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MCDONALD'S GAME OF THE WEEK (Prep Football): Black Hawk 22, River Ridge 20
Top-ranked Black Hawk holds off River Ridge to stay unbeaten
Black Hawk
Undefeated Black Hawk stopped a two-point conversion with 28 seconds remaining to sneak out of Bloomington with a 22–20 victory over host River Ridge in a muddy Six Rivers Conference game last Friday night. - photo by Photo by A.J. Gates
By Tom Gunnell
Updated: Oct 10, 2019, 3:43 PM
Published: Oct 3, 2019, 5:59 PM

MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM GAME OF THE WEEK (Sept. 24–Oct. 1)
PREP FOOTBALL: #1 Black Hawk 22, River Ridge 20

BLOOMINGTON – Senior Jaylen Rufenacht came up with two big offensive plays in the first half to keep Black Hawk/Warren in the game, but it was his huge defensive play in the closing seconds that kept the #1-ranked Warriors unbeaten on the season.


Rufenacht scored a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter to rally the Warriors from behind twice against upset-minded River Ridge, and then he turned in the play of the game when he knocked down the Timberwolves' game-tying two-point conversion pass with 28 seconds remaining to preserve the Warriors' 22-20 Six Rivers Conference victory on a rain-soaked Usgaard Field on Friday, Sept. 27.


"River Ridge played really hard, and really brought a physical approach to their defensive game plan. They were well-coached, and an experienced team. Jaylen did a great job in coverage on the two-point conversion play, knocking the ball away. We were fortunate to get the win," admitted Warrior head coach Cory Milz after leading his team to their 19th victory in a row. "We were able to withstand some big mental lapses that cost us major yardage. Ridge got a couple of big plays on us, but for the most part our defense was pretty solid."


A victory seemed all but assured when senior Cayden Milz bulled across the goal line from a yard out with 1:42 remain to snap a long-held 14-14 deadlock. Milz punched in the conversion as well to put the Warriors (6-0 overall, 3-0 SRC) ahead 22-14.


However, the Timberwolves (4-2, 2-2) weren't about to quit after battling toe-to-toe with the defending Division 7 state champions the entire night. Senior Cole Crubel, who had a touchdown run and a touchdown pass in the first half, orchestrated a 10-play, 64-yard scoring drive in just 1:14 of game time to give the 'Wolves a shot at the tie. 


Crubel teamed with Archie Cooley on a 6-yard scoring strike to pull the Wolves within two at 22-20, but Rufenacht batted down his conversion pass with 28 ticks to go to keep the Warriors in the lead.


Then, the Warriors pounced on the Wolves' onside kick attempt to seal the victory.


"This group has been in big games, so they don't panic. When they needed to, they got after it and ran the football to get the go-ahead score. Ridge banged us up pretty good, but some of our guys who were hurt, sucked it up and got the job done in the end. Crubel is a four-year starter, and he showed it. I thought he had tremendous accuracy and good velocity on his throws," said Coach Milz.


The Warriors found themselves trailing for the first time all season when Crubel broke loose on a 41-yard TD jaunt midway through the first quarter to put the T'Wolves ahead 7-0.


Rufenacht capped a long Warriors' scoring drive with a 1-yard TD run with 8:27 remaining in the second quarter, and senior quarterback Ethan Williams connected with end Nick Whitcomb on a two-point conversion pass to put the Warriors up 8-7.


That lead didn't last long as Crubel hooked up with Brayan Barrita on a 61-yard scoring strike to thrust the Wolves back into the lead with 6:50 to play in the first half.


The Warriors answered back in the closing second of the half with Rufenacht hauling in a 23-yard TD pass from Williams to tie the score at 14 all. The two-point try failed, leaving the score there until late in the fourth quarter.


The Warriors finished the night outgaining the Wolves, 209-82, on the ground, while they were outgained, 201-61, through the air.


Rufenacht ran 10 times for 50 yards and a score, and had two catches for 38 yards and another score to lead the way. Milz ran 18 times for 79 yards and a TD, and Cody Blosch chipped in with 67 yards on 12 carries for the Warriors.


