Fall River (11-1) vs. Black Hawk (12-0)
What: WIAA Division 7 state semifinal game
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Breitenbach Stadium, Middleton High School
Last Game: Fall River defeated Wild Rose 8-7; Black Hawk defeated Potosi-Cassville 28-7
NOTES:
All four remaining Division 7 teams were ranked in the final WisSports.net Coaches Poll after Week 8 (Bangor 2nd, Black Hawk 3rd, Abbotsford 7th, Fall River 9th)
Black Hawk:
• Scrimmaged at Fall River, but didn't face the Pirates
• Defense has three shut outs this season and is giving up just 8.2 points per game
• Brody Milz has a team-high 118 tackles; Mitchell Quinn and Jett Rufenacht have combined for 12 sacks and 47 tackles for loss
• QB Michael Flanagan needs 154 passing yards to reach the 1,000
• Outscored opponents 611-99 (50.9-8.2)
Fall River:
• Runs the same split-back veer triple option offense as Black Hawk
• RB Davyn Braker has rushed for 1,108 yards and 14 TDs this season.
• QB Luke Figol has 1,357 total yards (565 rushing, 792 passing), 24 total TDs, 5 INTs, 49.5 completion percentage.
• Offensive line averages 260 pounds.
• Outscored opponents 353-154 (29.4-13.8 ppg)
SOUTH WAYNE - Black Hawk seniors Brody Milz and Michael Flanagan were eighth-grade videographers the last time the Warriors football team played in the state championship game in 2013.
Now Milz and Flanagan are starring for Black Hawk (12-0) and are one win away from reaching the state championship game at Camp Randall Stadium Nov. 16. The Warriors will play Fall River (11-1) in a WIAA Division 7 state semifinal showdown at 7 p.m. Friday at Breitenbach Stadium in Middleton.
"Brody (Milz) and Michael (Flanagan) were ball boys in 2013 and they have been there in the locker room and seen groups come and go," Black Hawk coach Cory Milz said. "They were up there (at Camp Randall in Madison) in the booth filing (the state championship) game. I think that resonates with them. I can't say we expected to be in the state semifinals. We knew it wasn't out of the question and we had the potential."
Black Hawk started the season with a scrimmage at Fall River, but they didn't face the Pirates. The matchup against Fall River will be like playing a mirror image of themselves for the Warriors. Fall River runs the same split back veer triple option offense that Black Hawk does.
"I don't think it's a coincidence that we scrimmage up there and they have taken a liking to what we do on offense," Milz said. "They run the same mesh point technique that we do. It will be an advantage in preparations for both teams. Our scout team will give us a really good look."
What Cory Milz and the Warriors didn't know is they each would reach the state semifinal game with a chance to reach the state game at Camp Randall Stadium.
"We knew they would probably be a playoff team," Milz said. "We thought it would be a different team coming out from the other side."
The Warriors feature a juggernaut offense that is averaging 50.9 points and 354 rushing yards per game. Brody Milz has rushed for a team-high 1,498 yards and 25 touchdowns. He's averaging 124.8 yards per game and 9.9 yards per carry. Colby Argall has run for 1,292 yards with 23 TDs and is averaging 10.7 yards per carry in an explosive offense.
Just like Black Hawk, the Pirates feature a 1,000 yard rusher in junior Davyn Braker, who has rushed for 1,108 yards and 14 scores. Braker is averaging 7.1 yards per carry and is the big threat for the Pirates. Fall River has two other players with more than 500 rushing yards including quarterback Luke Figol (565 rushing yards and 13 TDs) and Tanner Liebenthal (505 yards, 1 TD).
"He's fast and quick," Milz said of Braker. "He accelerates really well and runs through contact."
The Pirates are averaging 29.4 points per game and are the conference champion of the Trailways Small Conference.
But the Warriors' defense in the playoffs has been stifling. Black Hawk shut down
Iowa-Grant running back Brady Peat, who had rushed for more than 2,000 yards, to 44 rushing yards in Level 2. The Warriors have three shut outs this season and are giving up a paltry 8.2 points per game.
"We feel like if we play fast and physical our defense is set up to stop power running games," Milz said. "We may have to make some tweaks going against a team that runs the split-back veer triple option."
Brody Milz has a team-high 118 tackles to lead Black Hawk's defense. Milz also has 4.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss. The other top playmakers on the Warriors' defense are junior linebacker Mitchell Quinn (76 tackles, 14 TFL), senior Jett Rufenacht (5.5 sacks and a team-best 18 TFL), junior Rece Shelton (56 tackles) and senior Jason Treuthardt (48 tackles, 10 TFL).
Figol has passed for 792 yards with 11 TDs and five interceptions this year for Fall River. He's completing just 49.5 percent of his passes.
"He's a very good quarterback," Milz said of Figol. "He's a very good runner and an accurate passer."
The Pirates feature a big offensive line that looks to create seams in the defense.
"They are big. They average about 260 on their offensive line," Milz said.
The Warriors have forced 43 turnovers this year (22 fumbles, 21 interceptions), which is an average of 3.5 per game. Black Hawk has feasted on scoring points after creating turnovers.
"It's all about the offensive possessions and the number of plays you can run," Milz said. "We do strip drills and emphasize high-pointing the ball, ball hawking and playing through the receiver like every coach does. I don't think we overemphasize that. It just comes down to having aggressive kids who want to be fast and physical and the first one to the football."
