Arcadia batters Blackhawks to open Coulee play

Arcadia put together a stellar campaign last fall, finishing third in the Coulee Conference with a 5-2 record. With much of their starting lineup still intact for 2026, the Raiders picked up right where they left off to kick off another year of league play.

Arcadia (3-0, 1-0 Coulee) went on the road and pummeled the Viroqua Blackhawks (0-3, 0-1) 38-8 to begin Coulee play last Friday in Viroqua. This marked the second consecutive season that the Raiders scored exactly 38 points against the Blackhawks, following up their 38-0 shutout win in 2025.

On a fourth-down play in the opening quarter, senior quarterback Carter Wegman hit senior Jonah Slaby in stride for a 27-yard touchdown pass and a 6-0 lead.

Arcadia added two more touchdowns in the second quarter on their way to an 18-0 halftime advantage: senior Logan Breska’s one-yard touchdown plunge and Wegman’s 43-yard touchdown strike to Slaby just over the outstretched arm of a Viroqua defender with under 30 seconds left in the half.

Early in the third quarter, junior Deklyn Grzadzielewski took a toss and ran it in for a five-yard touchdown. Wegman’s keeper on the two-point try extended the Raider lead to 26-0. Breska punched in another one-yard TD run late in the third to keep the ball rolling, and Grzadzielewski broke free for a 53-yard touchdown gallop in the fourth quarter to round out the scoring for Arcadia.

Viroqua sophomore Noah Schwarz’s late touchdown run was the only thing that kept the Raiders from a second straight shutout victory over the Blackhawks.

Wegman completed 6 of 15 passes for 178 yards and a pair of touchdowns while also coming away with an interception on defense. Slaby reeled in three catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns, and junior Khyle Updike had two receptions for 64 yards.

The Arcadia rushing attack was led by Grzadzielewski with 95 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries, along with Breska’s 85 yards and two touchdowns on 13 attempts.

Breska was involved with 10 total tackles, seven solo tackles and three tackles for loss to help set the tone for the Raider defense, which held Viroqua to only 130 yards of total offense.

Having racked up a three-game winning streak to open the season, the Raiders get a big step up in competition when they welcome in the formidable West Salem Panthers to Cashen Field on Friday at 7 p.m.

The Panthers (3-0, 1-0) are off to a sensational start to their 2026 campaign, having blanked Onalaska 28-0 in their season opener and notching a major statement 35-6 win over the Aquinas Blugolds last Friday in a battle of top Coulee heavyweights.

West Salem senior quarterback Drew McConkey has 358 yards and six touchdowns on the ground so far to go along with 377 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns through the air.