SOUTH WAYNE - The last time the Black Hawk football team entered the playoffs with so much anticipation in 2013, the Warriors won the school's first state championship and gold ball.
Black Hawk (9-0), ranked third in the WisSports.net Division 7 state coaches poll, rolls into the postseason with high hopes of making another run to Camp Randall Stadium and adding a gold ball to the trophy case.
"It's nice to be recognized as a top team and we had a great regular season," Black Hawk coach Cory Milz said. "It's a different animal when you talk about the playoffs. If we are fortunate enough to make it to Level 3 we could have three home games. I think that home field advantage is big."
The following is a preview of the Level 1 playoff games scheduled for kickoff Friday night.
Division 3
Evansville-Albany (6-3) enters the postseason as a sixth-seed and will play at third-seed Mount Horeb-Barneveld (8-1), which is ranked sixth in the state in Division 3. Evansville-Albany senior quarterback Zach Mielke has passed for 1,452 yards with 19 touchdowns and four interceptions this year.
"He's part of the top quarterbacks in the area," Evansville-Albany coach Ron Grovesteen said of Mielke. "This is his fourth year as a starting quarterback. He will have to be on top of his game against Mount Horeb because they have a very good on the defensive end. He gives us a shot."
Other players Evansville-Albany will look to for production are running back Tony Paschal, who has rushed for a team-high 572 yards and seven touchdowns and Logan Katzenmeyer (474 rushing yards and 7 TDs. The top receiving targets for Mielke in the Blue Devils' passing attack are Sully Geske who has 21 receptions for 577 yards and nine touchdowns and Sam Haegele (24 catches for 374 yards and 5 TDs).
The Blue Devils' defense will be tested by a Vikings' offense that averages 43.8 points per game.
"In Division 3, it will be very tough playing against the Badger," Grovesteen said of the Vikings from the Badger North Conference. "I'm just hoping we can keep their offense off the field. I'm hoping we can keep our offense out there and limit the number of possessions they have."
Division 5
New Glarus-Monticello enters the playoffs on a four-game winning streak. The Glarner Knights, as the co-champions of the Capitol South Conference along with Belleville and Cambridge, received a fifth-seed and will play at fourth-seeded Prairie du Chien (7-2).
"You obviously strive for a home game," New Glarus-Monticello coach Jeff Eichelkraut said. "It was disappointing. They (Prairie du Chien) have had a good season and beat some tough teams and had one more win than us."
The Knights are led by senior fullback Tanner Jelle who has rushed for 690 yards and 12 TDs this season. Senior Noah Zimmerman has added 428 yards and scored two times. Junior running back Zach Feller is back after missing five games due to an upper body shoulder injury, Eichelkraut said.
Feller has run for 366 yards (91.5 yards per game) with 5 TDs in four games this year.
"We tried to ease him back into it," Eichelkraut said. "Zach is competitive and he has handled the bulk of the work."
New Glarus-Monticello senior quarterback Jared Carney has passed for 611 yards and seven touchdowns. The big playmaker for the Knights is 6 foot, 4 inch wide receiver Cullen Brooks, who has a team-high 15 receptions for 438 yards with six touchdowns.
If New Glarus-Monticello wins, the Knights could get a Level 2 playoff game against Clinton, which is the state's third-ranked Division 5 team.
Division 6
Pecatonica-Argyle (7-2) finished third in the Six Rivers Conference, but received a fifth seed and will play at fourth-seeded Fennimore in the first-round.
The Vikings have been dealt a blow with several injuries this year including sophomore starting quarterback Colton Schraepfer.
Pecatonica-Argyle running back Brent Ritschard leads the team with 829 rushing yards and 8 TDs.
Fellow running back Mitch Flannery has run for 473 yards and scored four times.
If the Vikings can beat Fennimore, a Level 2 playoff game against the winner of Darlington and Markesan awaits.
Darlington, which has finished as the Division 6 state runner-up four straight years, won four straight games to get back to the playoffs. The Redbirds received an eighth seed and will play at top-seeded Markesan (9-0), which is ranked sixth in the state poll.
The Redbirds lost their first two games to Westby and Prairie du Chien by one point each.
"They know if we execute, we are an excellent football team," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "I'm hoping the teams we played will help us be competitive and get an upset."
Darlington junior quarterback Blake Whalen has passed for 719 yards and 6 TDs this year. Senior running back Kameron Blosch has starred in a feature role. Blosch has a team-high 678 rushing yards and 6 TDs. He's also been a dual-threat and is the team's leading receiver with 18 receptions for 324 yards and two scores.
Division 7
Black Hawk (9-0) rolls into the postseason averaging 49.7 points per game and will host eighth-seeded North Crawford.
The Warriors feature a high-powered running game that has two backs who have eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards this season. Black Hawk junior Colby Argall has rushed for 1,090 yards and 18 TDs and is averaging a staggering 11.4 yards per carry. Senior Brody Milz has rushed for 1,083 yards and has 17 TDs and is averaging 9.3 yards per carry.
When Black Hawk has needed to pass, the Warriors have been efficient. Senior quarterback Michael Flanagan is completing 60 percent and he has thrown for 673 yards with 10 TDs. Senior wide receiver Jett Rufenacht has been a big-play target with 18 receptions for 381 yards and 7 TDs.
Black Hawk's defense has been just as impressive as the offense, giving up a paltry 8.5 points per game and posting two shutouts.
"It's a tough eight-team grouping with Potosi-Cassville and Iowa-Grant," Milz said. "Potosi is an elite team and we were able to get by them in the regular season. Iowa-Grant is a dangerous team with Brady Peat at running back. They beat the SWAL Conference champion Cuba City last week. We will see what happens."
