SOUTH WAYNE - Black Hawk senior running back Tanner Sweeney admitted the Warriors wanted to get back to running the ball.
Behind a dominating offensive line performance, Sweeney rushed for 270 yards on 12 carries and scored three touchdowns to propel Black Hawk to a 42-0 win over De Soto in the Level 2 playoffs Friday, Nov. 1.
The Warriors, who entered the game averaging 320 rushing yards and 43 points per game, put on an offensive clinic that Warrior Nation fans could take pride in. The Warriors (11-0), ranked No. 1 in the WisSports.net Coaches poll, gashed the Pirates for 404 total rushing yards and had six plays of 20 yards or more.
"We always think with the offensive line we have every game we should expect those big runs and good teams will be able to have those," Sweeney said. "Our run game was slightly going down. We wanted to show them tonight and we did that."
With the win, Black Hawk advances and will host Potosi (10-1) in the state quarterfinals next week.
"They (Potosi) want revenge from their loss," Sweeney said referring to the Warriors' 46-8 win over the Chieftains earlier this year.
The Warriors' defense was just as impressive forcing four turnovers including interceptions by seniors Seth Butler, Jayden Rufenacht and Kurtis Paulson as well as a fumble recovery by senior Seth Borgmann. Paulson intercepted a pass on a pass rush in the third quarter and rumbled 87 yards for a touchdown.
"When I had that (interception), I had to score for my teammates," Paulson said. "I just knew my teammates had my back. I knew I had enough room, but I thought I was going to get caught from behind. We showed them we play physical with good intensity."
Early in the first quarter, it was Seth Butler's interception that set up the Warriors first scoring drive. Four plays later, Sweeney rumbled in for a 22-yard TD run. Rufenacht then busted loose and raced for a 50-yard TD run late in the first quarter. Heath Butler ran in the two-point conversion to give the Warriors a 14-0 lead.
Sweeney ripped off a 49-yard TD run early in the second quarter. Heath Butler tossed a two-point conversion pass to Seth Butler to give the Warriors an insurmountable 22-0 lead.
One of the only trouble spots for the Warriors in the first half was nine penalties and Rufenacht had a long touchdown run wiped out by a holding penalty and Seth Butler had an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown called back due to a block in the back. The Warriors finished with 10 penalties for 95 yards.
"We have to clean that up," Black Hawk coach Cory Milz said. "The big thing is we challenged our linemen to get to the second and third levels and get blocks. They were aggressive-type penalties where they were trying to get down the field and make blocks at the second level. I don't want to slow our kids down. I want them to play aggressive."
The Warriors attacked the Pirates on the ground despite running at a lot of eight-man defensive fronts.
"I was impressed with our kids because De Soto was stacking the box inside," Milz said. "They were playing 11 guys within six yards of the line of scrimmage. Once you get through that second level, there is really no one there and it results in big plays. Our running backs ran hard and broke a lot of tackles."
Rufenacht had a 15-yard TD run and Sweeney bolted for a 78-yard TD run to put the Pirates away. Rufenacht rushed for 130 yards on nine carries and scored two touchdowns.
The Pirates were able to attack the Warriors in the passing game and had several big plays. De Soto quarterback Tanner Johnson was 11 of 31 passing for 177 yards with three interceptions.
"I'm a little concerned," Milz said of the big plays the Warriors gave up. "We were not getting any pressure and started blitzing and played man (coverage). We won't be playing as much man against Potosi."
Behind a dominating offensive line performance, Sweeney rushed for 270 yards on 12 carries and scored three touchdowns to propel Black Hawk to a 42-0 win over De Soto in the Level 2 playoffs Friday, Nov. 1.
The Warriors, who entered the game averaging 320 rushing yards and 43 points per game, put on an offensive clinic that Warrior Nation fans could take pride in. The Warriors (11-0), ranked No. 1 in the WisSports.net Coaches poll, gashed the Pirates for 404 total rushing yards and had six plays of 20 yards or more.
"We always think with the offensive line we have every game we should expect those big runs and good teams will be able to have those," Sweeney said. "Our run game was slightly going down. We wanted to show them tonight and we did that."
With the win, Black Hawk advances and will host Potosi (10-1) in the state quarterfinals next week.
"They (Potosi) want revenge from their loss," Sweeney said referring to the Warriors' 46-8 win over the Chieftains earlier this year.
The Warriors' defense was just as impressive forcing four turnovers including interceptions by seniors Seth Butler, Jayden Rufenacht and Kurtis Paulson as well as a fumble recovery by senior Seth Borgmann. Paulson intercepted a pass on a pass rush in the third quarter and rumbled 87 yards for a touchdown.
"When I had that (interception), I had to score for my teammates," Paulson said. "I just knew my teammates had my back. I knew I had enough room, but I thought I was going to get caught from behind. We showed them we play physical with good intensity."
Early in the first quarter, it was Seth Butler's interception that set up the Warriors first scoring drive. Four plays later, Sweeney rumbled in for a 22-yard TD run. Rufenacht then busted loose and raced for a 50-yard TD run late in the first quarter. Heath Butler ran in the two-point conversion to give the Warriors a 14-0 lead.
Sweeney ripped off a 49-yard TD run early in the second quarter. Heath Butler tossed a two-point conversion pass to Seth Butler to give the Warriors an insurmountable 22-0 lead.
One of the only trouble spots for the Warriors in the first half was nine penalties and Rufenacht had a long touchdown run wiped out by a holding penalty and Seth Butler had an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown called back due to a block in the back. The Warriors finished with 10 penalties for 95 yards.
"We have to clean that up," Black Hawk coach Cory Milz said. "The big thing is we challenged our linemen to get to the second and third levels and get blocks. They were aggressive-type penalties where they were trying to get down the field and make blocks at the second level. I don't want to slow our kids down. I want them to play aggressive."
The Warriors attacked the Pirates on the ground despite running at a lot of eight-man defensive fronts.
"I was impressed with our kids because De Soto was stacking the box inside," Milz said. "They were playing 11 guys within six yards of the line of scrimmage. Once you get through that second level, there is really no one there and it results in big plays. Our running backs ran hard and broke a lot of tackles."
Rufenacht had a 15-yard TD run and Sweeney bolted for a 78-yard TD run to put the Pirates away. Rufenacht rushed for 130 yards on nine carries and scored two touchdowns.
The Pirates were able to attack the Warriors in the passing game and had several big plays. De Soto quarterback Tanner Johnson was 11 of 31 passing for 177 yards with three interceptions.
"I'm a little concerned," Milz said of the big plays the Warriors gave up. "We were not getting any pressure and started blitzing and played man (coverage). We won't be playing as much man against Potosi."
