Blackshirts Start 2026 Campaign Hot
The Blackshirts football program is off to a hot start in the 2026 season. Under head coach Darnell Wiltz, now in his sixth year at the helm, the Blackshirts have opened the season with a perfect 4-0 record for the first time since 2013, while also averaging an impressive 43.2 points per game. The Shirts are also looking to snap a 27-year playoff drought that dates back to 1999, when Dave Rusch led the Blackshirts to the postseason before falling to Janesville Craig in the opening round.
Week 1 - West Bend East
In the home opener, the Blackshirts dominated the West Bend East Suns. The matchup was the first between the teams since 2008, when South won 12-6 in six overtimes, tied for the longest football game in WIAA history.
Senior Richie Leckie set the tone early with an interception on West Bend East’s opening possession before catching a touchdown pass from senior quarterback Jordan Garcia to give South a quick 7-0 lead. Garcia and Leckie connected again for a 37-yard touchdown, and Garcia added two touchdown passes to senior Keegan DeGeorge as the Blackshirts took control. Just before halftime, Leckie turned a screen pass into a 63-yard touchdown to give South a commanding 35-0 lead.
The Blackshirts continued to roll in the second half. Senior Cooper Wiltz added a rushing touchdown, while Leckie capped his huge night with his second interception, returning it 50 yards for a touchdown. West Bend East scored late, but South cruised to a dominant season-opening victory.
Week 2 - Greendale
The Blackshirts returned home to face the Greendale Panthers for the first time since 1974. Leckie opened the scoring on a jet sweep before Greendale answered to tie the game. Garcia then connected with DeGeorge for a touchdown that also moved Garcia past Cannon Cooley for the most career passing yards in Waukesha South history.
South’s offense exploded from there. Garcia found DeGeorge for another touchdown and later scored on the ground, while Wiltz added a rushing touchdown before halftime to give the Blackshirts a commanding lead.
Greendale rallied in the second half, cutting deeply into South’s advantage. DeGeorge provided a key fourth-quarter touchdown after breaking multiple tackles, but the Panthers continued to battle back and eventually made it a one-score game. South held on to survive the comeback and secure the 300th victory in program history.
Week 3 - Waukesha North
In Week 3, the Blackshirts traveled across town for their annual rivalry game against Waukesha North, a series played every year since North opened in 1974. Garcia connected with junior Jerome Gray for South’s first touchdown, but North responded with 14 unanswered points to take a 14-7 lead after the first quarter.
Wiltz tied the game with a rushing touchdown before freshman Sam Blask recorded his first career interception in his first varsity start. Garcia later found Leckie in the end zone, but North answered again to send the teams into halftime tied at 21.
South took control in the second half. Wiltz scored again, Blask recorded his second interception, and Garcia added two rushing touchdowns as the Blackshirts pulled away for a 42-21 victory. Garcia also set a school single-game completion percentage record, completing 84.6% of his passes and surpassing Cannon Cooley’s previous mark of 81% set against North in 2014. The victory improved South’s all-time record against the Northstars to 27-25 and marked its second consecutive win in the rivalry.
Week 4 - Greenfield
The Blackshirts then hosted the Greenfield Hustin’ Hawks in a crossover conference game with the Woodland Conference. This game was the first meeting between the two schools. Garcia opened the game finding DeGeorge in the end zone and later ran into the end zone to give the Shirts a 14 point lead. Garcia also became the first Waukesha South quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards.
Garcia then found Jerome Gray on a back shoulder pass in the end zone and then found Sam Blask wide open in the corner to secure the fourth score of the game. Senior Evan Beede then snagged a ball out of the air to give way to another Garcia to Sam Blask touchdown to give the Blackshirts a 35 point lead at the half. The Hustin’ Hawks then answered by scoring 21 unanswered points in the second half, but with a 14 point cushion, the Blackshirts came away victorious.
Garcia will look to build on his impressive season, completing 75.7% of his passes for 1,083 yards and 15 touchdowns while adding five scores on the ground. He ranks third in the state for total touchdowns, fourth for passing touchdowns, fifth for passing yards, and has completed the most passes in the state.
Richie Leckie and Keegan DeGeorge lead the receiving corps. Leckie has 26 catches for 349 yards and five touchdowns, while DeGeorge has 25 catches for 426 yards and six scores. Cooper Wiltz leads the rushing attack with 320 yards and four touchdowns on 92 carries.
Jerome Gray leads the defense with 35 tackles, ten tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a sack, followed by junior Charlie Shepard with 25 tackles and three tackles for loss, a forced fumble, an interception, and a sack. Senior De’Adrian Nichols has added 19 tackles and three tackles for loss. The defense will look to build on its seven interceptions, with All-Conference senior James Hopson and junior transfer Xander Jones also making an impact. Senior Sam Jack will continue handling kicking duties after going 33-for-35 on extra points since taking over last season.
South continues their quest for the postseason again this Friday, 9/18 as they travel to New Berlin West.