BLACK HAWK/WARREN EDGES EDGAR FOR WIAA DIVISION 7 FOOTBALL TITLE
By Paul Lecker
Zaleski Sports
MADISON – It was a game of missed opportunities for the Edgar football team.
A couple of chances at interceptions that could have been returned for touchdowns, a close miss on a fourth down run that was overturned by video replay, and a long touchdown pass in the fourth quarter that was called back due to a holding penalty all went against the Wildcats and they fell to Black Hawk/Warren 6-0 in the WIAA Division 7 football championship game Thursday at Camp Randall Stadium.
It was the second-straight season the Warriors (14-0) beat Edgar (12-2) in the D-7 final, last year winning 22-15. Edgar, appearing in its state-record tying 13th football championship game appearance, is now 7-6 in those games.
“I was pretty sure we would win this game and I’m pretty surprised it ended up the way it did,” Edgar coach Jerry Sinz said.
The only score of the game came late in the second quarter when Black Hawk/Warren quarterback Ethan Williams threw a misdirection screen pass to running back Cayden Milz, who then raced down the left sideline for a 30-yard touchdown with 1:38 to go before halftime. Edgar intercepted the two-point conversion try and the Warriors led 6-0 going into halftime.
Edgar had its best chances to score in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats took over at the Black Hawk 35 after a short punt but were turned back when Kaleb Hafferman came up short on a fourth-and-2 run. The ball was initially marked as a first down, but the call was overturned by replay, a rule the WIAA implemented this season for the first time at the state finals.
Austin Dahlke then picked off a Williams’ pass at the 33, giving the ball back to Edgar with 4:22 remaining in the game.
On the first play, Edgar quarterback Konnor Wolf connected with Drew Guden for a touchdown, but the play was nullified by a holding penalty. Four plays later, the Wildcats turned the ball over on downs.
Edgar had one more chance, taking over on the Warriors’ 48 with 1:10 to go, but Wolf was intercepted by Jaylen Rufenacht and Black Hawk was able to run out the clock.
Edgar was held to just 141 total yards and six first downs, while limiting the Warriors to 220 yards and only nine first downs, and forced three turnovers.
Warriors 6, Wildcats 0
Edgar 0 0 0 0 - 0
Black Hawk/Warren 0 6 0 0 - 6
Second Quarter
BHW – Cayden Milz 30 pass from Ethan Williams (pass failed), 1:38.
Team Statistics
First downs: Edgar 6; Black Hawk/Warren 9.
Rushing (att-yards): E 35-108; BHW 38-118.
Passing (comp-att-yards-int): E 4-13-33-1; BHW 9-16-102-1.
Total yards: E 141; BHW 220.
Penalties (no.-yards): E 4-45; BHW 4-40.
Fumbles (total-lost): E 3-1; BHW 2-2.
Punting (no.-avg.): E 7-33.1; BHW 6-32.7.
Individual Statistics
Rushing: E, Kaleb Hafferman 16-44, Kyle Brewster 2-28, Austin Dahlke 10-26, Konnor Wolf 6-10, Drew Guden 1-3. BHW, Jaylen Rufenacht 18-101, Cayden Milz 9-18, Cody Blosch 1-1, Ethan Williams 8-1, Team 2-minus 3.
Passing: E, Wolf 4-14-33-1. E, 9-16-102-1.
Receiving: E, Brewster 3-21, Dahlke 1-12. BHW, Milz 2-48, Nick Whitcomb 2-13, Lucas Flanagan 2-7, Ryan Molitor 1-15, Blosch 1-12, Rufenacht 1-7.
Interceptions (defense): E, Dahlke. BHW, Rufenacht.
Fumble recoveries (defense): E, Hafferman, Adam Hanneman. BHW, Nick Hull.
Records: Edgar 12-2; Black Hawk/Warren 14-0.
---
2019 WIAA State Football Championships Nov. 21-22, at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison Thursday, Nov. 21 Division 7: Black Hawk/Warren (14-0) 6, Edgar (12-2) 0 Division 6: Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs (12-2) 7, Eau Claire Regis (13-1) 0 Division 5: Lake Country Lutheran (13-1) 22, Stratford (13-1) 13 Division 4: Kiel (13-0) vs. Waukesha Catholic Memorial (11-2), 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22 Division 3: Menasha (12-1) vs. DeForest (13-0), 10 a.m. Division 2: Brookfield East (11-2) vs. Waunakee (12-1), 1 p.m. Division 1: Muskego (13-0) vs. Bay Port (13-0), 4 p.m.