CASHTON — At Cashton High School on Friday night, Mother Nature and a stingy Cashton defense teamed up to bog down Black Hawk/Warren high-powered rushing attack.

The No. 2-ranked and top-seeded Eagles held the Warriors’ three 1,000-yards backs in check throughout the night while putting together a pretty strong ground attack of their own en route to a 28-14 WIAA Division 7 Level 3 playoff victory.

Senior running back Colin O’Neil ran for 199 yards and three touchdowns to carry the Eagles (12-0 overall) over the Warriors (8-4).

“We knew they were good and that it was going to take everything to beat them. We made some mistakes and didn’t control the line of scrimmage,” said Warriors’ head coach Desie Breadon. “Obviously, we would have liked to see a different ending, but the players and coaches can keep their heads up after that game.”

O’Neil gave the hosts the lead less than three minutes into the game when he ripped off a 46-yard TD run. A successful conversion run put the Eagles up 8-0 with 9:15 to play in the first quarter. 

The Warriors answered back with a 15-yard scoring strike from senior quarterback Reed McNutt to senior running back Lucas Milz to trim the deficit to 8-6 midway through the opening stanza. However, the Eagles stopped the Warriors’ conversion try to preserve their lead, and then O’Neil followed with a 22-yard TD run with 2:41 to go in the first frame and a 5-yard scamper with 7:26 remaining in the second quarter to pull ahead 22-6.

“It was frustrating at times because we knew exactly what they were going to do, but we just couldn’t stop them. They were big, fast, and aggressive,” said Breadon.

The Warriors pulled back within a score at 22-14 in the closing minute of the half on senior running back Landen Mahoney’s 15-yard TD run and McNutt’s conversion pass to Milz. But, that would be as close as they could get as Cashton’s D put up a wall in front of their end zone in the second half and kept the Warriors out of it over the final 24 minutes to hold on for their 12th consecutive victory.

The 14 first-half points scored by the Warriors matched the total the Eagles had allowed in the first halves of their previous 11 games this season.    

“I think we definitely gave them a challenge. I just wish we could’ve made some more plays, especially coming out to start the third quarter and then again after stopping them in the red zone. Losing Brady Stietz to an injury in the second half definitely had an impact on both sides of the ball,” Breadon commented. “I do think the weather played a factor. We knew slants were open, but were nervous of something bad happening because of the rain.”

Milz, who came into the game leading the Warriors with over 1,200 rushing yards, was limited to just 21 yards on seven carries by the Eagles. Mahoney ran four times for 56 yards and a score, and McNutt added 51 yards on 15 carries to become the third Warrior back this season to top the 1,000-yard plateau. 

The Warriors are believed to be just the 13th team in WIAA history to feature three 1,000-yard rushers in the same season. Monroe most recently accomplished the feat in 2021. Milz led the way with 1,233 yards, followed by Mahoney with 1,185 yards and McNutt with 1,031.

“I am thrilled that we ended up joining a small list of other schools who had three 1,000-yard rushers. I never even thought we would have that happen. It’s a really neat thing for Lucas, Landen, and Reed,” said Breadon. “I think one of the things that most people won’t realize is that we had those three do that because of the hard work of our offensive line, tight ends and wide receivers, and scout team. It really is a team accomplishment.”

The 128 rushing yards gained were the lowest for the Warriors in a game since their week three loss to Darlington, while the Eagles’ 296 rushing yards were the most allowed by the Warriors this season.

“We have so much to be proud of as a team and as individual players. I don’t think anyone outside of our locker room expected us to make Level 3 and beat some of the teams we did. Most teams would be thrilled with finishing 8-4 and making Level 3, but we are maybe a little disappointed that we didn’t have more wins and go farther. But, that’s the good thing with having high expectations you keep striving to get better. I’m so proud of this team and coaches and love being a part of this program,” said Breadon. 

Playing in their final prep game for the Warriors on Friday night were seniors Lucas Milz, Landen Mahoney, Seth Dunlavey, Jovanny Erickson, Reed McNutt, Dylan Haldiman and Tyler Heller.

“I can’t say enough good things about this group of seniors. They are one of my favorite senior classes in the last 18 years. There weren’t a lot of them, but they left a great legacy in this program. They were great leaders on and off the field. They showed the younger players how they need to work in the weight room, on the practice field, and leave it all on the game field to get to their goals. They are a group that will truly be missed. I really love this group of seniors. I think the world of them,” Breadon said.