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Platteville holds off Wisconsin Dells' late ralley
Win sets up SWC showdown with fellow unbeaten Lancaster
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Jason Nihles
Updated: Sep 13, 2012, 5:52 PM
Published: Sep 13, 2012, 5:54 PM

     Platteville dominated the first 29 minutes of Friday’s home opener, but had to survive a late rally to hold off visiting Wisconsin Dells 44–26 in a non-conference victory at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.
     “We played well overall, especially on special teams,” said Platteville coach Scott Statz. “Our defense and special teams put us in some nice situations field position-wise. We blocked a punt and made some big plays offensively the first half.
     “But they are a good team with some skilled players, and our lack of focus [in the second half] was the main concern. We did not put them away when we had the chance.”
     With the win Platteville stayed unbeaten at 3–0, while Wisconsin Dells fell to 1–2.
     Hunter Johnston’s blocked punt two minutes into the game gave the Platteville a short field to begin its first drive. In last week’s victory 44–14 over Mauston the Hillmen blocked two punts and forced a shanked 1-yard kick after nearly blocking a third.
     B.J. Cooley capped a three-play, 12-yard drive with a 1-yard TD plunge. James Bailie’s extra point made it 7–0 just 3 minutes and 10 seconds into the game.
     One play after a Derek Schambow interception stopped a Wisconsin Dells drive deep in Platteville territory Statz went right back to his junior playmaker.
     Junior quarterback Josh Bernhardt hooked up with Schambow for an 88-yard TD pass on the very next play from scrimmage.
     The Platteville defense recorded a safety when a forced fumble was knocked out of the end zone on the final play of the first quarter.
     Schambow returned the ensuing free kick 40 yards to give the Hillmen offense a short field once again. Two plays later Berhardt hit senior Nick Tashner with a 13-yard scoring strike to cap the 25-yard scoring drive and Platteville led 23–0 less than a minute into the second quarter.
     This Friday Platteville will travel to unbeaten Lancaster to open Southwest Wisconsin Conference play in a battle of preseason favorites.
     A year ago the Arrows pulled away from the Hillmen for a 49–21 victory at Pioneer Stadium after a back-and-forth first quarter that featured 35 combined points.
     Lancaster went on to win the SWC title and advance to the WIAA Division 5 state championship game.
     “It will be fun,” said Platteville coach Scott Statz of this year’s clash of perennial conference powers. “We need to improve this week. We need to continue to build off of our start and remain very hungry.”

Platteville 44, Wisconsin Dells 26
(from Friday, Sept. 7 @ Platteville)
Wisconsin Dells    0     6    6    14     —  26
Platteville            16   14    7      7     —  44
First quarter
P: B.J. Cooley 3 run (James Bailie kick)
P: Derek Schambow 88 pass from Josh Berhardt (Bailie kick)
P: Platteville safety (fumble out of end zone)
Second quarter
P: Nick Tashner 13 pass from Josh Bernhardt (Bailie kick)
WD: Wimann 41 pass from Buss (conversion failed)
P: Cooley 5 run (Bailie kick)
Third quarter
P: Schambow 35 pass from Bernhardt (Bailie kick)
WD: Mor 8 pass from Buss (conversion failed)
Fourth quarter
WD: Mace 10 pass from Buss (conversion run)
P: Cooley 34 run (Bailie kick)
P: Young 13 pass from Mor (conversion faild)
Team Statistics
First downs: WD 14, P 13. Rushing: WD 23-59, P 46-233. Passing Yards: WD 309, P 180. Passing: WD 19-38-2, P 8-15-1. Fumbles–lost: WD 4-2, P 1-0. Penalties-yards: WD 11-60, P 7-85.
Individual Statistics
Rushing: WD: Mor 6-49; P: Cooley 27-168. Passing: WD: Buss 17-36-2, 292; P: Josh Bernhardt 8-14-0, 180. Receiving: WD: Wiman 7-100; P: Schambow 4-141.
Platteville’s Cole Herbst ties for 12th in D2 at State Golf Championships
Sophomore shoots a two-day 158 at University Ridge to finish near the top of the leaderboard
Cole Herbst
Platteville sophomore Cole Herbst shot 14-over par to finished tied for 12th place at last week’s WIAA Boys Golf State Championships at University Ridge in Verona. (photo by Erin Reddy Wolff)
Jason Nihles
Updated: Jun 12, 2025, 8:00 PM
Published: Jun 12, 2025, 5:26 PM

VERONA — Platteville sophomore Cole Herbst made the most out of his first trip to last week’s WIAA Boys Golf State Championships.

