After a very solid outing in the scrimmage last Friday morning vs Laona-Wabeno, Tri-County, and Chequamagon, the Blackhawks opened the season traveling to Gilman for the season opener on Friday evening. Gilman, with a solid group of juniors and seniors returning, has been tabbed as the pre-season favorite in the tough North Central East Conference and ranked in the top three in the State. A real test for the defending State champions!
The Hawks won the toss and chose to receive hoping to build on the success of the previous week’s offensive performance. The Pirate defense had different ideas as they were determined to take away the line of scrimmage from the Hawks line by crashing their defensive ends and getting a good push with their nose up front. The Pirate defense forced a three and out and got good field position after a Winston Poehler punt. Two plays later the Gilman running back found paydirt after a missed tackle to put the Pirates up 8-0. The Hawks offense still was unable to get into a rhythm in their second possession punting it away on fourth and long. Once again, the Pirates found the endzone on a toss down the sideline to take a 16-0 lead.
Even though the Blackhawk offense was struggling, the defense made a big play when Freshman Clay Mueller picked off a Gilman pass giving the Hawks offense another crack at the ball. Freshman QB Isaiah Pyrchalla got things going with a 23-yard option play but the drive stalled on a missed fourth down conversion coming up just short. The Hawks defense now playing with a little more confidence, forced a Gilman punt that literally stopped in its tracks and was blown dead at the Blackhawk one foot line. The old adage, “When it rains it pours” hit the Hawks when they fumbled the ball with the Pirates recovering inside the one. One play later Gilman tacked on another score giving them a 24-0 lead.
The Blackhawks offense did find some life late in the second quarter when they drove down inside the Pirates 20-yard line looking to score before the half. A slightly under-thrown ball put an end to the Hawks drive inside the 10-yard line. Halftime ended with Gilman holding a 30-0 advantage.
The second half had some good flashes for the Hawks but we were unable to have the consistency needed to put together that long scoring drive or get the great defensive stand or turnover needed. We’ll take away from the game, some much needed experience and the understanding of the speed of the game at the Varsity level.
The Blackhawks will travel to Prairie Farm next Friday evening for a 7:00 p.m. kick-off against the Panthers.