The Pirates run a 5-3 defense. The eight-man front includes a three-deep shell of defensive backs. The Warriors will test Fall River's defense with speed and a solid passing game. Flanagan has passed for 846 yards with 12 TDs and four interceptions. Rufenacht has been the top target in the passing game with 21 receptions for 454 yards and seven scores.
"We have some kids with some pretty decent speed if they get to the edge," Milz said. "We like to think we are a balanced offense. We like to think we can do what we want to do. Our line has done a great job of blocking down field. I think our backs have improved at running up the middle in the A and B gaps. We are prepared to be a 3-yards in a cloud of dust team. We are patient play callers. We are prepared to be a four-down team if we have to."
Now Milz and Flanagan are starring for Black Hawk (12-0) and are one win away from reaching the state championship game at Camp Randall Stadium Nov. 16. The Warriors will play Fall River (11-1) in a WIAA Division 7 state semifinal showdown at 7 p.m. Friday at Breitenbach Stadium in Middleton.
"Brody (Milz) and Michael (Flanagan) were ball boys in 2013 and they have been there in the locker room and seen groups come and go," Black Hawk coach Cory Milz said. "They were up there (at Camp Randall in Madison) in the booth filing (the state championship) game. I think that resonates with them. I can't say we expected to be in the state semifinals. We knew it wasn't out of the question and we had the potential."
Black Hawk started the season with a scrimmage at Fall River, but they didn't face the Pirates. The matchup against Fall River will be like playing a mirror image of themselves for the Warriors. Fall River runs the same split back veer triple option offense that Black Hawk does.
"I don't think it's a coincidence that we scrimmage up there and they have taken a liking to what we do on offense," Milz said. "They run the same mesh point technique that we do. It will be an advantage in preparations for both teams. Our scout team will give us a really good look."
What Cory Milz and the Warriors didn't know is they each would reach the state semifinal game with a chance to reach the state game at Camp Randall Stadium.
"We knew they would probably be a playoff team," Milz said. "We thought it would be a different team coming out from the other side."
The Warriors feature a juggernaut offense that is averaging 50.9 points and 354 rushing yards per game. Brody Milz has rushed for a team-high 1,498 yards and 25 touchdowns. He's averaging 124.8 yards per game and 9.9 yards per carry. Colby Argall has run for 1,292 yards with 23 TDs and is averaging 10.7 yards per carry in an explosive offense.
Just like Black Hawk, the Pirates feature a 1,000 yard rusher in junior Davyn Braker, who has rushed for 1,108 yards and 14 scores. Braker is averaging 7.1 yards per carry and is the big threat for the Pirates. Fall River has two other players with more than 500 rushing yards including quarterback Luke Figol (565 rushing yards and 13 TDs) and Tanner Liebenthal (505 yards, 1 TD).
"He's fast and quick," Milz said of Braker. "He accelerates really well and runs through contact."
The Pirates are averaging 29.4 points per game and are the conference champion of the Trailways Small Conference.
But the Warriors' defense in the playoffs has been stifling. Black Hawk shut down
Iowa-Grant running back Brady Peat, who had rushed for more than 2,000 yards, to 44 rushing yards in Level 2. The Warriors have three shut outs this season and are giving up a paltry 8.2 points per game.
"We feel like if we play fast and physical our defense is set up to stop power running games," Milz said. "We may have to make some tweaks going against a team that runs the split-back veer triple option."
Brody Milz has a team-high 118 tackles to lead Black Hawk's defense. Milz also has 4.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss. The other top playmakers on the Warriors' defense are junior linebacker Mitchell Quinn (76 tackles, 14 TFL), senior Jett Rufenacht (5.5 sacks and a team-best 18 TFL), junior Rece Shelton (56 tackles) and senior Jason Treuthardt (48 tackles, 10 TFL).
Figol has passed for 792 yards with 11 TDs and five interceptions this year for Fall River. He's completing just 49.5 percent of his passes.
"He's a very good quarterback," Milz said of Figol. "He's a very good runner and an accurate passer."
The Pirates feature a big offensive line that looks to create seams in the defense.
"They are big. They average about 260 on their offensive line," Milz said.
The Warriors have forced 43 turnovers this year (22 fumbles, 21 interceptions), which is an average of 3.5 per game. Black Hawk has feasted on scoring points after creating turnovers.
"It's all about the offensive possessions and the number of plays you can run," Milz said. "We do strip drills and emphasize high-pointing the ball, ball hawking and playing through the receiver like every coach does. I don't think we overemphasize that. It just comes down to having aggressive kids who want to be fast and physical and the first one to the football."
The Pirates run a 5-3 defense. The eight-man front includes a three-deep shell of defensive backs. The Warriors will test Fall River's defense with speed and a solid passing game. Flanagan has passed for 846 yards with 12 TDs and four interceptions. Rufenacht has been the top target in the passing game with 21 receptions for 454 yards and seven scores.
"We have some kids with some pretty decent speed if they get to the edge," Milz said. "We like to think we are a balanced offense. We like to think we can do what we want to do. Our line has done a great job of blocking down field. I think our backs have improved at running up the middle in the A and B gaps. We are prepared to be a 3-yards in a cloud of dust team. We are patient play callers. We are prepared to be a four-down team if we have to."