The reigning two-time Southwest Wisconsin Conference Player of the Year shot a two-day total of 158 — posting back-to-back 79s — to finish tied for 12th place in Division 2 last Monday and Tuesday at University Ridge Golf Course. Herbst also finished in a five-way tie for most birdies in the 45-player Division 2 field with seven.

“It was a great experience for Cole at the state golf tournament,” said Platteville head coach Brandon Temperly. “He had a good showing as a sophomore on his first trip to an event like this. He will take away a lot of information and experience that can help him in future years. He made the team and coaches very proud and he had a very good following at the golf tournament.  I was very pleased with his demeanor and attitude.  He was steady when things were going well and steady when things weren’t going his way.  We look forward to a bright future for Cole.”

Herbst began last Monday’s opening round on the back nine, and posted a sensational 3-over-par 39, which included three birdies in his first five holes. 

He added another birdie on hole number 2 to go to +2, but took an 8 on the par 4 4th. Herbst kept his composure and birdied the 379-yard par 4 7th hole and ended his day with a 7-over-par 79 (40–39), which was tied for ninth after the opening round.

Herbst opened Tuesday’s second round with three pars, a triple bogey and back-to-back bogeys on No. 5 and No. 6 to start +5 for the day.

But again, he calmed his nerves and finished strong with birdies on 7 and 11, to go along with seven pars while playing the final 13 holes at 3-over par to finish with another 79 (40–39). 

Seymour junior Vince Sigl (147, +3) beat Cambridge senior Kian Bystol Flores (147, +3) on a one-hole playoff 4–5 to capture individual state medalist honors after the two tied two-day totals of 147.

Cambridge freshman Fritz Knudtson finished third at +6 (147=74-76).

Seymour shot a combined 638 (+62) to beat Cambridge (653, +77) to win the D2 state title. Big Foot finished third at +81, 657.

Last week’s State Championships marks the end of another success season for the Platteville Hillmen, which included a third-straight SWC title, a trip to sectionals, a SWC Player of the Year award and four all-conference selections.

“Our Hillmen golf team had another good season,” added Temperly. “ We achieved our goals of being SWC champions and earning a trip to sectionals. We were very pleased with the improvement we saw in each of the golfers this year. It was a focused and fun group. We will bring back a lot of talent next season and add some new players to our program which is exciting.”

All five varsity golfers will return next year with Herbst, juniors Jauron Blevins and Glenn Mast, and freshman Ty Simmons and Cody Nodolf.

Big things await Cole Herbst and the Hillmen in 2026. 


WIAA Division 2 State Golf Championships
(from Monday–Tuesday, June 9–10 @ University Ridge Golf Course, Verona, par 72)
Team scores — 1.Semour 638 (+62), 2.Big Foot 653 (+77), 3.Big Foot 657 (+81), 4.Lakeland 665 (+89), 5.Burlington Catholic Central 667 (+91), 6.University School of Milwaukee 671 (+95), 7.Prescott 675 (+99), 8.Appleton Xavier 681 (+105).
Top individuals — 1(tie).Kian Bystol Flores (Cambridge) 147 (74-73), 1(tie).Vince Sigl (Seymour) 147 (75-72). 3.Fritz Knudtson (Cambridge) 150 (74-76), 4.Tyler Short (Big Foot) 151 (76-75), 5.Tyler Reiter (Prescott) 152 (75-77).
Platteville — 12(tie).Cole Herbst 158 (79-79) +14.