Black Hawk (9-0), ranked third in the WisSports.net Division 7 state coaches poll, rolls into the postseason with high hopes of making another run to Camp Randall Stadium and adding a gold ball to the trophy case.
"It's nice to be recognized as a top team and we had a great regular season," Black Hawk coach Cory Milz said. "It's a different animal when you talk about the playoffs. If we are fortunate enough to make it to Level 3 we could have three home games. I think that home field advantage is big."
The following is a preview of the Level 1 playoff games scheduled for kickoff Friday night.
Division 3
Evansville-Albany (6-3) enters the postseason as a sixth-seed and will play at third-seed Mount Horeb-Barneveld (8-1), which is ranked sixth in the state in Division 3. Evansville-Albany senior quarterback Zach Mielke has passed for 1,452 yards with 19 touchdowns and four interceptions this year.
"He's part of the top quarterbacks in the area," Evansville-Albany coach Ron Grovesteen said of Mielke. "This is his fourth year as a starting quarterback. He will have to be on top of his game against Mount Horeb because they have a very good on the defensive end. He gives us a shot."
Other players Evansville-Albany will look to for production are running back Tony Paschal, who has rushed for a team-high 572 yards and seven touchdowns and Logan Katzenmeyer (474 rushing yards and 7 TDs. The top receiving targets for Mielke in the Blue Devils' passing attack are Sully Geske who has 21 receptions for 577 yards and nine touchdowns and Sam Haegele (24 catches for 374 yards and 5 TDs).
The Blue Devils' defense will be tested by a Vikings' offense that averages 43.8 points per game.
"In Division 3, it will be very tough playing against the Badger," Grovesteen said of the Vikings from the Badger North Conference. "I'm just hoping we can keep their offense off the field. I'm hoping we can keep our offense out there and limit the number of possessions they have."
Division 5
New Glarus-Monticello enters the playoffs on a four-game winning streak. The Glarner Knights, as the co-champions of the Capitol South Conference along with Belleville and Cambridge, received a fifth-seed and will play at fourth-seeded Prairie du Chien (7-2).
"You obviously strive for a home game," New Glarus-Monticello coach Jeff Eichelkraut said. "It was disappointing. They (Prairie du Chien) have had a good season and beat some tough teams and had one more win than us."
The Knights are led by senior fullback Tanner Jelle who has rushed for 690 yards and 12 TDs this season. Senior Noah Zimmerman has added 428 yards and scored two times. Junior running back Zach Feller is back after missing five games due to an upper body shoulder injury, Eichelkraut said.
Feller has run for 366 yards (91.5 yards per game) with 5 TDs in four games this year.
"We tried to ease him back into it," Eichelkraut said. "Zach is competitive and he has handled the bulk of the work."
New Glarus-Monticello senior quarterback Jared Carney has passed for 611 yards and seven touchdowns. The big playmaker for the Knights is 6 foot, 4 inch wide receiver Cullen Brooks, who has a team-high 15 receptions for 438 yards with six touchdowns.
If New Glarus-Monticello wins, the Knights could get a Level 2 playoff game against Clinton, which is the state's third-ranked Division 5 team.
Division 6
Pecatonica-Argyle (7-2) finished third in the Six Rivers Conference, but received a fifth seed and will play at fourth-seeded Fennimore in the first-round.
The Vikings have been dealt a blow with several injuries this year including sophomore starting quarterback Colton Schraepfer.
Pecatonica-Argyle running back Brent Ritschard leads the team with 829 rushing yards and 8 TDs.
Fellow running back Mitch Flannery has run for 473 yards and scored four times.
If the Vikings can beat Fennimore, a Level 2 playoff game against the winner of Darlington and Markesan awaits.
Darlington, which has finished as the Division 6 state runner-up four straight years, won four straight games to get back to the playoffs. The Redbirds received an eighth seed and will play at top-seeded Markesan (9-0), which is ranked sixth in the state poll.
The Redbirds lost their first two games to Westby and Prairie du Chien by one point each.
"They know if we execute, we are an excellent football team," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "I'm hoping the teams we played will help us be competitive and get an upset."
Darlington junior quarterback Blake Whalen has passed for 719 yards and 6 TDs this year. Senior running back Kameron Blosch has starred in a feature role. Blosch has a team-high 678 rushing yards and 6 TDs. He's also been a dual-threat and is the team's leading receiver with 18 receptions for 324 yards and two scores.
Division 7
Black Hawk (9-0) rolls into the postseason averaging 49.7 points per game and will host eighth-seeded North Crawford.
The Warriors feature a high-powered running game that has two backs who have eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards this season. Black Hawk junior Colby Argall has rushed for 1,090 yards and 18 TDs and is averaging a staggering 11.4 yards per carry. Senior Brody Milz has rushed for 1,083 yards and has 17 TDs and is averaging 9.3 yards per carry.
When Black Hawk has needed to pass, the Warriors have been efficient. Senior quarterback Michael Flanagan is completing 60 percent and he has thrown for 673 yards with 10 TDs. Senior wide receiver Jett Rufenacht has been a big-play target with 18 receptions for 381 yards and 7 TDs.
Black Hawk's defense has been just as impressive as the offense, giving up a paltry 8.5 points per game and posting two shutouts.
"It's a tough eight-team grouping with Potosi-Cassville and Iowa-Grant," Milz said. "Potosi is an elite team and we were able to get by them in the regular season. Iowa-Grant is a dangerous team with Brady Peat at running back. They beat the SWAL Conference champion Cuba City last week. We will see what happens."
