SOUTH WAYNE - A couple of turnovers and two ill-timed penalties proved costly for the Black Hawk football team, as the Warriors lost at home to Catholic Central 14-12 in the opening round of the Division 7 playoffs.
After entering the locker room down just 7-6 at half, the Warriors were well within contention. However, a series of third quarter mistakes allowed the Hilltoppers to extend their lead.
With Catholic Central driving in the third, the Warriors committed two 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and allowed a fourth-and-10 conversion, to keep the Hilltopper offense on the field. Catholic Central eventually scored on the drive, pushing their lead to 14-6.
That drive was a very stressful one for Black Hawk coach Cory Milz.
"That wasn't a good drive," Milz said. "We just made a ton of mistakes, and you can't do that in the playoffs."
The playoffs have been a common meeting ground for Black Hawk and Catholic Central recently. Last year the Hilltoppers edged the Warriors 35-34 in the Level 2 playoffs.
"Last year I thought we were fortunate to be in that game," Milz said. "They were a much better team last year than this year."
Compared to last year's 69-point affair, this year's duel was a completely different type of game, with touchdowns harder to come by and mistakes costly. For the game, Black Hawk committed six penalties for 55 yards compared to Catholic Central's 2-for-12.
The miscues favored the Hilltoppers and kept the Warriors offense out of sync.
"Offensively, we were not sharp," Milz said. "We left too many mistakes that left us punting."
However, Milz was pleased with the way his team was able to control the line of scrimmage and run the ball.
"We ran the ball well," he said. "I thought our offensive line was outstanding, and our running backs ran incredibly hard. There were a lot of yards after contact by our running backs."
Senior Logan Stietz led the Warriors with 16 carries for 121 yards and two touchdowns. Stietz opened the scoring for the Warriors, taking the handoff 51 yards for the touchdown. He later scored on a 1-yard run, to bring the Warriors to within two points. Black Hawk attempted a two-point conversion run but fell short.
Junior Tanner Sweeney also added 93 yards on 14 carries.
Passing-wise, the Warriors struggled.
Senior quarterback Merik Meythaler went 6 for 19 for 76 yards and threw two interceptions. Both interceptions came on misreads, Milz said.
Counteracting the two interceptions, though, was Black Hawk's defense.
"Our defense played lights out," Milz said. "I give credit to (Catholic Central's) coaching staff."
Quarterback Carson Meinholz led the way for the Hilltoppers, completing 7 of 11 passes for 81 yards and one touchdown. He also ran in a score. Brad Alderman led the way on the ground, rushing for 85 yards on 17 carries.
The offensive numbers were similar, but the turnovers and penalties tipped in Catholic Central's favor.
"I really feel like we're the better football team," Milz said. "We were definitely the more physical football team tonight, but we weren't smart and we're going home."
With the season over, Milz was quick to praise his team's performance this season and acknowledge of several key seniors.
"I'm going to miss these seniors," he said. "They were good leaders, they made the season fun, they worked hard. I want to congratulate them on a fine season."
Nekoosa 44, N.G.-Monticello 6
NEKOOSA - New Glarus-Monticello's season came to an end Friday, as the Glarner Knights dropped their playoff opener to a tough Nekoosa team, 44-6.
Despite the loss, coach Desie Breadon was proud of his team's effort.
"We started off slow, but I was proud of the way we played," said Breadon. "They were a very quality opponent, and we knew we were gonna have to bring our 'A' game."
The Papermakers held the Glarner Knights to just 75 total yards. Gabe Noyce was 6-of-12 passing for 45 yards. Josh Kolasch had two catches for 24 yards.
The loss leaves New Glarus-Monticello with a final record of 6-3. It also brought an end to Breadon's first year as head coach, but he said he couldn't have asked for a better team to be around.
Said Breadon, "They were exactly what you want in a team. They all put the team before themselves. They were fun to be around."
Iowa-Grant 40, Pec-Argyle 0
LIVINGSTON - The sixth-seeded Pecatonic-Argyle football team fell to third-seeded Iowa-Grant 40-0 Friday, in the first round of the Division 6 playoffs.
The Vikings battled some late-season injuries. Pecatonica-Argyle quarterback Jon Hendrickson completed 13 of 26 passes for 146 yards and threw three interceptions. Alec Treuthardt had three receptions for 48 yards to lead the Vikings.
McFarland 34, Evansville-Albany 7
EVANSVILLE - After defeating McFarland 22-0 earlier this season, the Evansville-Albany football team had to like its chances in a WIAA Division 3 playoff game.
