Warhawks Host UW-Platteville

The oldest series in UW-Whitewater football resumes Saturday, October 1 when the Warhawks host UW-Platteville in Perkins Stadium at 2:00. 

 

UW-W won 49-17 at Ralph Davis Stadium in Platteville. The Pioneers scored first, using two long Nick Anderson to Joe Burkeland passes for a 7-0 lead. UW-P still led 10-7 with 13:08 left in the first half. A Matt Blanchard (Lake Zurich, IL/Lake Zurich) to Adam Brandes (Burlington/Catholic Central) 33 yard pass put Whitewater in front to stay 14-10 with 4:37 left in the second quarter. Whitewater took a 21-10 lead into intermission. A fumble recovery and an interception led to two of the Warhawk scores in the third quarter, and the period ended with UW-W in front 49-10. Whitewater totaled 32 first downs to 10 for Platteville, 295 yards rushing to -13, and 637 yards of total offense to 172. Platteville had three turnovers, Whitewater none. Warhawk Levell Coppage (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park) rushed 23 times for 134 yards and Booker Stanley (Milwaukee/Whitefish Bay) added 94 on nine carries. Matt Blanchard (Lake Zurich, IL/Lake Zurich) went 24-30 for 337 yards and three TD's, nine of those completions to Aaron Rusch (Hartford/Hartford) and Brandes totaling 104 yards on 5 receptions. Anderson went 10-23 for 184 yards and one TD for UW-P, with Burkeland and Lee Vlasak both catching three passes. Linebacker Greg Arnold (Big Bend/Mukwonago) had four tackles, two tackles for a loss, one fumble forced and one recovery, and two quarterback sacks for the Warhawks. DB Courtney Alexander was in on 12 tackles for UW-P.

 

UW-Whitewater's record all-time against UW-Platteville 75-24-4

The current streak:  Whitewater won last six games.

When it started: 1895, UW-Whitewater defeated UW-Platteville 10-0

Most points scored by UW-W: 63 in 2005

Most points scored by UW-P: 56 in 1976

Most points combined: 91 (63-28 in 2005)

Shutouts by UW-W: 31

Shutouts by UW-P: 12

Longest Win Streak by UW-W: 11 (twice from 1925 through 1935 and from 1990 through 2000)

Longest Win Streak by UW-P: 6 (1952 through 1957)

Fewest points, combined: 2 (UW-Platteville defeated UW-Whitewater 2-0 in 1911)

 

UW-Whitewater has the longest win streak in NCAA football -- any Division. The Warhawks have won 33 consecutive games, including 22 in a row on the road, 22 straight at Perkins Stadium, 19 consecutive non-conference contests, 17 WIAC games, and 10 in the NCAA III playoffs.

 

UW-Whitewater is number one in both the D3football.com and American Football Coaches Association polls this week. UW-Platteville has earned enough votes to rank among the "others receiving votes" section of both national Division III polls.

 

Whitewater's Lance Leipold has compiled a four year record of 60-3, with a record of 29-1 in the WIAC.  In his first head coaching opportunity, Leipold has earned national Division III coach of the year honors three out of the four years and was named WIAC Football Coach of the Year the last two. Mike Emendorfer is in his thirteenth season at UW-P. He has a 45-78 mark overall (.366) and 25-63 (.284) record in the WIAC. He was the WIAC Coach of the Year in 2004 after leading the Pioneers to a 6-4 campaign.

 

UW-P is 3-1 overall, 1-0 in the WIAC. The only loss for the Pioneers was a 23-14 defeat by sixth-ranked Wheaton College (IL) 23-14 in Platteville September 17. Platteville rolled over Buena Vista 38-3 in the season opener, defeated UW-Stevens Point 26-3 at Point in a non-conference game, and followed the loss to Wheaton with a 17-14 home field win over UW-La Crosse last week. The Pioneer defense limited the Eagles to 57 yards total yards rushing and just 1.7 yards per attempt. UW-P totaled nine tackles behind the line of scrimmage and five quarterback sacks. The Pioneer QB duo of Bryce Corrigan and Nick Anderson combined to go 22-36 for 231 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Jeff Bracken hauled in ten passes for 135 yards. Running back Lee Vlasak carried the 21 times for 74 yards, and added 5 pass receptions.

 

If you believe the stats Saturday's encounter should be low scoring. Whitewater and Platteville rank 1-2 in the WIAC in scoring defense (7.0/10.8), 1-2 in rushing defense (64.3, 76.0), 1-2 in turnover margin (2.33/1.00), and 1-3 in total defense (190.3, 270.5). Four Pioneer defenders rank among the top seven in the WIAC in tackles for a loss, with lineman Bronzun Kyles number one at 1.38 per game, with linebackers Nick Snyder (1.25) and Chad Ihrig (1.00), and back Ryan McWethy also among the leaders. Kyles, Snyder and McWethy are also among the league's top ten in sacks, and McWethy is seventh in total tackles. Regardless of who is throwing the ball for UW-P, Anderson or Corrigan, wideouts Darin Blaser (19-197, 2 TD), Jeff Bracken (16-206, 1 TD) and Aaron Loferski (13-253, 2 TD) have made it tough on opposing defenses. Vlasak's 71.5 rushing yards per game, and 3.2 per attempt, keep defenses honest.

