MADISON — It’s hard to beat a team three times in a row, and Edgar proved just that in the WIAA Division 7 state championship game on Thursday, Nov. 16. Edgar defeated Black Hawk-Warren 36-6 after falling to the Warriors the last two times the teams met at state.

In 2018, Black Hawk-Warren defeated Edgar 22-15 and the next year, in 2019, the Warriors blanked the Wildcats 6-0. The 2019 game is still in the state record books for fewest points by two teams in Division 7 (6) and fewest total yards by two teams in Division 7 (361 yds; BHW 220, Edgar 141).

The latest meeting mirrored that of 2019, as the victorious team displayed stifling defense.

“We knew each other and what we were going to do. A lot of mirror images of each other in terms of wanting to pound the ball and play good defense,” Black Hawk-Warren head coach Desmond Breadon said. “It wasn’t one of those games where there were going to be any tricks. You knew it was one where you had to strap up and be ready to play.”

The Wildcats held the Warriors to 233 total yards, 206 of which were rushing. Coming into the game, BHW averaged 316.3 rushing yards per game. Additionally, Edgar scored 14 points off three turnovers.

If it weren’t for their defense, the Wildcats would have won with their offense alone as senior Karter Butt set the Division 7 state record for most rushing touchdowns in a game with five. In fact, the mark ties the most rushing touchdowns in a game across all divisions. In 2016, Brookfield East’s Sam Santiago-Lloyd also scored five touchdowns in the Division 2 title game. 

“He got a lot of extra yards, running super hard,” Breadon said of Butt. “He did a fantastic job of making cut-backs. He’s a hell of a running back — dropping his shoulder and running over kids.”

Edgar got off to a quick start, scoring in the first three minutes of the game. Teegan Streit picked up a first down on his first carry and followed it up with another first down two plays later. Will Stietz slowed the Wildcats’ momentum with a 6-yard tackle for loss, but offsides on the Warriors gave the yards right back. 

Then, on third-and-8, Butt took it 42 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. With Kohlbe Weisenberger’s 2-point rush, Edgar took an 8-0 lead.

As the Warriors attempted to match the Wildcats, a false start on third-and-1 immediately squashed the offensive momentum. On the next snap, Edgar’s Brett Baumgartner tackled Lane Marty (18 att, 65 yds) at the line of scrimmage, forcing Andrew Figi (3 att, 85 yds) to punt away after a three-and-out.

“A lot of the guys haven’t been here. There’s times that the atmosphere can overwhelm you as a player,” Breadon said of the two penalties that cost 10 yards. “Those early-game jitters definitely got to us.”

Edgar’s offense, which was already well-settled into the game, picked up right where it left off. Butt racked up two more first downs, and Streit’s 9-yard gain set the Wildcats up at BHW’s 10-yard line. Although BHW kept Edgar out of the end zone on its first two attempts, Butt crossed the goal line on a 4-yard rush. The 2-point conversion was unsuccessful, but the Wildcats still extended their lead to 14-0 with just under three minutes left in the first quarter.

BHW began to acclimate to the state atmosphere, moving the chains for the first time on a 5-yard run from Eli Schliem (6 att, 29 yds). Although the possession ended in a punt, the momentum carried over to defense.

The Warriors came up with their first stop thanks to Drew Stietz’s deflection and Riley Mosley’s pressure on the QB. Figi followed with a tackle for loss, and on third-and-11, Bryce VanRaalte stopped Butt short of the first down.

With 6:04 left in the first half, BHW received the ball at its 22-yard line desperately needing a score. The Warriors moved down the field methodically, beginning with a first-down pass from Schliem (4-for-7, 27 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT) to Figi (2 rec, 7 yds). Two plays later, Marty picked up another first down with a 4-yard gain. Owen Seffrood (17 att, 96 yds) put the Warriors in enemy territory with an 18-yard rush — his longest run of the game. 

Seffrood kept the drive alive on fourth-and-1, and four plays later Schliem capped the possession with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Marty (1 rec, 5 yds, 1 TD). Although Edgar kept Marty out of the end zone on the 2-point conversion, the Warriors were finally on the board with 15 seconds left in the half.

“That was huge. Those are a critical eight minutes,” Breadon said of the last four in the first half and the first for of the second half. “To get that was a huge boost for confidence and self-esteem.”

Marty made sure his team’s deficit remained at just eight points, as the defensive back intercepted Streit’s pass to end the frame.

Although BHW made the most of the final four minutes of the second quarter, the Warriors failed to capitalize in the first four minutes of the third. The offense immediately went three-and-out, gaining just nine yards. The possession foretold the rest of the game, as BHW was unable to score again. In fact, all three of the Warriors’ turnovers occurred in the second half.

Edgar, on the other hand, scored on three of its four possessions. The Wildcats made the most of the Warrior turnovers, scoring 14 points on the mistakes.

“If we would have had a long drive coming out of half — even if we wouldn’t have scored — I think it would have been a whole different half,” Breadon said. “We just ran out of gas. Hats off to Edgar for taking care of business.” 

With the win, Edgar secured its eighth title in program history. The Wildcats have made 14 state championship appearances.

With the loss, Black Hawk-Warren concluded its season 12-2 as runners-up in the Six Rivers Conference and in all of Division 7. It was the co-op’s second trip to state together and fifth overall for Black Hawk. The Warriors have been to the championship game four times in the last six years. 

Despite another trophy in the case, Breadon knows this loss will fuel his team to win a gold ball in the near future.

“Now they know what this feeling is. You’re proud to be here, but it hurts like hell that you didn’t win,” Breadon said. “Now they know what they have to put in to get back here next year and come away with the gold.”