SOUTH WAYNE — This year’s Homecoming Week may not have had all the fanfare of past events, but the Warriors still gave their fans plenty to celebrate after expelling the visiting Deerfield Demons, 36-0, at Murphy Field on April 23.
Junior Brayden Bohnsack tossed two touchdowns to senior Ryan Molitor and returned an interception for another score to lead the way for the No. 5-ranked Black Hawk-Warren co-op, while sophomore Lucas Milz rushed for over 100 yards and two touchdowns to aid the dominating performance by the hosts.
“It was great to get a win at home and get a lot of guys game experience,” said Warriors’ head coach Desie Breadon. “We were able to open up the playbook on offense and our passing defense continued to get better. We shut down their offense early and didn’t let up. I think us playing fast and physical was a definite key to the win.”
The Warriors (4-1 overall) went ahead to stay on a 74-yard Bohnsack-to-Molitor bomb in the first quarter, and the Warren duo hooked up again on a 48-yard scoring strike early in the second quarter to extend the advantage to 14-0.
Milz rumbled in from 12 yards out with 8:41 remaining in the half to make it 22-0, and then Bohnsack swiped a Demons’ aerial and race 34 yards for a score a short time later to put the Warriors ahead 30-0.
The lone points of the second half came on a 13-yard TD jaunt by Milz midway through the third quarter that capped scoring at 36-0.
The Warriors used good balance on offense, rushing for 205 yards and passing for another 122 yards for over 300 yards of total offense. They were actually impressive on defense, limiting the Demons to minus-4 yards rushing and surrendering just 54 yards passing on the night.
“Our passing game keeps improving, and we are playing tough defense and continuing to run the ball well,” Breadon noted following the team’s first shutout of the season.
Milz ran 13 times for 104 yards and two TDs to lead the ground attack. Sophomore Landen Mahoney added 60 yards on 11 totes for the hosts.
Bohnsack went 2-for-3 through the air with Molitor hauling in both catches for 122 yards and two TDs. Bohnsack also ran four times for 28 yards, while Molitor ran in a pair of two-point conversions.
Senior Ayden Mahoney and Bohnsack each had an interception for the Warriors on defense.
No less than a share of the COVID Small Conference title will be on the line this week as the Warriors wrapped up the 2021 spring season by heading to Cuba City to clash with the co-leading Cubans (4-1).
There is currently a three-way tie atop the league standings with the Warriors, the Cubans and the Belleville Wildcats all sporting 3-1 conference records heading into the finales. Friday’s winner in Cuba City will return in first, and then await the outcome of Belleville’s home game against Fennimore (2-3, 2-2).
“Cuba City is a very good team with good coaching. This game has a playoff feel, which is a great way to end the season,” said Breadon. “To win the game, we’re going to have to play great defense and limit their explosive plays. We are going to have to control the line of scrimmage on both sides and take advantage of our opportunities. Cuba City is very good at causing turnovers, so we’re going to have to take care of the ball. And, finally, we’re going to have to run the ball well and play our type of game.”
