SOUTH WAYNE - Black Hawk is a football team from a small town that continues to dream big.
The Warriors (10-0), ranked No. 3 in the WisSports.net Division 7 Coaches Poll, is the smallest team in the playoffs with an enrollment of 107 students. They will host Iowa-Grant (6-4) at 7 p.m. Friday in South Wayne.
Coach Cory Milz said the well-known territory will come with advantages.
"Home field is only an advantage if you have a crowd behind you making noise and the kids feel that energy and feed off of that," Milz said. "We hope we have a big crowd and the kids can see that and it gives them an edge."
It's the second straight year Black Hawk has reached the WIAA Level 2 playoffs. The Warriors lost to Shullsburg 13-12 last season and the Miners went on to finish as the WIAA Div. 7 state runner-up. Milz is expecting the experience of being on the big stage in the postseason to pay off.
"I think experience matters because they have been here before," Milz said. "They understand you are never out of a situation and don't panic if things are not going your way. I hope this (experience) gives them a sense of calm and a sense of confidence."
The Warriors enter the second-round playoff game with a lot of confidence and a juggernaut on offense averaging 51.5 points and 351 rushing yards per game. Black Hawk senior Brody Milz rushed for 1,203 yards and 20 TDs and junior Colby Argall has rushed for 1,122 yards and 19 TDs so far this season.
Black Hawk isn't the only team building a sense of invincibility. Iowa-Grant is two weeks removed from upsetting SWAL champion Cuba City 13-7.
I-G senior running back Brady Peat is the focal point of the Panthers' offense, averaging 27.6 points per game this year. Peat rushed for 2,015 yards with 28 touchdowns this year, averaging 201.5 rushing yards per game.
"I think he's a complete back," Milz said. "He's a big back. He does a really good job of making people miss. He's tough to stop on first contact. He runs a 4.7 40-yard dash. He's fast enough if he gets the edge to take it the distance. It will be a big challenge for our kids."
The Panthers like to dominate with a bruising running attack on long time-consuming drives. The team plans to feature Peat on Iso, power and inside run plays.
"They are an 80 percent running offense to a 20 percent passing offense," Milz said of the Panthers' run and pass play options. "Clearly, they want to run the football. They are one of the best running teams we have played since week two against Potosi-Cassville."
Panthers quarterback Ross Havlik passed for 602 yards with five touchdowns this year. He's completing just 44.4 percent of his passes and has thrown five interceptions. Iowa-Grant's Michael Winders leads the team with 17 receptions for 250 yards and four touchdowns.
"(Havlik) struggled a little bit against New Glarus-Monticello," Milz said. "He had some big throws against Cuba City and Ithaca. He's capable of making big plays and we have to be ready for that."
Black Hawk has three shut-outs on defense and has forced 25 turnovers this season, an average of 2.5 per game. Linebacker Brody Milz has a team-high 105 tackles, 16 tackles for losses and 4.5 sacks. Senior defensive back Jett Rufenacht has 39 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Seniors Michael Flanagan and Jason Treuthardt each have a team-high four interceptions.
Junior outside linebacker Kyle Lovelace aggravated a knee injury on a 59-yard run against North Crawford in a first-round playoff game last week. Milz isn't sure if Lovelace will play or be at 100 percent if he does.
"We don't have a lot of depth there," Milz said. "Guys are motivated to win. We will see what happens. If he can't go, we will have someone step up."
Black Hawk saw two offensive guards return from injuries last week - junior Mitchell Quinn and sophomore Avery Baumgartner. Top Warrior wide receiver Rufenacht has 19 receptions for 397 yards with six touchdowns.
Quinn has also been a fixture on defense with 63 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
"We feel like we are more than capable of completing passes at a high level," Milz said.
Milz said with the way the Panthers walk up one of their safeties within six yards of the scrimmage line, the Warriors' passing attack could be key Friday. Flanagan has passed for 707 yards with 10 TDs and just two interceptions. He's completing 60.3 percent of his passes.
"We will have to complete some passes down the field," Milz said. "You feel like to help you out with those percentages you can take shots down the field."
The Panthers run a 3-5 defensive scheme that will look to slow down a Warriors' offense averaging 351 rushing yards per game.
"You don't do that as a team if you don't have an outstanding line playing at a really high level with maximum effort," Milz said. "Our kids have done a great job of creating creases and movement. We love the way they are coming off the ball and getting after it."
