PLATTEVILLE - The last time Black Hawk and Potosi met, the Six Rivers Conference showdown came down to a successful Hail Mary pass by Potosi in the final seconds.
The Chieftains didn't need one this time as they took a leg up in repeating as conference champions by knocking off Black Hawk 26-13 in the Six Rivers Jamboree on Saturday at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's Pioneer Stadium.
Potosi, which has won four straight Six Rivers Conference titles, got off to a fast start. Alex Wright scampered 76-yards for a touchdown on just the fifth play from scrimmage in the first quarter. Black Hawk then fumbled a punt and the Chieftains recovered at the Warriors' 27-yard line. Potosi capitalized on the turnover when Jase Udelhofen raced for a 13-yard TD run to give the Chieftains a 13-0 lead. Wright rushed for 99 yards on eight carries, and Udelhofen had 93 rushing yards on 13 carries with three touchdowns.
"The big difference was we didn't make any big plays," Black Hawk coach Cory Milz said. "They had four big plays for touchdowns. "We just weren't able to spring anything against them. That has a lot to do with their hustle and speed. We knew they had a few fast kids. Across the board they are pretty fast and quick."
Potosi senior quarterback Tim Fritz slipped a screen pass to Udelhofen on third-and-11 late in the second quarter that turned into a 40-yard TD to give the Chieftains a 19-0 lead at the half.
Black Hawk had several promising drives in the first half, but they couldn't sustain a scoring drive. Black Hawk junior Tanner Sweeney rushed for 105 yards on 16 carries.
"Coach told us this is the first game and it's not doom and gloom," Sweeney said. "This doesn't define our season. We will improve and get better as the season goes on."
Milz said the big concern coming into the season opener was the secondary since there were several first time varsity starters. The Warriors also had to deal with safety Seth Butler's injury.
"We are a good football team, but we have young kids in key positions namely in the secondary," Milz said. "When you play a team like Potosi they won't just line up in one or two formations where kids can get locked in and start building some confidence. There was a lot of shifting and moving by our secondary that got us out of position and they were able to make plays on that when we were out of position. They got blitzed a little bit but they settled down. They did learn and got better."
Milz said the main focal point was tight end Mitchell Langkamp.
"We were concerned about the tight end's size and him getting vertical on us," he said. "He's a pretty impressive athlete. That may have slowed our safeties down from coming into the alleys."
The Warriors forced three turnovers including interceptions by senior Kyle Walters and Cuyler Meier. The Warriors limited the Chieftains to just 23 total yards in the third quarter. Meier's interception about midway through the third quarter sparked the Warriors. Black Hawk senior quarterback Merik Meythaler helped the Warriors cash in on the turnover. Facing third-and-9 from the Chieftains' 12-yard line, Meythaler threaded a pass between two Potosi defenders to Cory Rupnow for a 12-yard TD.
"We worked hard all week," Rupnow said. "We had some first game jitters. We have to come out more physical next week. We can't take them (Highland lightly. We have to stick on our blocks. If we stay on our blocks and keep driving."
Meythaler completed 7 of 15 passes for 68 yards with one touchdown and one interception. However, the passing game got off to a cold start. Meythaler didn't complete his first pass until late in the second quarter.
"They showed some pressure off the edges where our tackles weren't able to kick step and get back into position," Milz said. "They speed-rushed us. That scared us off the passing game in the first half. We chipped on them off the edges in the second half."
The Chieftains answered with Udelhofen darting for a 40-yard TD run to seal the game. The Warriors closed the fourth quarter with a 10-play, 68 yard drive capped off by Jayden Rufenacht's 2-yard TD run.
"I know after watching today that we will get better," Milz said.
The Chieftains didn't need one this time as they took a leg up in repeating as conference champions by knocking off Black Hawk 26-13 in the Six Rivers Jamboree on Saturday at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's Pioneer Stadium.
Potosi, which has won four straight Six Rivers Conference titles, got off to a fast start. Alex Wright scampered 76-yards for a touchdown on just the fifth play from scrimmage in the first quarter. Black Hawk then fumbled a punt and the Chieftains recovered at the Warriors' 27-yard line. Potosi capitalized on the turnover when Jase Udelhofen raced for a 13-yard TD run to give the Chieftains a 13-0 lead. Wright rushed for 99 yards on eight carries, and Udelhofen had 93 rushing yards on 13 carries with three touchdowns.
"The big difference was we didn't make any big plays," Black Hawk coach Cory Milz said. "They had four big plays for touchdowns. "We just weren't able to spring anything against them. That has a lot to do with their hustle and speed. We knew they had a few fast kids. Across the board they are pretty fast and quick."
Potosi senior quarterback Tim Fritz slipped a screen pass to Udelhofen on third-and-11 late in the second quarter that turned into a 40-yard TD to give the Chieftains a 19-0 lead at the half.
Black Hawk had several promising drives in the first half, but they couldn't sustain a scoring drive. Black Hawk junior Tanner Sweeney rushed for 105 yards on 16 carries.
"Coach told us this is the first game and it's not doom and gloom," Sweeney said. "This doesn't define our season. We will improve and get better as the season goes on."
Milz said the big concern coming into the season opener was the secondary since there were several first time varsity starters. The Warriors also had to deal with safety Seth Butler's injury.
"We are a good football team, but we have young kids in key positions namely in the secondary," Milz said. "When you play a team like Potosi they won't just line up in one or two formations where kids can get locked in and start building some confidence. There was a lot of shifting and moving by our secondary that got us out of position and they were able to make plays on that when we were out of position. They got blitzed a little bit but they settled down. They did learn and got better."
Milz said the main focal point was tight end Mitchell Langkamp.
"We were concerned about the tight end's size and him getting vertical on us," he said. "He's a pretty impressive athlete. That may have slowed our safeties down from coming into the alleys."
The Warriors forced three turnovers including interceptions by senior Kyle Walters and Cuyler Meier. The Warriors limited the Chieftains to just 23 total yards in the third quarter. Meier's interception about midway through the third quarter sparked the Warriors. Black Hawk senior quarterback Merik Meythaler helped the Warriors cash in on the turnover. Facing third-and-9 from the Chieftains' 12-yard line, Meythaler threaded a pass between two Potosi defenders to Cory Rupnow for a 12-yard TD.
"We worked hard all week," Rupnow said. "We had some first game jitters. We have to come out more physical next week. We can't take them (Highland lightly. We have to stick on our blocks. If we stay on our blocks and keep driving."
Meythaler completed 7 of 15 passes for 68 yards with one touchdown and one interception. However, the passing game got off to a cold start. Meythaler didn't complete his first pass until late in the second quarter.
"They showed some pressure off the edges where our tackles weren't able to kick step and get back into position," Milz said. "They speed-rushed us. That scared us off the passing game in the first half. We chipped on them off the edges in the second half."
The Chieftains answered with Udelhofen darting for a 40-yard TD run to seal the game. The Warriors closed the fourth quarter with a 10-play, 68 yard drive capped off by Jayden Rufenacht's 2-yard TD run.
"I know after watching today that we will get better," Milz said.
