SOUTH WAYNE - Black Hawk senior Michael Wolff knows all too well what it's like to tackle a bruising running back like River Ridge senior Derrick Sprague when he gets a full head of steam.
Sprague rushed for 227 yards on 37 carries as the Timberwolves pounded their way to a 34-21 win over the Warriors Friday night. River Ridge (4-0) gashed the Warriors for 364 total rushing yards and the Timberwolves scored 20 fourth quarter points.
"Usually, you want to take him down at his knees so he can't cut back," Wolff said of Sprague. "They (River Ridge) know they are going to run the ball like 50 times coming in. They do a good job of doing what they do."
Black Hawk (2-2) was plagued by penalties and turnovers in the second half. The Warriors had five of their seven penalties at some of the most inopportune times in the second half - Wolff threw two interceptions and the Warriors had a turnover on downs.
With Black Hawk trailing 14-13 late in the third quarter, the Warriors had the Timberwolves backed up to their own 20-yard line to start a drive. The Warriors were called for an offsides penalty on a critical fourth-and-1 from the Timberwolves' 31-yard that kept River Ridge's drive alive. The Timberwolves capped off a nine-play, 80-yard drive when sophomore Joel Mezera rammed in for a 1-yard TD run with 11 minutes, 31 seconds left in the fourth quarter to give the Timberwolves a 20-13 lead.
"It started out with that interception in the second half," Black Hawk coach Cory Milz said of Mezera's pick on the first possession of the second half. "They (River Ridge) switched to a 3-5 defense. They had an extra guy in coverage. From that play on, we were never able to get into a rhythm. We were always on our heels. They dominated the line of scrimmage."
Mezera intercepted his second pass from Wolff to set up the Timberwolves' next scoring drive. One play later, Sprague bolted for a 52-yard TD run to give the Timberwolves a 25-13 lead with 8:02 to go.
"We knew they would drive the ball," Milz said. "We felt coming in we had to eliminate the big runs. In the second half, we couldn't do that. We had to commit so many people in the box. If you give them a crease and they find it, it will be a long run. That's what happened in the second half."
Early on, the Six Rivers matchup had the look of a shootout. The Timberwolves capped off a 13-play, 80-yard first quarter drive with Sprague scoring on a 10-yard run. The Warriors answered with Wolff's 29-yard TD run and an extra point to take a 7-6 lead with 2:46 left in the first quarter.
The Timberwolves marched 59-yards in 16-plays culminating in Sprague's 3-yard TD run. Mezera ran in the two-point conversion to give the Timberwolves a 14-7 lead.
The Warriors' quick strike offense responded when Wolff connected on a 25-yard TD pass to junior Jace Johnsrud to cut the Timberwolves' lead to 14-13. Wolff completed 12 of 27 passes for 153 yards with one touchdown. Johnsrud rushed for 59 yards on seven carries and he had two receptions for 41 yards. Black Hawk senior Jake Meier caught four passes for 38 yards.
"We knew coming in that they had blown everyone out before," Wolff said. "We knew they would come in ready to play."
Black Hawk sophomore Merik Meythaler hooked up with Cory Rupnow on a 57-yard TD pass that pulled the Warriors within two touchdowns late in the fourth quarter.
It won't get any easier for Black Hawk as the Warriors play at Potosi next week.
"That will be a big one," Milz said.
Sprague rushed for 227 yards on 37 carries as the Timberwolves pounded their way to a 34-21 win over the Warriors Friday night. River Ridge (4-0) gashed the Warriors for 364 total rushing yards and the Timberwolves scored 20 fourth quarter points.
"Usually, you want to take him down at his knees so he can't cut back," Wolff said of Sprague. "They (River Ridge) know they are going to run the ball like 50 times coming in. They do a good job of doing what they do."
Black Hawk (2-2) was plagued by penalties and turnovers in the second half. The Warriors had five of their seven penalties at some of the most inopportune times in the second half - Wolff threw two interceptions and the Warriors had a turnover on downs.
With Black Hawk trailing 14-13 late in the third quarter, the Warriors had the Timberwolves backed up to their own 20-yard line to start a drive. The Warriors were called for an offsides penalty on a critical fourth-and-1 from the Timberwolves' 31-yard that kept River Ridge's drive alive. The Timberwolves capped off a nine-play, 80-yard drive when sophomore Joel Mezera rammed in for a 1-yard TD run with 11 minutes, 31 seconds left in the fourth quarter to give the Timberwolves a 20-13 lead.
"It started out with that interception in the second half," Black Hawk coach Cory Milz said of Mezera's pick on the first possession of the second half. "They (River Ridge) switched to a 3-5 defense. They had an extra guy in coverage. From that play on, we were never able to get into a rhythm. We were always on our heels. They dominated the line of scrimmage."
Mezera intercepted his second pass from Wolff to set up the Timberwolves' next scoring drive. One play later, Sprague bolted for a 52-yard TD run to give the Timberwolves a 25-13 lead with 8:02 to go.
"We knew they would drive the ball," Milz said. "We felt coming in we had to eliminate the big runs. In the second half, we couldn't do that. We had to commit so many people in the box. If you give them a crease and they find it, it will be a long run. That's what happened in the second half."
Early on, the Six Rivers matchup had the look of a shootout. The Timberwolves capped off a 13-play, 80-yard first quarter drive with Sprague scoring on a 10-yard run. The Warriors answered with Wolff's 29-yard TD run and an extra point to take a 7-6 lead with 2:46 left in the first quarter.
The Timberwolves marched 59-yards in 16-plays culminating in Sprague's 3-yard TD run. Mezera ran in the two-point conversion to give the Timberwolves a 14-7 lead.
The Warriors' quick strike offense responded when Wolff connected on a 25-yard TD pass to junior Jace Johnsrud to cut the Timberwolves' lead to 14-13. Wolff completed 12 of 27 passes for 153 yards with one touchdown. Johnsrud rushed for 59 yards on seven carries and he had two receptions for 41 yards. Black Hawk senior Jake Meier caught four passes for 38 yards.
"We knew coming in that they had blown everyone out before," Wolff said. "We knew they would come in ready to play."
Black Hawk sophomore Merik Meythaler hooked up with Cory Rupnow on a 57-yard TD pass that pulled the Warriors within two touchdowns late in the fourth quarter.
It won't get any easier for Black Hawk as the Warriors play at Potosi next week.
"That will be a big one," Milz said.
