SOUTH WAYNE — Black Hawk was celebrating the 52 seasons of its football program during their annual Homecoming celebration on Saturday afternoon, and the Warriors honored those past teams by throwing a point up on the scoreboard for every year of their existence as they rolled to a 52-6 Six Rivers Conference victory over Belmont at Murphy Field.
“It was a beautiful day for football. I thought Belmont competed hard and did some nice things offensively. Anytime you can add a conference win to your schedule, it’s a good day,” said Black Hawk head coach Cory Milz, who joins Dennis Murphy as the only coaches to lead the Warriors over their 52-year history. Milz has posted 117 victories in 178 games during his 17 seasons as head coach.
“I appreciate everyone who had the chance to come down and be a part of the alumni recognition. Black Hawk has won over 63 percent of their games in those 52 seasons, and we have a lot of people who should be proud of what we have been able to accomplish at what has become a really small school.”
The seniors set big goals for this team, making the playoffs was one of them. My compliments to our players for the hard work that they have invested in their team and season, thus far.Black Hawk coach Cory Milz
Senior running back Colby Argall ran for over 200 yards for the second straight game and accounted for four touchdowns to lead the unbeaten Warriors (5-0 overall, 4-0 Six Rivers) over the visiting Braves (0-6, 0-5). Black Hawk is ranked No. 3 in the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Division 7 poll and No. 6 in the Associated Press Small Schools Poll.
With the victory, Black Hawk becomes eligible for the WIAA playoffs for the ninth consecutive season and the 19th time in the past 22 seasons.
“The seniors set big goals for this team, making the playoffs was one of them. My compliments to our players for the hard work that they have invested in their team and season, thus far,” Milz said.
Argall got the Warriors off and running on Saturday by racing in for scores of 20 and 54 yards on the Warriors’ first two drives to put them on top 14-0. Argall covered all 47 yards of the opening drive on five straight carries, and then ate up all 82 yards on three carries during the second drive to finish the first quarter with 129 rushing yards.
An interception by Warrior senior Brandon Schiferl stopped Belmont inside the red zone on the Braves’ third drive of the game, and he returned the pick all the way down the Belmont 8-yard line. On the very next play, Argall hauled in a touchdown pass from senior quarterback Kyle Lovelace, and Lovelace teamed with senior Rece Shelton on the conversion to put the Warriors ahead 22-0.
Lovelace hooked up with Schiferl on a 7-yard TD pass and Argall on the conversion to extend the Black Hawk lead to 30-0 with 3:26 remaining in the first half.
The Warriors needed just one play in the second half to turn on the running clock as Argall ripped off a 63-yard TD run on the first play of the third quarter to make it 36-0.
Fellow senior running back Jace Tuescher got into the scoring act with a 23-yard TD jaunt midway through the third quarter to put the Warriors up 44-0.
Belmont, which had not reached the end zone since their opening play against Shullsburg in Week Three, put together an impressive scoring drive to avoid being shutout for the third straight week. After recovering a Warrior fumble at their own 9 with a minute to go in the third quarter, the Braves marched 91 yards on 17 plays with sophomore Riley Christensen bulling across the goal line on a fourth-and-goal run with 1:23 remaining to cap the drive.
The Braves had gained just 88 yards on their first seven possessions of the game before accounting for 91 yards on the final drive.
Blosch, who finished the day with 106 yards on five carries, broke loose for a 57-yard TD scamper on the first play of the Warriors’ ensuing drive, and back-up quarterback Jexen Stietz ran in the conversion to give the hosts their 52nd point to close their 52nd Homecoming celebration.
Argall tallied 223 rushing yards on 11 carries with three scores, and added two catches for six yards and another score as the Warriors rolled up 416 total yards in the game with 383 of those yards coming on the ground.
Lovelace went 5-for-7 through the air for 29 yards and two scores.
Christensen ran 23 times for 58 yards and a TD for the Braves, while quarterback Ethan James completed 10-of-16 passes for 66 yards and ran nine times for 33 yards in the game.
Defensively for the Warriors, senior Tyler Triem and junior Brady Hagen registered eight tackles apiece with Triem and Schiferl each intercepting a pass.
Shelton had six tackles with a team-high three for loss as Black Hawk racked up a combined 15 tackles-for-loss in the game.
Next up, Black Hawk hosts River Ridge (2-4, 2-2) in a conference affair Friday night.
