SOUTH WAYNE — A lot was at stake in Black Hawk-Warren’s homecoming game against Potosi-Cassville on Saturday, Sept. 30. The Warriors, ranked No. 4 in Division 7, entered the game with sole possession of the Six Rivers Conference title, while the Chieftains, ranked No. 8 in Division 7, trailed just a game behind.

Potosi-Cassville knotted the conference records at 4-1 with a 41-20 win over Black Hawk-Warren, aided by a 22-0 lead at halftime.

“We knew Potosi-Cassville was going to be our best match-up all year,” Black Hawk-Warren head coach Desmond Breadon said. “There was a lot of energy coming in, but I think we were thinking that we were going to take care of it more like we did last week with River Ridge.”

Following a Warrior 3-and-out, the Chieftains took a 6-0 lead in their first possession of the game. Logan Rausch carried the ball from Potosi-Cassville’s own 20-yard line, and his run was aided by a 15-yard facemask penalty on Black Hawk-Warren. On the next play, Eli Adams found a hole in the defense and ran downfield. Drew Stietz’s open-field tackle prevented a touchdown, but Eli Adams eventually found the end zone on a 1-yard rush. The Chieftains 2-point conversion attempt failed, resulting in a 6-0 lead with just under four minutes left in the quarter.

The Warriors faced more adversity on the following drive. After a first-down run by Lane Marty, Heath Rauch sacked BHW quarterback Eli Schliem, setting up second-and-14. Although Owen Seffrood nearly picked up the first, a holding penalty pushed the Warriors back again. On third-and-14, Schliem’s first-down pass to Andrew Figi fell through the wide receiver’s hands.

Potosi-Cassville started on its own 20-yard line to start the second quarter and slowly moved the ball down the field. BH-W nearly got the Chieftain offense off the field with a Brady Stietz tackle that set up fourth-and-11, but Braden Fishnick completed a first-down pass to Oliver Post. 

The Chieftains faced another fourth down, this time inside the red zone, that ended in a touchdown. Fishnick turned the corner and got into the end zone just before Figi could make the tackle. Eli Adams completed the drive with a 2-point rush, giving Potosi-Cassville a 14-0 lead with five minutes left in the half.

In those five minutes, Black Hawk-Warren went 3-and-out on offense and gave up another touchdown. From the Warriors’ 42-yard line, Fishnick and Post connected yet again. Eli Adams converted again, as Potosi-Cassville extended its lead to 22-0 with just a minute left in the half.

“I don’t think we were quite set on a couple things. Then a couple things went the wrong way and we let it snowball,” Breadon said.

Out of the half, much was the same. With carries from Eli Adams, Fishnick and Rausch Potosi-Cassville marched down the field. The drive ended on a 2-yard TD rush from Eli Adams, but the Warrior defense stopped the 2-point conversion. Five minutes into the second half, Black Hawk-Warren trailed 28-0.

Quincy Adams received the ensuing kick off and returned it to midfield. On the same play, Potosi-Cassville was called for a personal foul, pushing BH-W up to the Chieftains’ 41-yard line. Marty then ripped off a 20-yard rush, setting the Warriors up just inside the red zone. He completed the drive with a 14-yard rush, diving into the end zone. Seffrood’s 2-point conversion run was stopped short, as BHW trailed 28-6.

The next two possessions came up empty, as the game progressed to the fourth quarter. Three minutes in, Eli Adams caught a 25-yard touchdown pass. Fishnick’s extra point went through the uprights for a 35-6 lead.

Black Hawk-Warren responded on its next drive. Facing third-and-15, Marty moved the chains with an 18-yard run. Two plays later, Seffrood picked up another first down. Figi capped the drive with a 7-yard run, while Marty completed the 2-point conversion. The Warriors trailed 35-14 with just over eight minutes left in the game.

With nothing to lose, BHW converted an onside kick at midfield. On the very next play, Schliem completed a 57-yard pass to Figi. Seffrood’s 2-point rush fell short, but the score put the Warriors within two scores, 35-20, with six minutes left.

“We said all game, ‘Who is going to be Superman? Who’s going to provide a spark and put the team on their back?’” Breadon said. “Finally, we got that with the onside and long shot to Andrew.”

The second onside kick-attempt failed, as Potosi-Cassville took over at the 50. With optimal field position, the Chieftains scored again to take a convincing 41-20 lead with 1:40 left in the game.

At QB, Schliem was 3-for-12 passing for 71 yards and one TD. Piercen Mahoney and Figi accounted for the 71 receiving yards, while Marty and Seffrood contributed to most of BHW’s 170 rushing yards. 

Although the loss dropped Black Hawk-Warren to 4-1 in conference and 6-1 overall — identical records to Potosi-Cassville — the Warriors face two teams below .500 for the last two weeks of the regular season. The Chieftains, however, have yet to face River Ridge (5-2, 3-2 Six Rivers).

“We knew it was going to be a big one,” Breadon said of the game. “If River Ridge takes care of them [Potosi-Cassville] next week, we are back in.”