SOUTH WAYNE - Dick Schliem has roamed the sidelines with a clipboard for more than 300 Black Hawk football games.

As a volunteer statistician for more than three decades, he was part of former coach Dennis Murphy's reign when Murphy led the Warriors to a state runner-up finish in 1998. In fact, it was Murphy who originally asked Schliem if he would be interested in keeping stats during Friday night football games.

"I didn't know it would be a permanent job," Schliem said. "I didn't realize that 37 years later, I would still be doing it."

Students kept the stats before Schliem took over in 1976. "It's nothing against the kids, but the stats weren't accurate when they did it," Schliem said. "I like to be accurate in my stats. I like to be dead on."

For Schliem, his role keeps him connected to the team.

"I just like being around the kids. I feel like I'm part of the team."

There's been some memorable moments along the way. He recalls the first unbeaten team in the history of Black Hawk in 1978. His son, Larry Schliem, was the quarterback for the team that finished the season ranked fifth and missed the playoffs. At the time, Schliem said, it was just the top four ranked teams that qualified for the playoffs. It's a season that still haunts him.

Schliem said Black Hawk beat both Brodhead and Mineral Point in 1978, but missed the playoffs because those two teams combined finished 3-13.

"That stopped us from going to the playoffs," Schliem said. "I truthfully don't think anyone could touch us. We had size and speed. That is the most disappointing thing since I have been here."

He also recalls a game against Shullsburg in Cuba City in 1984 when Murphy instructed his punter to run out of the end zone to take a safety instead of risking a punt deep in their own territory. He remembers Black Hawk pooching the ensuing kick, but hanging on to win.

"That is a play I will never forget," Schliem said.

And he recalls a big performance by his son, Brad Schliem. In a game in October 1986 against Pecatonica, Brad Schliem scored four touchdowns in a rainstorm to lead Black Hawk to a win against rival Pecatonica. In order to keep the stats for the game, Schliem had former superintendent Brad Gallispie use a cassette recorder to record the stats to protect them from the rain.

This October could have another memorable moment or two for Schliem. Black Hawk (6-0, 5-0 Six Rivers) is ranked No. 2 in the WisSports.net Division 7 coaches' poll and tenth in the Associated Press small school poll for schools with an enrollment of 300 or less.

The game Saturday, Oct. 5, could be a blockbuster as the Warriors have an unbeaten conference showdown with Pecatonica-Argyle (6-0, 5-0) at Argyle.

Schliem may have a hard time picking favorites, though. His grandson, Drew Schliem, is the starting quarterback for Pecatonica-Argyle, ranked No. 7 in Division 6.

"I want him (Drew) to do well, but I want us (Black Hawk) to win the game," he said.