GAME OF THE WEEK (Aug. 24–30)
PREP FOOTBALL: Potosi/Cassville (1–0, 1–0) at Black Hawk (1–0), Friday, 7 p.m.
The Potosi/Cassville football era opened with a bang Friday night, as the co-op Chieftains blitzed visiting Benton/Scales Mound 56–0 last Friday night. The Black Hawk Warriors were equally impressive in a 51–14 non-conference victory over Owen–Withee in Saturday’s Six Rivers Jamboree at UW–Platteville.
The balance of power has shifted in the Six Rivers Conference with heavy graduation losses at Shullsburg and Highand and coaching changes for the Miners and the Pecatonica/Argyle Vikings. Friday’s conference showdown between Potosi/Cassville and Black Hawk, two of the preseason favorites for this year’s SRC title, is easily this week’s McDonald’s SWNews4U.com Game of the Week.
With the addition of Cassville standouts junior running back Ty Buasch and senior behemoth two-way linemen Brandon Kinyon (6’4”, 295) and Brandon Wheeler (6’3”, 280) as well as returning all-conference performers senior running back Dylan Pluemer, senior wide receiver Alex Udlehofen and junior running back Brady Curtis, Potosi/Cassville looks like the cream of the crop.
Bausch rushed for 232 yards and four touchdowns, and Pleumer added six carries for 87 yards and two scores in last Friday’s 56–0 win over Benton/Scales Mound. Curtis hauled in a pair of passes for 73 yards.
“We had over 500 yards rushing, so that’s pretty amazing,” said head coach Mark Siegert. “The offensive line was opening some big holes. The offensive line did a phenomenal job, and we have backs that are able to exploit that.” Potosi/Cassville rushed for 507 yards and passed for 87.
But senior-dominated Black Hawk will provide one of the Chieftains’ a run for their money this season. The Warriors piled up 455 yards of total offense in their impressive win over Owen–Withee. Senior Colby Argall rushed for 132 yards and three TDs and returned a punt 87 yards for a fourth score. Senior quarterback Michael Flanagan completed 7 of 11 passes for 134 yards and three TDs to three different receivers. Senior Brody Milz rushed for 132 yards on 14 carries and made a team-high eight tackles to lead the defense.
“Our schedule is tremendous right off the bat,” said Black Hawk head coach Cory Milz. “Our first four weeks are pretty difficult (all against 2016 playoff qualifiers), but we’re a bunch of seniors who are ready for the challenge. It’s going to be a great game (Friday).”
Other Week 2 area games (all games, Friday, 7 p.m.):
Six Rivers Conference
Belmont (1–0, 1–0) at Benton/Scales Mound (0–1, 0–1)
Shullsburg (0–1, 0–1) at Highland (0–1, 0–1)
Non-Conference
Lancaster (0–1) at Cuba City (0–1), WGLR 97.7 FM
Platteville (1–0) at Columbus (0–1), WPVL 107.1 FM
Darlington (0–1) at Prairie du Chien (1–0)
River Valley (0–1) at Nekoosa (0–1)
Mineral Point (0–1) at Dodgeville (1–0)
Fennimore (1–0) at Richland Center (0–1)
North Crawford (0–1) at Southwestern (1–0)
Boscobel (0–1) at Belleville (1–0)
Iowa–Grant (1–0) at Wauzeka–Steuben/Seneca (1–0)
River Ridge (1–0) at Markesan (0–1)
Wisconsin Rapids Assumption (1–0) at Pecatonica/Argyle (1–0)
PREP VOLLEYBALL:
After preseason scrimmages last weekend, area teams are opening their seasons at a number of tournament throughout the state. Here is a look are where area teams will be in action this weekend.
Thursday, Aug. 24
Richland Center, Mineral Point, Cuba City and Boscobel at Pardeeville Invitational, 9 a.m.
Kickapoo at River Ridge, 7:15 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 25
Prairie du Chien, Riverdale at Wisconsin Dells Invitational, JustAGame Fieldhouse, 8 a.m.
River Valley at UW–Stout Sprawl, 9 a.m.
Platteville at UW–Whitewater Warhawk Invitational, 1 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 26
River Valley at UW–Stout Sprawl, 8 a.m.
Darlington, Belmont, River Ridge, Highland at Monticello Six Rivers Invitational, 8:30 p.m.
Lancaster, Wauzeka–Steuben at Boscobel Tournament, 9 a.m.
Dodgeville, Fennimore at Belleville Invitational, 9 a.m.
Cassville, Southwestern, Benton and Potosi at Shullsburg Six Rivers Tournament, 9 a.m.