 

UW-W, 3-0 overall and 0-0 in the WIAC, is coming off a bye. Two of Whitewater's wins have come against ranked opponents, a 45-0 win over #21 Franklin and a 54-14 over #17 (NAIA) Campbellsville. Whitewater leads the WIAC in defense (see above) and offense. The offense is generating 41.7 points per game, 243.0 yards rushing, 245.3 passing (almost exactly the 50-50 balance that is a coaching cliché)

and 488.3 total yards. 

 

The most pleasant surprise for UW-W has been the production of the offensive line. Logan Allemand (Kenosha/Tremper) was the only starter returning , but linemates Jake Wahl (Cudahy/Cudahy), Jimmy Norris (Palatine, IL/William Fremd), Alex Misialek (Crystal Lake, IL/Crystal Lake South), Grant Poenitch, Pat Suffield (Downers Grove, IL/Montini), Joe Hansen (Greendale/Greendale), Mike Seefeld (Cudahy/Cudahy), Ryan Olson (Stoughton/Stoughton) and Lucas Skibba (Plover/SPASH) are developed the coordination and confidence coaches strive for. The group has allowed just two sacks in three games, and All-American back Levell Coppage (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park) is averaging 6.4 per attempt (and Desmin Ward (Milwaukee/Hamilton) 5.8) with the holes provided by the O line. Quarterback Matt Blanchard (Lake Zurich, IL/Lake Zurich) has used the protection to rank number one in the WIAC in pass efficiency, completing .683 of his passes for 152.7 yards per game, with 5 TD's and no interceptions.

Luke Menzel (Sheboygan Falls/Oostburg) (12-144) and Tyler Huber (Mukwonago/North Prairie) (9-201, 2 TD) have been Blanchard's favorite targets.

 

Passing: Nick Anderson 50-83, .602, 152.2/game, 5 TD, 2 INT

Rushing: Lee Vlasak 89-304, 71.5/game, 3.2/att, 4 TD

Receiving: Darin Blaser 19-197, 49.2/game, 10.4/att, 2 TD

Field Goals: Zach Litchfield 3-4

Punting: Zak Brinkman 24-836, 34.8 avg

Defense: Ryan Mcwethy 26.5 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 sack;

       Nick Snyder 22 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks

Passing: Matt Blanchard (Lake Zurich, IL/Lake Zurich) 43-63, .683, 223.3/game, 5 TD, 0 INT

Rushing: Levell Coppage (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park) 54-348, 114.7/game, 6.4/att, 5 TD

Receiving: Luke Menzel (Sheboygan Falls/Oostburg) 12-144, 48.0/game, 12.0/att, 0 TD

Field Goals: Eric Kindler (Germantown/Germantown) 7-9

Punting: Kris Rosholt (Reedsburg/Reedsburg) 12-468, 39.0 avg

Defense: Kyle Wismer (Spring Grove, IL/Richmond-Burton) 15 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 passes broken up, 2 defended;

       Anthony Dowery (Saint Francis/Milwaukee South) 14 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks

 

UW-Whitewater

Offensive Line (5 players) Averages: 287 Pounds

Defensive Line (4 players) Averages: 252 Pounds

Offense, Class Breakdown: 6 seniors, 5 juniors

Defense, Class Breakdown: 5 seniors, 3 juniors, 3 sophomores

UW-Platteville

Offensive Line (5 players) Averages: 285 Pounds

Defensive Line (3 players) Averages: 231 Pounds

Offense, Class Breakdown: 3 seniors, 4 juniors, 3 sophomores, 1 freshman

Defense, Class Breakdown: 3 seniors, 5 juniors, 3 sophomores

 

The winner of the annual Whitewater-Platteville game earns bragging rights in the George Chryst  Game. Chryst, head coach at UW-P from 1979-1992 and athletic director 1981-90, was widely respected in the coaching fraternity. An offensive and defensive player of the game, for each team, will be honored in Chryst's name following Saturday's game.

The Warhawks will travel north to UW-River Falls to take on the Falcons in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup Saturday, October 8 at 1:00 pm. Tickets are available through the UW-River Falls athletic department or at Ramer Field on game day. Call 715-425-3900 for more ticket information. All the fireworks won't be on the field at UW-W's next home game, an unusual date, Friday October 14 at 7:00 with UW-Stout visiting Perkins Stadium. A fireworks display will follow the game. Tickets for UW-W home games are sold at the University Center ticket office Monday-Friday during normal business hours. Tickets are also sold at Perkins Stadium on game day. Call 262-472-2222 for ticket information.

 

Tom Fick, UW-W sports information: 262-472-1147 or fickt@uww.edu

UW-Whitewater football web site: http://uwwsports.com/index.aspx?tab=football&path=football

WIAC football web site: http://wiacsports.com/index.aspx?tab=football&path=football

Danny Kambel, UW-Platteville sports information: 608-342-1574 or kambeld@uwplatt.edu

UW-Platteville football web site: http://www.uwplatt.edu/athletics/football/index.html

NCAA III football web site: http://www.ncaa.com/sports/football/d3