BENTON — A single yard was the difference between victory and defeat at Benton’s Swift Park April 16.

The host Benton/Scales Mound/Shullsburg Knights were a yard away from taking the lead with under two minutes to play, but the No. 7-ranked Black Hawk-Warren Warriors turned in a game-saving goal line stand by stonewalling the Knights at the 1 on a fourth down run to hold on for a 26-22 victory in a hard-fought Covid Spring Small Conference clash.

“They gave me too many darn heart attacks during the game, but they pulled it out. They are a phenomenal group. I can’t say enough good things about these guys. They are able to overcome so much adversity. I’m really proud of them,” said Warriors’ head coach Desie Breadon.

The win keeps the Warriors in a three-way tie for first-place in the CSC with Cuba City and Belleville at 3-1 overall with two weeks remaining in the spring season. The Knights, meanwhile, slip to 1-3 on the season with all three losses coming to the front-runners by a total of just 18 points.

“The kids played well. We definitely played good enough to win the game, but I just didn’t get it done. I made a couple of mistakes myself coming down the stretch that I’d like to have back,” admitted Knights’ head coach Todd Bastian.

The Knights started their final drive at the Warriors’ 39-yard line with 5:47 to play and quickly marched down inside the 10-yard line on an 18-yard Ben Beau reception and a couple of runs. After a penalty moved the Knights back to the 11 on second-and-goal, the Knights got one back when the Warriors were flagged for a pass interference in the end zone on third down to move the ball to the 6.

Senior fullback Brandon Hoppman bulled his way down to the 1 on the Knights’ second third-down play, but was stopped shy of the goal line by the swarming Warriors. 

Then, on fourth down, the Knights tried to sneak into the end zone with sophomore quarterback Jacob Duerr, however he was stood up at the line and pushed backwards by the Warriors’ D.

“We talked about it at halftime. Somebody had to step up and make a play. I had faith that they were going to do that and they did,” Breadson said about their goal line stand.

Bastian agreed that it was the play of the game, “We get that score there and I think we’re in good shape. But, we didn’t do it. That’s the way it works.”

The Knights took the lead on the opening possession of the game, marching 55 yards on five plays— all rushes— with Hoppman breaking free for the final 33 yards to open the scoring on the night. The two-point run by senior Chandler Kelly extended the lead to 8-0.

That lead didn’t hold up long as Warriors’ sophomore Reed McNutt returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards a score to take the momentum right back. Sophomore Landen Mahoney’s two-point run tied the score at eight all with 8:54 to play in the first quarter.

The Knights regained the lead at 16-8 midway through the second quarter when Hoppman capped a 10-play, 88-yard scoring trek with a two-yard run to pay dirt. Duerr added the conversion on a pass to senior Dominick Cummins.

The Warriors went to the air to overtake the Knights before halftime. Junior quarterback Brayden Bohnsack completed a 42-yard bomb to senior Ryan Molitor to cut the deficit to 16-14 with 4:57 remaining in the half. Then, after getting the ball back in Knights’ territory following a short punt, Bohnsack avoided a heavy rush by Knights, scrambled into the flat and somehow found sophomore running back Lucas Milz wide open at the goal line for a 24-yard go-ahead scoring strike with 1:11 remaining to go on top by a score of 20-16.

“We knew we were going to having to rely on passes when we could get them. Luckily, we converted them when we needed to,” Breadon said.

The Knights had just enough time remaining to fight their way back into the lead, covering 70 yards on just three plays. An 18-yard run by Hoppman and a 27-yard reception by Cummins moved them deep into BHW territory, and then Duerr hooked up with Kelly on a 25-yard TD pass with 40 seconds remaining in the half to put the hosts back in front 22-20 at the intermission.

“Any time you give up a kickoff return score and then you give up a long touchdown pass like that, it’s tough to recover from, but you have to do it. We responded and took the lead again. I’m proud of the kids for the way they responded time and time again,” said Bastian.

The Warriors fumbled away their opening possession of the second half, but the defense rose up and forced a Knights’ punt. Taking over at their own 11, the Warriors pounded their way down the field, covering 89 yards in 15 plays on a drive last nearly nine minutes to regain the lead.

Milz, who gained 61 yards himself on the drive thanks to a key 10-yard reception and a 31-yard run, charged into the end zone from a yard out with 55 seconds to play in the third quarter to put the Warriors up 26-22.

The Knights traded fumbles with the Warriors on back-to-back plays early in the fourth quarter, and had another promising drive into BHW territory end on an interception by McNutt inside the 5.

The hosts got to the 1 before turning the ball over on downs at 1 with 1:41 remaining, and then the Warriors ran out the clock for their third victory in a row.

“It feels amazing. As young as we are and having no starters back, to be tied for first feels amazing,” said Breadon.

The Knights outgained the Warriors on the night, 296 to 244, thanks to a 157-94 advantage through the air. The Warriors held a slight edge on the ground, 150-139, after getting 79 rushing yards on their go-ahead drive.

Milz ran 12 times for 59 yards and a score and had two catches for 34 yards and a score to lead the Warriors. 

Bohnsack rushed 10 times for 38 yards and guided the passing attack by going 4-for-6 for 94 yards and two scores, while Mahoney added 53 yards on 15 totes and Molitor had two catches for 60 yards and a TD.

Duerr completed 9-of-14 passes for 157 yards with a TD and a pick to lead the Knights’ air assault, and Hoppman ran 17 times for 102 with two scores to navigate the ground attack.

Kelly caught two passes for 39 yards and a score and ran seven times for 31 yards, while Cummins had three catches for 57 yards and Beau added three catches for 49 yards for the Knights.

This week is crossover week for the Covid Conferences with teams from the Small Conference taken on an opponent from the Large Conference. The Warriors are scheduled to host Deerfield (2-2) at Murphy Field in South Wayne, and the Knights are slated to travel to Orfordville to face Parkview/Albany (1-2) on Friday, April 23. Both games are scheduled to kickoff at 7 p.m.