MIDDLETON - Black Hawk senior running back Tanner Sweeney has dreamed of playing a football game at the University of Wisconsin's Camp Randall Stadium.
The Warriors, behind the one-two punch of Sweeney and Jayden Rufenacht at running back, hammered their way past Lake Country Lutheran 60-33 in a WIAA Division 7 state semifinal game Friday, Nov. 15 at Breitenbach Stadium in Middleton to accomplish that dream. Sweeney rushed for 294 yards and scored four touchdowns and Rufenacht rushed for 177 yards on 12 carries and scored three touchdowns to power the Warriors to state for the first time since 1998.
"It's amazing," Sweeney said. "It's always been my dream to play there (Camp Randall). I will be there now."
With the win, Black Hawk (13-0) will play Glenwood City in a state title game at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 21. Rufenacht is excited for a chance to play for the school's first gold ball in football.
"Growing up as a kid, everyone wants to go to the state championship and be a champion," Rufenacht said. "It's every kid's dream."
It was a clash of contrasting styles between the Warriors' power running attack and the Lightning's passing attack. The Warriors gashed the Lightning for 536 total rushing yards. Lake Country Lutheran quarterback Ben Wilkins running out of a shotgun most of the game was 20 of 40 passing for 317 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. The Warriors forced four turnovers (three fumbles and one interception). Black Hawk senior Seth Butler had one interception and one fumble recovery.
The Lightning had two rushers with more than 1,000 yards, but were forced to abandon the running game playing from behind.
"The key for us was we wanted to stop the run and make them one-dimensional and we did that," Black Hawk coach Cory Milz said. "We knew we had to score points. He (Wilkins) is probably the best quarterback we have faced. My hats off to him."
Early on, the game had the makings of a shootout. The Warriors scored on their first three dives and exploded for 23 points in the first quarter. On the Warriors' first play on offense, Sweeney bolted for a 71-yard TD run. Every time Sweeney touches the ball, he has the mindset he will score.
"Every game we feel like we can get those big runs," he said. "We have a great offensive line and we run hard. That is what good teams do."
There were many more long runs after that first one set the tone. The Warriors had five runs of 42 yards or more. Wilkins answered for Lake Country Lutheran throwing an 86-yard TD strike to Evan Kramer. However, the Lightning missed the extra point and the Warriors led 8-6.
"I can't believe the scoreboard," Milz said. "Both Tanner and Jayden ran hard and didn't put the ball on the ground. We knew we could run the ball coming in. To put 60 points on the board is a great day."
Black Hawk junior Heath Butler tossed a 5-yard TD pass to Seth Butler on a key fourth-and goal play in the first quarter. Sweeney then connected on a two-point conversion pass to Tyler Peterson to give the Warriors a 16-6 lead. Sweeney then broke loose for a 61-yard TD run at the end of the first quarter to give the Warriors a 23-6 lead.
Rufenacht had 46- and 80-yard TD runs in the second quarter to give the Warriors a 37-13 lead.
On the first drive of the third quarter, Rufenacht scored on a 4-yard run to give the Warriors an insurmountable 45-19 lead. Sweeney capped the scoring with 4- and 42-yard TD runs in the fourth quarter.
Lake Country Lutheran's offensive lineman Nate Cross did have some success in the backfield scoring two touchdowns.
"We had some mistakes on defense," Black Hawk safety Seth Butler said. "Our defensive backs had to step up in the second half. We moved our linebackers back to the sticks and got some blitzes."
Seth Butler looks forward to the state championship game against Glendwood City.
"It's a dream come true for everyone on our team and the community," he said.
The Warriors, behind the one-two punch of Sweeney and Jayden Rufenacht at running back, hammered their way past Lake Country Lutheran 60-33 in a WIAA Division 7 state semifinal game Friday, Nov. 15 at Breitenbach Stadium in Middleton to accomplish that dream. Sweeney rushed for 294 yards and scored four touchdowns and Rufenacht rushed for 177 yards on 12 carries and scored three touchdowns to power the Warriors to state for the first time since 1998.
"It's amazing," Sweeney said. "It's always been my dream to play there (Camp Randall). I will be there now."
With the win, Black Hawk (13-0) will play Glenwood City in a state title game at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 21. Rufenacht is excited for a chance to play for the school's first gold ball in football.
"Growing up as a kid, everyone wants to go to the state championship and be a champion," Rufenacht said. "It's every kid's dream."
It was a clash of contrasting styles between the Warriors' power running attack and the Lightning's passing attack. The Warriors gashed the Lightning for 536 total rushing yards. Lake Country Lutheran quarterback Ben Wilkins running out of a shotgun most of the game was 20 of 40 passing for 317 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. The Warriors forced four turnovers (three fumbles and one interception). Black Hawk senior Seth Butler had one interception and one fumble recovery.
The Lightning had two rushers with more than 1,000 yards, but were forced to abandon the running game playing from behind.
"The key for us was we wanted to stop the run and make them one-dimensional and we did that," Black Hawk coach Cory Milz said. "We knew we had to score points. He (Wilkins) is probably the best quarterback we have faced. My hats off to him."
Early on, the game had the makings of a shootout. The Warriors scored on their first three dives and exploded for 23 points in the first quarter. On the Warriors' first play on offense, Sweeney bolted for a 71-yard TD run. Every time Sweeney touches the ball, he has the mindset he will score.
"Every game we feel like we can get those big runs," he said. "We have a great offensive line and we run hard. That is what good teams do."
There were many more long runs after that first one set the tone. The Warriors had five runs of 42 yards or more. Wilkins answered for Lake Country Lutheran throwing an 86-yard TD strike to Evan Kramer. However, the Lightning missed the extra point and the Warriors led 8-6.
"I can't believe the scoreboard," Milz said. "Both Tanner and Jayden ran hard and didn't put the ball on the ground. We knew we could run the ball coming in. To put 60 points on the board is a great day."
Black Hawk junior Heath Butler tossed a 5-yard TD pass to Seth Butler on a key fourth-and goal play in the first quarter. Sweeney then connected on a two-point conversion pass to Tyler Peterson to give the Warriors a 16-6 lead. Sweeney then broke loose for a 61-yard TD run at the end of the first quarter to give the Warriors a 23-6 lead.
Rufenacht had 46- and 80-yard TD runs in the second quarter to give the Warriors a 37-13 lead.
On the first drive of the third quarter, Rufenacht scored on a 4-yard run to give the Warriors an insurmountable 45-19 lead. Sweeney capped the scoring with 4- and 42-yard TD runs in the fourth quarter.
Lake Country Lutheran's offensive lineman Nate Cross did have some success in the backfield scoring two touchdowns.
"We had some mistakes on defense," Black Hawk safety Seth Butler said. "Our defensive backs had to step up in the second half. We moved our linebackers back to the sticks and got some blitzes."
Seth Butler looks forward to the state championship game against Glendwood City.
"It's a dream come true for everyone on our team and the community," he said.
