SOUTH WAYNE — “Happy but not satisfied” has been Black Hawk/Warren’s manta during the 2022 season. Warriors’ head coach Desie Breadon may not be entirely satisfied with how is team played in Friday’s Level 2 playoff game against #7-ranked Assumption, but it’s safe to say he was very happy with the results.
Breadon’s squad held the state’s fifth-best rushing attack to less than 100 yards on the ground and also limited the state’s ninth-best scoring offense to only nine points as the #2-seeded Warriors (8-3 overall) shut down the #3-seeded Royals, 26-9, in a WIAA Division 7 Level 2 playoff football game held at Murphy Field on Friday, Oct. 28.
“‘Happy but not satisfied.’ That’s what I told the boys after the game. I’m super happy with the results, but I’m not satisfied with how we played as a whole,” said Breadon after leading the Warriors to their fourth victory in a row. “I’m absolutely shocked at the outcome. With as good as Assumption is, I did not see this going this way. To contain their offense like we did, I’m so proud of these guys.”
The Central Wisconsin Conference-Small champion Royals (10-2) came into the night averaging 346 rushing yards and over 400 yards total offense per game while scoring nearly 45 points per contest. They wouldn’t find the going so easy against the Warriors’ D.
After gaining just nine yards on their first two drives, the Royals hit on four plays of 24+ yards on their next three drives— two of which ended in scores— to take a 9-8 led on the Warriors. However, after gaining 150 of their 159 first-half yards on those three drives, the Royals were held to two yards on their final seven possessions.
“They presented a ton of challenges for our defense. We switched around some stuff to shut down their running game. For our guys to do what they did, I’m so proud of them,” added Breadon.
Senior quarterback Reed McNutt got the Warriors rolling on the first play from scrimmage with a 73-yard scamper down to the Royals’ 3-yard line. On the next play, he connected with senior running back Lucas Milz in the flat for a touchdown. Senior Landen Mahoney’s two-point conversion run put the hosts ahead 8-0 just over two minutes into the game.
A fumbled near the goal line prevented the Warriors from adding to their lead on their second possession, and then the Royals cut the deficit to 8-6 on QB Jack Klatt’s 41-yard TD run with 8:29 remaining in the first half.
Assumption got the ball right back and marched down to the Warriors’ 10 before the drive stalled. On fourth down, Mason Kubis booted a 27-yard field goal to put the guests on top 9-8 with 2:54 left in the half.
The Warriors went to the air to regain the lead before the intermission. A long return by junior Lane Marty set them up at midfield and he hauled in receptions of 11 and 34 yards from McNutt to move then down to the Royals’ 5 with under a minute to go.
A holding penalty moved the Warriors back to the 12, and then McNutt fired a strike to a leaping Marty in the end zone for a touchdown to put the hosts back in front to stay at 14-9.
BHW attempted 12 of their 15 passes in the first half for 59 yards and two scores, but the Warriors kept the ball on the ground for 22 of their 25 plays in the second half to put the Royals away.
“That was our plan. We were trying to throw them off-balance with those passes. We tried to keep them on their toes and show them something different,” Breadon explained.
Milz took care of the scoring for the Warriors in the second, ripping off a 25-yard TD jaunt with 4:28 to play in the third quarter to extend the lead to 20-9 and dashing in from 34 yards in the final minute of the game to seal the victory.
“We talked at the half about finishing every block, every run, and every play to finish the game. We need to continue to improve if we are going to keep going,” Breadon stated.
The Warriors finished the night rushing 37 times for 270 yards and completing six passes for another 89 yards for 359 total yards. The 26 points were the second-most allowed this season by the Royals, who came into the night yielding less than 12 ppg.
McNutt completed 7-of-14 passes for 89 yards and two scores and also ran 16 times for 129 yards to move within 20 yards of giving the Warriors a third 1,000-yard rusher this season.
“The stuff (Reed) can do is special. There were a lot of people who doubted us for putting him at quarterback this season. After his second touchdown pass, I said to him that’s why we put you there. He’s a dual-threat for us, and he’s like a video game at times. He presents a ton of challenges for our opponents,” said Breadon.
Milz, who has rushed for over 1,200 yards this season, gained 96 yards on 13 carries with two TDs and added three caches for 33 yards and a score; while Mahoney, who has run for over 1,100 yards, chipped in with 45 yards on eight totes.
Marty hauled three catches for 57 yards to lead the Warriors’ receiving corps.
Assumption senior Nick Leberg, who led the Royals with over 1,300 rushing yards, was held to 49 yards on nine carries as the Warriors limited their guests to just 98 rushing yards on 26 carries.
“This game was going to be won on the line. It started up front on both sides of the ball and our boys did a phenomenal job up front. We owned the line of scrimmage on both sides,” commented Breadon.
Klatt ran 10 times for 60 yards and a score while also completing 5-of-12 passes for 61 yards with an interception.
Sophomore Brady Stietz was in the Royals’ backfield all night long, disrupting their rushing attack; while sophomore Will Stietz registered a sack and junior Andrew Figi picked off a pass.
The Warriors will face another daunting challenge when they leave home for the first time this post-season to face #2-ranked and top-seeded Cashton at CHS on Friday, Nov. 4, starting at 7 p.m.
The Scenic Bluff champion Eagles (11-0), who defeated Deerfield, 44-6, and Ithaca, 42-13, in the playoffs, are averaging nearly 46 ppg. and have not allowed an opponent to score over 14 in any game.
“Cashton is going to be a very tough opponent. We are going to have to bring our A game to come out of there with a win,” Breadon remarked.
