Records fall as Hawks swat Hornets
Blake Thiry catches a program record fourth receiving touchdown of the game as the Hawks overwhelm Richland Center 47-15. Thiry also broke the program record for most career touchdowns with the catch. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)
Defenders Ashton Landt (11) and Westin Marx (60) close in on Richland Center running back Brady Dosch. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)
Darian Jackson is brought down by Hornets linebacker Brenton Baker. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)
Blackhawk defenders Jadyn Garbacz (56), Steven Duha (52) and Blake Thiry (9) wrap up Richland Center's Jayden Schoepp. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)
Senior wide receiver Nick McCullick reaches up to make the catch as he races into the end zone for a touchdown. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)
Brady Lenzendorf corrals Hornet sophomore Jayden Schoepp. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)
Deacon Chesebro (13), Darian Jackson (1) and Xander DeHart (2) all emerge on DeHart's on-sides kick attempt. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)
Bryce Lenzendorf gets turned around as he jumps over a teammate and two Hornets during a rushing attempt. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)
Jadyn Garbacz breaks through the Richland Center line as the ball gets away from Hornet running back Brady Dosch. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)
By Derick Kelly
The Prairie du Chien Blackhawks Football team entered their SWC opener against Richland Center last Friday night looking to build off their week two win over the Darlington Redbirds.
The visitors had different plans however and used an 88 yard kickoff return touchdown from Brenton Baker to jump out in front of the Hawks just 15 seconds into the game.
The Hawks would not trail for long. They managed to march down the field in a minute and 34 seconds for a touchdown of their own from a one yard touchdown run by Blake Thiry and a PAT kick by Xander DeHart. After a quick three-and-out by the Hornets offense, the Hawks ate up nearly four minutes off the clock before getting a 28 yard touchdown pass from Abe Amundson to Nick McCullick to go up 14-7. Prairie du Chien would add a 31 yard touchdown pass from Amundson to Thiry with 1:03 left in the first quarter to increase their lead to 21-7.
The Amundson to Thiry connection was just warming up; they connected on touchdown passes of 55, 30 and 60 yards in the second quarter alone to extend Prairie du Chien’s lead to 40-7 with 41 seconds remaining in the first half.
In the third quarter Prairie du Chien got a 2 yard touchdown run from Bryce Lenzendorf to make the score 47-7. The Hornets stopped the bleeding with a 1 yard Jayden Schoepp touchdown run with 2:33 remaining in the fourth quarter. but it was a case of too little, too late as the Hawks claimed a 47-15 victory.
The Hawks offense tied or set several program records in the win, including most touchdown passes in a game (5 by Amundson), most receiving touchdowns in a game (4 by Thiry), most passing yards in a game (349 by Amundson) and most receiving yards in a game (228 by Thiry). It was also a big night for Thiry in the record book. His five total touchdowns moved him past Tyler O’Kane for the most career touchdowns scored in Prairie du Chien Football history, with 49 career touchdowns. The four receiving touchdowns also moved Thiry into a tie with Casey Hogenson for the most career receiving touchdowns in program history (23).
Stats wise, Amundson was 14-21 for 349 yards, five touchdowns and zero interceptions. Thiry catching seven of those passes for 226 yards and four touchdowns. McCullick (3 catches for 41 yards and one touchdown), Brady Lenzendorf (1 catch for 51 yards), Mason Hird (1 care for 14 yards), Brennan Koecke (1 catch for 11 yards) and Hunter Straka (1 catch for 6 yards) accounted for the other seven catches.
Thiry also led the Hawks rushing attack with 11 attempts for 43 yards and one touchdown. Bryce Lenzendorf (8 attempts for 34 yards and one touchdown), Hird (1 attempt for 13 yards), Straka (1 attempt for 10 yards), Darian Jackson (2 attempts for 11 yards), Ashton Landt (2 attempts for -2 yards) and Deacon Chesebro (2 attempts for 3 yards) rounded out the rushing totals for Prairie.
Jayden Schoepp led Richland Center in rushing (16 attempts for 84 yards and one touchdown) and passing (1-2 for 9 yards) with Avery McGlynn having the only reception in the game for the Hornets.
Next up for Prairie du Chien (2-1, 1-0) is a showdown this Friday night with defending SWC champions Platteville (1-2, 1-0). The Hillmen picked up their first win of the season last week with a 49-6 win over Brodhead/Juda.
