POTOSI — Division 7 will crown a new champion this season after Potosi took down the defending champion Black Hawk Warriors, 32–8, in a WIAA Level 3 playoff game at PHS on Friday.
They’ve got the speed, the size and the strength, which leaves Potosi football fans asking the question, “Why not the Chieftains?”
After knocking of Williams Bay, Burlington Catholic Central, and most recently Black Hawk, coach Mark Siegert’s squad is one of only four teams remaining in the WIAA D7 playoff bracket.
The Chieftains (11–1) will next take the field against second ranked Pepin/Alma (12–0) this Friday night at Viroqua High School in a state semifinal contest. The other two remaining teams in the D7 field are fourth ranked Owen-Withee (11–1) and ninth ranked Almond–Bancroft (11–1).
The winner in these two games will play at 10 a.m. at Camp Randall Stadium on Thursday, Nov. 20 for the Division 7 state title.
The Chieftains’ second meeting this season with conference rival Black Hawk, seemed to be a little easier then their first, when Potosi pulled out a 29–22 win in week six.
Friday night’s playoff game really was a tale of two halves, where the stronger more conditioned team separated itself from its opponent as the game wore on.
“They won this game in the summertime and in the off-season,” Black Hawk coach Cory Milz said of Potosi. “This is why Potosi wins, because their kids work their butts off. They work harder than everybody else, and it shows.”
The Chieftains were able to turn a 6–0 halftime lead into a 32–0 advantage late in the fourth quarter by outlasting a Black Hawk team that seemed to wear down as the game progressed.
“We got beat by a better team,” said coach Milz. “They were faster, bigger and stronger than us.”
The two teams played nearly even for the first half of Friday night’s contest though, as a 54-yard passing score from Potosi quarterback Kyle Kaiser to wide out Dan Post, was the only score in the first 24 minutes.
The Warriors were able to move the ball against the Chieftains in the first half, but two scoring opportunities ended in fumbles, one at Potosi’s 24-yard line, and another at the 14.
After throwing a pick on its first possession of the second half, Potosi was able to extend its lead to 14–0 on a one-yard TD plunge by Brent Curtis, followed by a two-point conversion pass from Kaiser to Curtis. During that drive, Post hauled in a Kaiser pass for a 42-yard gain.
With just over a minute remaining in the third quarter, Teagan Friederick found the end zone on a 9-yard TD run, and after a failed two-point conversion pass, Potosi held 20–0 lead going into the fourth.
Post again set up the Chieftains’ score, hauling in a 40-yard pass completion to move Potosi inside Black Hawk’s 15-yard line.
After another Black Hawk punt, the Chieftains hit pay dirt once more with Kaiser connecting with Post from five yards out on the 11th play of the drive to push Potosi’s lead to 26–0 midway through the fourth quarter.
Post had his best game of the season, hauling in four passes for 142 yards and scoring two touchdowns, and was constantly there when the Chieftains needed a big play.
The Potosi defense once again set up their offense with great field position, as Curtis picked off a Black Hawk pass and returned it to the Warriors’ 16-yard line.
It took just two plays for the Potosi offense to find the end zone, as Curtis scored from 16 yards out to put the hosts up 32–0.
Black Hawk added a late 14-yard TD runn by Shawn Woodruff to account for the final score. Woodruff finished the game with 145 yards and one touchdown on 28 attempts.
Through the air, the Warriors failed to complete a single pass in three attempts.
Potosi though, moved the ball through the air and on the ground.
Kaiser completed 6 of 9 passing attempts for 150 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Post hauled in four passes for 142 yards and two scores, while Riley Hawes had one grab for five yards, and Curtis one catch for three.
On the ground, Curtis rushed for 82 yards and two TDs on 17 carries, while Teagan Friederick had 73 yards and one TD on 12 carries.
Defensively for the Chieftains, Curtis had a team-high 24 tackles, while Nathan Friederick had 16 and Tyler Udelhoven 12.
WIAA Division 7 Level III playoff game
Potosi 32, Black Hawk 8
(from Friday, Nov. 7 @ Potosi)
#4 Black Hawk 0 0 0 8 — 8
#2 Potosi 0 6 14 12 — 32
Second quarter
P: Daniel Post 54 pass from Kyle Kaiser (kick failed)
Third quarter
P: Brent Curtis 1 run (Curtis pass from Kaiser)
P: Teagan Friederick 9 run (pass failed)
Fourth quarter
P: Post 5 pass from Kaiser (pass failed)
P: Curtis 16 run (pass failed)
BH: Shawn Woodruff 14 run (Woodruff run)
Team Statistics
First downs — BH 13, P 13. Rushing — BH 49-222, P 37-163. Passing yards: BH 0, P 150. Passing — BH 0-5-1, P 5-8-2. Fumbles-lost — BH 3-2, P 2-0. Penalties-yards — BH 6-40, P 1-10.
Individual leaders
Rushing — BH: Woodruff 28-141; P: Brent Curtis 17-82. Passing — BH: Butler 0-3-0, 0; P: Kyle Kaiser 6-9-2, 150. Receiving — BH: none; P: Post 4-142.
