SOUTH WAYNE — In Week 8, senior running back Colby Argall broke Black Hawk’s all-time career rushing record held by former teammate Brody Milz, now a grayshirt freshman at UW-Oshkosh.

As the weeks have moved into the postseason, Argall has expanded his hold on that record.

“The guys around me are the ones that did it,” said Argall, referring to his teammates and offensive linemen. “It’s something I’ve wanted since I was a kid — to be the all-time leader at Black Hawk. We’ve had some really good running backs to come through — too many to name — but to be the top one is really cool.”

After rushing for 165 yards against Bangor in the WIAA Division 7 state semifinal game, Argall’s mark now stands at 4,513 yards, nearly 1,100 yards more than Milz’s 3,462.

“It’s extremely special,” Milz said. “He’s worked hard. He’s deserved it. It’s a special moment — me and him being the top-two rushers in school history and being able to play together has just been amazing.” 

As a freshman, Argall gained 28 yards on five carries. A season later in 11 games Argall topped the 1,000-yard milestone with 1,088 on 176 carries (6.2 yards per carry).

Then as a junior, Argall’s workload on the ground slimmed (145 attempts), but his yards skyrocketed (1,459, 10.1 ypc). His big year on offense, coupled with Milz being a thundering battering ram up the middle, took the Warriors to the state championship game.

“He’s come a long way,” Milz said. “He’s a really hard worker and he’s just got that love for the game. And that’s what matters. That love of the game gives you that extra push. He’s gifted athletically and has that open-field quickness — he’s an insane athlete in the open field.”

This year Argall has been undoubtedly the focal point of the Black Hawk offense, getting 215 carries for now 1,938 yards (9.0 ypc) in 12 games. 

“I can’t give Colby enough credit. He’s an amazing football player and he’s freaking good,” senior teammate Rece Shelton said.

Argall is still 500 yards away from reaching the top-50 all time in the state, but Iola-Scandinavia’s Bryce Huettner just became the state’s all-time leading rushing leader (6,714) in last week’s WIAA Division 6 state semifinal win over Grantsburg. Huettner will have a chance to add on to his historic mark in the D6 championship game against Racine Lutheran.

Argall and the Warriors will face Edgar in the Division 7 state championship. Black Hawk is finishing its 52nd year as a solo program before a co-op with Warren (Illinois) begins next season. In all 52 years there have been just two head coaches — Dennis Murphy and Cory Milz — and Argall and the Warriors now get a fitting conclusion to it all.

“I couldn’t be more proud of him. It’s a special moment when you can make back-to-back state championship appearances,” Brody Milz said.