Crubel completed 14-of-17 passes for 170 and two TDs, ran nine times for 45 yards and a TD, and had one catch for 31 yards to lead the Wolves' attack. Cooley had 69 receiving yards and Barrita added 61 for the hosts.


Defensively, Milz led the team with eight tackles. Avery Baumgartner and Gunner Foecking added six tackles with two apiece for loss, while Williams and Skylar Neff registered sacks.


With Friday's win, the Warriors become playoff eligible for the 10th straight season, and for the first time as a first-year co-op.


"Our players set different goals each year, but that is the one that remains steadfast. Our main goal each year is to play as many games as possible. It is a testament to our community and players, that they are willing to put the work in each year to consistently qualify for the playoffs in what is a very tough football conference," stated Coach Milz, noting it will be the 21st time in the last 25 years that the Warriors made the playoffs.


The Warriors can secure a guaranteed playoff berth with a win over the Southwestern Wildcats (3-3, 2-1) in their Six Rivers Conference contest on Friday, Oct. 4. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.


"Southwestern has a very nice offense. Their quarterback looks real good, and their running back is a formidable threat," Milz said.

 

BH/Warren….. 0  14  0  8 – 22
River Ridge… 7    7  0  6 – 20
RR – Crubel, 41 run (Baus kick)
BHW – Jaylen Rufenacht, 1 run (Nick Whitcomb pass from Ethan Williams)
RR – Barrita, 61 pass from Crubel (Baus kick)
BHW – Rufenacht, 23 pass from Williams (run failed)
BHW – Cayden Milz, 1 run (Milz run)
RR – Cooley, 16 pass from Crubel (pass failed)
Team Stats: First Downs– BHW 16, RR 12. Rushing– BHW 46-209; RR 24-82. Passing– BHW 5-11-0, 61; RR 15-18-0, 201. Fumbles-Lost– BHW 0-0; RR 0-0. Penalties- BHW 5-40; RR 3-35. 
Black Hawk/Warren Individual Leaders: Rushing (Att-Yds-Td)– Cayden Milz, 18-79-1; Cody Blosch, 12-67-0; Jaylen Rufenacht, 10-50-1. Passing (Comp-Att-Int-Td-Yds)– Ethan Williams, 5-11-0-1, 61. Receiving (Cat-Yds-Td)– Rufenacht, 2-38-1.
River Ridge Individual Leaders: Rushing (Att-Yds-Td)– Cole Crubel 9-45, Will Esser 9-25. Passing (Comp-Att-Int-Td-Yds)– Crubel 14-17-0, 201. Receiving (Cat-Yds-Td)– Archie Cooley 10-69, Brayan Barrita 1-61, Crubel 1-31.
MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U GAME OF THE WEEK (Six Rivers Baseball): #10 River Ridge 5, #5 Belmont 2
#11 Timberwolves upset #4 Braves to win a share of first baseball conference title
Blake Reynolds
Sophomore Blake Reynolds collected the win on the mound, limiting #4 Belmont to two runs, one earned, on four hits, while striking out five batters and walking four over six innings to lead River Ridge to a 5–2 win over the Braves last Thursday. - photo by A.J. Gates
Updated: May 29, 2025, 5:54 PM
Published: May 29, 2025, 5:55 PM

MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM GAME OF THE WEEK (May 20–27)
SIX RIVERS BASEBALL: #10 River Ridge 5, #5 Belmont 2

By A.J. Gates, Herald Independent

#10 Timberwolves upset #5 Braves to win a share of first baseball conference title
PATCH GROVE — Coming into the 2025 prep baseball season, coach Andrew Redman had a hunch his Timberwolves would be a strong contender for this year’s Six Rivers Conference baseball title.

“We have big goals to compete for our first-ever conference title,” coach Redman said this past April in the Grant County Herald Independent’s Spring Sports Preview.” We expect to finish high in the conference standings and rely on our experience from last season to lead us to a successful season.”

