When the Owen-Withee Blackhawks lined up against the McDonell Macks in Level II of the playoffs Friday night, everyone knew it was going to be a battle with the Macks only loss of the season coming via the Blackhawks way back in week three of the regular season.

With the right to go on to Level III of the playoffs at stake, both teams knew it was important to get off to a good start and set the tone for the game. And what a start for the Hawks when Mason Gay took the opening kick-off and broke through the middle of the Macks kick-off team and went 89 yards untouched to the endzone giving the Hawks an 8-0 lead after Winston Poehler fell on the two-point conversion fumble in the endzone. The Blackhawk defense came up big with a fourth down stop of the Macks on the ensuing offensive series when Winston Poehler batted the ball on a 4th and seven turning the ball over to the Hawks. Ten plays later after a patented Owen-Withee drive, Mason Gay punched it in from 2 yards out. Mason added the two-point conversion giving the Hawks a 16-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Macks offense came to life in the 2nd quarter, scoring on a perfectly thrown 25 yard touchdown pass and a 21 yard touchdown run. The Hawks defense shut down both 2-point conversion attempts as McDonell tried to match Owen-Withee’s conversions. The Hawks however, had an answer for each one of McDonell’s scores in the second quarter when Quarterback Dominic Sherwood snuck one in from a yard out capping a nice offensive drive and probably the back breaker of the game came when Dominic Sherwood followed a McDonell score with an 85 yard kick-off return with very little time left on the clock in the second quarter. What a special teams performance!! Both PAT’s were good giving the Hawks a 32-12 halftime lead.

The halftime message of needing to finish the game by grinding out was taken to heart as the Hawks defense came up with a big fumble recovery by Dominic Sherwood. The offensive line went to work and the Hawks stayed ahead of the sticks marching the 26 yards and a score when Woody snuck it in from the one. Brandon Geldernick added the two-point conversion making the score 40-12 at the end of three. Coach Steve Kadolph’s defense was at its best continuing to hold the Macks scoreless and turning the ball back over to the offense where Brandon Geldernick sealed the deal for the Hawks on a 47 yard touchdown around the right side putting the nail in the coffin and a 46-12 lead.

The Hawks defense just had to keep the ball in front of them and let the clock run as the Macks scored a meaningless touchdown with very little time on the clock making the final 46-19.

The Hawks will go on to Level III of the playoffs at Stanley-Boyd on Friday night vs Highland coming out of the southwestern part of the state. Highland is also undefeated representing the Ridge & Valley-8 Conference. Kick-off is slated for 7:00 p.m., come out and be a part of the excitement generated by the Blackhawk Football team.