McFarland turned the tables, though, and beat the Blue Devils. Evansville-Albany, after renewing its co-op this year, finished the season with a record of 6-3.
After entering the locker room down just 7-6 at half, the Warriors were well within contention. However, a series of third quarter mistakes allowed the Hilltoppers to extend their lead.
With Catholic Central driving in the third, the Warriors committed two 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and allowed a fourth-and-10 conversion, to keep the Hilltopper offense on the field. Catholic Central eventually scored on the drive, pushing their lead to 14-6.
That drive was a very stressful one for Black Hawk coach Cory Milz.
"That wasn't a good drive," Milz said. "We just made a ton of mistakes, and you can't do that in the playoffs."
The playoffs have been a common meeting ground for Black Hawk and Catholic Central recently. Last year the Hilltoppers edged the Warriors 35-34 in the Level 2 playoffs.
"Last year I thought we were fortunate to be in that game," Milz said. "They were a much better team last year than this year."
Compared to last year's 69-point affair, this year's duel was a completely different type of game, with touchdowns harder to come by and mistakes costly. For the game, Black Hawk committed six penalties for 55 yards compared to Catholic Central's 2-for-12.
The miscues favored the Hilltoppers and kept the Warriors offense out of sync.
"Offensively, we were not sharp," Milz said. "We left too many mistakes that left us punting."
However, Milz was pleased with the way his team was able to control the line of scrimmage and run the ball.
"We ran the ball well," he said. "I thought our offensive line was outstanding, and our running backs ran incredibly hard. There were a lot of yards after contact by our running backs."
Senior Logan Stietz led the Warriors with 16 carries for 121 yards and two touchdowns. Stietz opened the scoring for the Warriors, taking the handoff 51 yards for the touchdown. He later scored on a 1-yard run, to bring the Warriors to within two points. Black Hawk attempted a two-point conversion run but fell short.
Junior Tanner Sweeney also added 93 yards on 14 carries.
Passing-wise, the Warriors struggled.
Senior quarterback Merik Meythaler went 6 for 19 for 76 yards and threw two interceptions. Both interceptions came on misreads, Milz said.
Counteracting the two interceptions, though, was Black Hawk's defense.
"Our defense played lights out," Milz said. "I give credit to (Catholic Central's) coaching staff."
Quarterback Carson Meinholz led the way for the Hilltoppers, completing 7 of 11 passes for 81 yards and one touchdown. He also ran in a score. Brad Alderman led the way on the ground, rushing for 85 yards on 17 carries.
The offensive numbers were similar, but the turnovers and penalties tipped in Catholic Central's favor.
"I really feel like we're the better football team," Milz said. "We were definitely the more physical football team tonight, but we weren't smart and we're going home."
With the season over, Milz was quick to praise his team's performance this season and acknowledge of several key seniors.
"I'm going to miss these seniors," he said. "They were good leaders, they made the season fun, they worked hard. I want to congratulate them on a fine season."
Nekoosa 44, N.G.-Monticello 6
NEKOOSA - New Glarus-Monticello's season came to an end Friday, as the Glarner Knights dropped their playoff opener to a tough Nekoosa team, 44-6.
Despite the loss, coach Desie Breadon was proud of his team's effort.
"We started off slow, but I was proud of the way we played," said Breadon. "They were a very quality opponent, and we knew we were gonna have to bring our 'A' game."
The Papermakers held the Glarner Knights to just 75 total yards. Gabe Noyce was 6-of-12 passing for 45 yards. Josh Kolasch had two catches for 24 yards.
The loss leaves New Glarus-Monticello with a final record of 6-3. It also brought an end to Breadon's first year as head coach, but he said he couldn't have asked for a better team to be around.
Said Breadon, "They were exactly what you want in a team. They all put the team before themselves. They were fun to be around."
Iowa-Grant 40, Pec-Argyle 0
LIVINGSTON - The sixth-seeded Pecatonic-Argyle football team fell to third-seeded Iowa-Grant 40-0 Friday, in the first round of the Division 6 playoffs.
The Vikings battled some late-season injuries. Pecatonica-Argyle quarterback Jon Hendrickson completed 13 of 26 passes for 146 yards and threw three interceptions. Alec Treuthardt had three receptions for 48 yards to lead the Vikings.
McFarland 34, Evansville-Albany 7
EVANSVILLE - After defeating McFarland 22-0 earlier this season, the Evansville-Albany football team had to like its chances in a WIAA Division 3 playoff game.
McFarland turned the tables, though, and beat the Blue Devils. Evansville-Albany, after renewing its co-op this year, finished the season with a record of 6-3.