After finishing fourth in the conference standings a year ago with a league record of 4-8, the Timberwolves did in fact secure a share of this year’s conference baseball title with a victory in their final regular-season game of the year played last Thursday night.

With a 5–2 victory over visiting Belmont last Thursday night, coach Redman’s Timberwolves (16–7) team concluded the regular season with a league record of 14–2, claiming a share of this year’s conference title along with the Braves (17–5, 14–2).

Belmont, who entered the contest with a league mark of 14–1, could have taken sole possession of the conference crown for themselves with a win Thursday night, but the Timberwolves had other ideas.

“Coming out on top is a great feeling, knowing how much work our players and coaches have put into this,” said third-year head coach Andrew Redman. “My first two years as a head coach we won a total of seven conference games combined. This season alone we doubled that total with 14 conference wins, which was good enough to tie for the top spot.”

“The Six Rivers conference is loaded with great teams, and for us to claim one of the top spots is truly remarkable,” Redman added.

Aside from winning the first conference baseball title since the school’s inception in 1995, this year’s baseball team has also won the most games in a single season, and currently holds an overall record of 16-6 heading into the WIAA postseason tournament.

As they have done all season long, the trio of Blake Reynolds, Carter Copsey and Cael Koenig were at the forefront of last Thursday night’s win over Belmont, doing with their bats, their fielding and their arms.

Reynolds, who pitched the first six innings and collected the win on the mound, limited the Braves to two runs, one earned, on four hits, while striking out five batters and walking four.

Copsey came in to finish the game, pitching a scoreless seventh, striking out one batter and walking one.

At the plate, it was Koenig who led the Timberwolves, going a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI. The team’s other four hits were scattered among Carter Copsey, Andre Nies, Noah Copsey and Brandon Davis.

After a scoreless tie for two and a half innings, the Timberwolves got on the board in the bottom of the third when Koenig’s one-run single scored Carter Copsey, who led off the inning with a double. Noah Copsey then followed with a one-run single of his own to score Koenig.

The Braves plated a run in the top of the fifth to make it a 2–1 River Ridge lead, but the Timberwolves responded with three runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Following back-to-back singles by Nies and Koenig, and an intention walk to Reynolds, Brandon Davis came up big with a bases-loaded two-run single to right field, scoring Nies and Koenig. Reynolds later scored on a wild pitch to give River Ridge a 5–1 lead.

The Braves added one run to their total in the top of the sixth, but couldn’t put anything together in the seventh with Copsey on the mound and the River Ridge defense behind him.

The Timberwolves are no strangers to close games this season, and have won a total of five conference games this season by one-run. They have also proven that, while Reynolds, Copsey and Koenig are undoubtedly the leaders of this team, they also have a stable of other role players that have come up big throughout the season.

“What makes this team special is that everybody takes their turn coming through in big moments,” said coach Redman. “We rely heavily on Blake, Carter and Cael, but three players alone doesn’t make a team. We’ve had several players who took on new or bigger roles this year and they contributed in big time spots.”

“This year our guys really focused on doing their jobs and accepting their roles on the team, which led us to having a successful season,” Redman added. “I’m proud of all our players and this program.”

Heading into the WIAA postseason tournament, the Timberwolves (16–7) hold the No. 2 seed in their division 4 sectional bracket. Following a first-round bye, coach Redman’s squad will host the winner between No. 7 seed North Crawford (10–9) and No. 10 seed Hillsboro (10–7) next Tuesday, June 3. The No. 1 seed in the bracket belongs to Seneca (20–2).

River Ridge 5, Belmont 2
(from Thursday, May 22, at Patch Grove)
Belmont..........000 011  0 — 2 4 2
River Ridge....002 030  x —  5 8 1
Leading hitters - RR: Cael Koenig 4x4. 2B — Carter Copsey (RR). W — Blake Reynolds (6IN,4H,1ER,5K,4BB). L — Austin (4IN,7H,5ER,4K,3BB). Other pitchers - RR: Carter Copsey (1IN,0H,0ER,1K,1BB).