The Warriors (10-0), ranked No. 3 in the WisSports.net Division 7 Coaches Poll, is the smallest team in the playoffs with an enrollment of 107 students. They will host Iowa-Grant (6-4) at 7 p.m. Friday in South Wayne.
Coach Cory Milz said the well-known territory will come with advantages.
"Home field is only an advantage if you have a crowd behind you making noise and the kids feel that energy and feed off of that," Milz said. "We hope we have a big crowd and the kids can see that and it gives them an edge."
It's the second straight year Black Hawk has reached the WIAA Level 2 playoffs. The Warriors lost to Shullsburg 13-12 last season and the Miners went on to finish as the WIAA Div. 7 state runner-up. Milz is expecting the experience of being on the big stage in the postseason to pay off.
"I think experience matters because they have been here before," Milz said. "They understand you are never out of a situation and don't panic if things are not going your way. I hope this (experience) gives them a sense of calm and a sense of confidence."
The Warriors enter the second-round playoff game with a lot of confidence and a juggernaut on offense averaging 51.5 points and 351 rushing yards per game. Black Hawk senior Brody Milz rushed for 1,203 yards and 20 TDs and junior Colby Argall has rushed for 1,122 yards and 19 TDs so far this season.
Black Hawk isn't the only team building a sense of invincibility. Iowa-Grant is two weeks removed from upsetting SWAL champion Cuba City 13-7.
I-G senior running back Brady Peat is the focal point of the Panthers' offense, averaging 27.6 points per game this year. Peat rushed for 2,015 yards with 28 touchdowns this year, averaging 201.5 rushing yards per game.
"I think he's a complete back," Milz said. "He's a big back. He does a really good job of making people miss. He's tough to stop on first contact. He runs a 4.7 40-yard dash. He's fast enough if he gets the edge to take it the distance. It will be a big challenge for our kids."
The Panthers like to dominate with a bruising running attack on long time-consuming drives. The team plans to feature Peat on Iso, power and inside run plays.
"They are an 80 percent running offense to a 20 percent passing offense," Milz said of the Panthers' run and pass play options. "Clearly, they want to run the football. They are one of the best running teams we have played since week two against Potosi-Cassville."
Panthers quarterback Ross Havlik passed for 602 yards with five touchdowns this year. He's completing just 44.4 percent of his passes and has thrown five interceptions. Iowa-Grant's Michael Winders leads the team with 17 receptions for 250 yards and four touchdowns.
"(Havlik) struggled a little bit against New Glarus-Monticello," Milz said. "He had some big throws against Cuba City and Ithaca. He's capable of making big plays and we have to be ready for that."
Black Hawk has three shut-outs on defense and has forced 25 turnovers this season, an average of 2.5 per game. Linebacker Brody Milz has a team-high 105 tackles, 16 tackles for losses and 4.5 sacks. Senior defensive back Jett Rufenacht has 39 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Seniors Michael Flanagan and Jason Treuthardt each have a team-high four interceptions.
Junior outside linebacker Kyle Lovelace aggravated a knee injury on a 59-yard run against North Crawford in a first-round playoff game last week. Milz isn't sure if Lovelace will play or be at 100 percent if he does.
"We don't have a lot of depth there," Milz said. "Guys are motivated to win. We will see what happens. If he can't go, we will have someone step up."
Black Hawk saw two offensive guards return from injuries last week - junior Mitchell Quinn and sophomore Avery Baumgartner. Top Warrior wide receiver Rufenacht has 19 receptions for 397 yards with six touchdowns.
Quinn has also been a fixture on defense with 63 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
"We feel like we are more than capable of completing passes at a high level," Milz said.
Milz said with the way the Panthers walk up one of their safeties within six yards of the scrimmage line, the Warriors' passing attack could be key Friday. Flanagan has passed for 707 yards with 10 TDs and just two interceptions. He's completing 60.3 percent of his passes.
"We will have to complete some passes down the field," Milz said. "You feel like to help you out with those percentages you can take shots down the field."
The Panthers run a 3-5 defensive scheme that will look to slow down a Warriors' offense averaging 351 rushing yards per game.
"You don't do that as a team if you don't have an outstanding line playing at a really high level with maximum effort," Milz said. "Our kids have done a great job of creating creases and movement. We love the way they are coming off the ball and getting after it."
