ATHENS -- Three weeks into the high school football season, the Owen-Withee football team found itself without a victory, with one of those losses coming at the hands of their oppenent on Saturday, the Athens Bluejays.

Now Owen-Withee is two wins away from Madison, as the Blackhaws rode the legs of David Simenson and used a timely kick return to avenge their week 1 loss, breezing past Athens 36-13 in their WIAA Division 7, Level 2 matchup.

"When we started 0-3, not a lot of people gave us a shot," Blackhawks coach Terry Laube said. "We knew we had a lot of work to do. The kids matured and we got things corrected and the team that took the field tonight was a much different one than earlier in the season."

David Simenson rushed for 174 of his 223 yards in the first half on a wet and muddy field, including a 55-yard touchdown run that helped stake the Blackhawks to a 14-7 halftime lead.

On the opening kickoff of the second half Dakota Halida raced 84-yards for a score and Simenson tacked on the 2-point conversion, posting O-W to a 15-point lead.

Halida also snared two interceptions, as did teammate Tommy Schuh, who also caught a touchdown pass in the first half.

Mark Wilson and Simenson both put the game out of reach with touchdown runs in the second half.

The Blackhawks will host Gilman in the regional final next weekend.

Owen-Withee 6 8 14 8 -- 36

Athens 0 7 0 6 -- 13

O-W- Simenson 55 touchdown run (conversion failed)

A- Mike Ellenbecker 14 pass from Andy Ellenbecker (Zach Lemmer kick)

O-W- Tommy Schuh 22 pass from Derek Wegerer (Simenson run)

O-W- Dakota Halida 84 kick return (Simenson run)

O-W- Mark Wilson 1 run (conversion failed)

A- M. Ellenbecker 8 pass from A. Ellenbecker (kick failed)

O-W- Simenson 35 run (Simenson conversion)

O-W A

First downs 12 17

Total yards 347 206

Rushes-yards 61-294 22-9

Passing yards 53 197

Comp.-Att.-INT 3-8-0 25-54-4

Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1

Individual leaders

Rushing--O-W: Dave Simenson 23-223; A: Brock Guralski 9-18

Receiving--O-W: Tommy Schuh 1-22 A: Mike Ellenbecker 10-97

Passing--O-W: Derek Wegerer 3-8-0-53; A: Andy Ellenbecker 25-54-4-197.

Records--Owen-Withee 7-4; Athens 6-5.