game during his eight seasons as coach. John Verhagen, who played offensive line, competed for Gillett in 2012.
Once Noffke found out he would play in the all-star game, he spoke with Verhagen about his experience.
“He said, ‘It’s a blast,’” Noffke said. “He said, ‘You’ve got to go out there and compete, because those guys are also really good. It’s a fun experience,’ he said. ‘Just come ready to play.’”
North head coach Cory Milz, who is the head coach at Black Hawk, liked what we saw of Noffke while reviewing tape.
“One thing in Monte’s favor, the head coach loved him,” said Kamps, who will coach the defensive backs for the game. “He loved what he saw on film and he thinks he fits well in the offense he’s going to run.”
Kamps is expecting Noffke to play quite a bit.
“It’s going to be similar to what his role was kind of with us,” Kamps said. “I think you’ll see him play kind of a wing or a slot-type of position where he’ll be a motion guy, get the ball and he’ll be out on pass routes. He’s comfortable doing all that.”
The all-star game will be a nice stepping stone for Noffke, who will play junior college football at Mesabi Range College in Virginia, Minnesota.
Noffke knows the all-star game will be a big challenge.
“It will show me what college is like playing with these guys, because they’re all ready to go play college football, too,” Noffke said. “It just shows me what I have to do to be like them, so I can be able to compete in college.”
Kamps believes the competition should improve Noffke’s game.
“I think it will show him some stuff like maybe, ‘This is stuff I need to work on harder’ because playing at the college level is going to be a little bit different than playing at the high school level,” Kamps said. “At the next level, he’s going to be going against all the good players from the high school teams. There’s not going to be a drop off in talent level.”
Noffke is on the Gillett track team, competing in the 100- and 200-meter runs and the 4x400-meter relay. He’s also lifting consistently to stay in football condition for the summer.
Noffke said he is ready to give his all at the all-star game and end his prep career on a high note.
“I play every game like it should be played: go all out and play it like it’s your last game and don’t ever let up,” Noffke said.
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