SOUTH WAYNE — Desie Breadon will get to join his players on the sidelines more than a calendar year after he was hired as the third football head coach in Black Hawk history. Breadon was approved at the March 9, 2020 Black Hawk School Board meeting to follow in the footsteps of 18-year head coach Cory Milz, who led the team to back-to-back state championship titles.

Black Hawk-Warren’s first game of the alternate fall football season is scheduled for March 26 at Fennimore. The Warriors, winners of 27 straight games dating back to 2018, will host Southwestern April 1 in South Wayne, and Belleville April 9 in Warren. In Week 4, BHW will travel to Benton/Scales Mound/Shullsburg, then host Deerfield at Black Hawk in Week 5. A road game at Cuba City April 30 is the last game on the schedule, though the Warriors could pick up one more contest before the WIAA’s accept window of the football season would close.

“Our goal is to win a conference title and go undefeated,” Breadon said. “I think Benton/Scales Mound/Shullsburg, Fennimore and Cuba City will be a couple of the top teams this spring.”

The Warriors are a mix of strong returning players and large gaps left behind by some of the region’s best. 

Six Rivers Defensive Player of the Year and Lineman of the Year (Cayden Milz and Avery Baumgartner) have both since graduated. Both were first-team all-conference picks on both offense and defense. Quarterback/DB Ethan Williams also graduated, as did RB/DB Jaylen Rufenacht. Two-way first-team lineman Gunner Foecking has also departed, as did first-team selections Nick Whitcomb and Hunter Metz. Three other all-conference players, plus three other starters, also graduated from the 2019 state championship team.

“The two biggest challenges we are facing right now is depth and experience. We graduated 17 seniors last year and only have five seniors this year,” Breadon said. “Also, we have a smaller total roster this spring than normal. We need to improve in all areas, but the first areas of improvement are the offensive line and defensive backs.”

The Warriors outscored their opponents 508-87 last year (36.2-6.2), and led by an average of three touchdowns at halftime. Black Hawk-Warren outgained opponents 4,538-773 in rushing yards. In fact, the Warriors scored 59 rushing TDs on the season while holding all 14 opponents to just 3 combined scores on the ground.

Breadon says he wants his team to play fast, physical football and use the spring to gain experience for the full season that is expected to be played in the fall.

“Right now I see our running game and our linebackers being our biggest strengths this year,” Breadon said. “We have good experience up front on defensive as well as a number of athletes.  Also, we have a good group of skill players to use in a number of ways on offense which will be a definite strength this season.”

Milz and Rufenacht combined for over 2,900 rushing yards, with fellow graduates Cody Blosch (744) and Ethan Williams (231) rounding out the top four runners in the program from 2019. Sophomore Lucas Milz is back (228 yards, 5 TDs), as is Cody Wick (136 yds, TD) and Lane Raab (123 yds).

“We have 11 letter winners returning for next year. Skylar Neff, started on both offense and defense last year. Ryan Molitor, Jexen Stietz, Thatcher Schliem, and Aydan Mahoney all were non-starters last year, but played big roles when they were called on,” Breadon said. “We have a young group of runningbacks (Lucas Milz, Lane Raab, and Landon Mahoney) that saw some playing time last year, who should all make a big impact this year. Owen Huschitt, Elijah Shelton, and Brayden Bohnsack will all be big factors on both sides of the ball this season.”

Newcomers include Dayton Burmeister and Christian Eaton to play on the line of scrimmage, and Reed McNutt on the outside as a WR and DB.

“(Burmeister) has good athletic ability and toughness to step up and be a contributor on both sides of the ball. (Eaton) is a smart, athletic player that will be a significant contributor on both sides of the ball. (McNutt) is an explosive athlete that can play multiple positions on offense to create mismatches,” Breadon said. “All three have the ability to make a big impact this season. There are a couple of other players that could contribute based on how they develop early on in the season.”