Blackhawks hold off Hillmen 42-41 in offensive shootout
Junior Brylee Brewer (16) and Senior Zach Ross (44) smother the Platteville ball carrier late in the Hawks wild 42-41 victory Friday night. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)
Platteville senior defensive back Jauron Blevins can only look on as Praire du Chien sophomore Drake Chesebro falls to the ground after catching a deep pass from sophomore quarterback Cayden Sutter. The Hawks overcame a 28-14 halftime deficit by outscoring the Hillmen 28-13 in the second half. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)
By Derick Kelly
Week three of the 2025 WIAA Football season kicked off conference play around the state with many tantalizing conference showdowns, including Platteville at Prairie du Chien this past Friday night on Hall of Fame Night.
The first quarter ended with the game tied 7-7. The Hillmen quickly took control in the second quarter, scoring three times while holding Prairie du Chien to one touchdown. The visitors held a 28-14 lead at halftime.
The third quarter was all the Hawks as they scored two of their six rushing touchdowns on the night with junior Darian Jackson and senior Mason Hird each getting into the end zone on the ground. PdC and Platteville entered the final period tied 28-28.
The fourth quarter saw the Hawks take their first lead of the game at 35-28 with 9:51 remaining in the game, only for Platteville to tie the game at 35-35 just 17 seconds later.
The Hawks would answer the Hillmen’s one-play scoring drive with an eight-play, 80-yard drive in just under 6 minutes that resulted in Drake Chesebro reaching the end zone from four yards for his second rushing touchdown of the game as the Hawks retook the lead 42-35 with 3:38 remaining. Platteville responded with a four-play, 65-yard drive in just under two minutes to make the score 42-41 in favor of PdC. The Hillmen went for two-points in order to retake the lead but the Hawks defense forced an incomplete pass on the conversion attempt as Prairie held on to their one-point lead. The ensuing on-sides kick by Platteville was recovered by the Hawks and PdC ran out the final 1:41 of the game to earn the first victory of the season and their 12th consecutive conference victory dating back to a 21-0 home loss to Platteville in September 2023.
A week after using their passing game to attack the Darlington defense, the Hawks offense used a bruising rushing attack to crack the Hillmen defense. Leading the way for the Hawks on the ground was Jackson as he rushed 22 times for 131 yards and one touchdown. He was followed by Hird (seven carries for 96 yards and two touchdowns), Deacon Chesebro (six carries for 68 yards), Drake Chesebro (10 carries for 52 yards and two touchdowns) and Ashton Landt (two carries for 25 yards and one touchdown). Cayden Sutter was 4-of-7 for 29 yards through the air with one interception. Hird (one catch for 15 yards) and Brock Radloff (three catches for 14 yards) accounted for the Hawks receiving totals.
Senior kicker Garrett DeHart was a perfect six-for-six on point after touchdown kicks a night after scoring the first goal of the season for the Prairie du Chien/Wauzeka-Steuben/Youth Initiative Boys Soccer team in their season opening match at Richland Center.
Prairie du Chien is back on the road this week as they travel to River Valley (2-1, 1-0 in the SWC) while Platteville hosts a Lancaster team coming off a stunning home loss to Richland Center this past Friday night. The Hornets scored with 17 seconds remaining in the game to bring the game within one at 26-25 before scoring on their two-point conversion attempt as they defeated the Flying Arrows 27-26 for the first win over Lancaster since 2007.
