Box Score

UW-Whitewater celebrated Homecoming and its annual Athletics Hall of Fame game with a 26-14 win over UW-Oshkosh Saturday afternoon at Perkins Stadium. The win upped the Warhawks' Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win streak to eighteen, dating back to the last game of the 2004 season.

Whitewater got on the board first, with 2:04 left in the first quarter, with a school record tying 52-yard field goal by Jeff Schebler (Davenport, IA/Assumption) (so, Davenport, IA). UW-W upped the margin to 10-0 with a one yard run by Josh Mishleau (Union Grove/Union Grove) (fr, Union Grove) at 3:55 in the second, capping an eight play, 59-yard drive.

Oshkosh got the points back in a hurry, scoring on an 86 yard kickoff return by Jeremy Roach (fr, Deerfield) on the opening play of the second half. Roach is the first player to return a kickoff for a TD against UW-W since R. Reed of LambuthUniversity went 88 yards in 1998.

Schebler booted his second field goal of the game, this time from 34 yards out at the 3:58 in the third, to give UW-W a 13-7 lead. Schebler came through again on Whitewater's next possession, putting it through the uprights from 23 yards out at 14:58 of the fourth quarter to give the Warhawks a 16-7 lead. Schebler wasn't done yet though, kicking a 46 yarder at 10:58 in the fourth quarter for a 19-7 Whitewater lead.

Again, Oshkosh came back, going 65 yards in seven plays, with Joe Patek to Steve Stoltz for the eleven yard score. Whitewater 19, Oshkosh 14.

UW-W senior defensive back Ben Farley (Brookfield/East) (Brookfield/East) set up the final score of the day, picking off a Patek pass at UW-O's 32 yard line and returning it to the seven. Three plays later Danny Jones (Pleasanton, CA/Amador Valley) (sr, Pleasanton, CA) connected with John Novak (Michigan City, IN/Michigan City) (so, Michigan City, IN) at 3:21 for the final score in the game.

Schebler's four field goals upped his career total to 30, moving him in to a tie for first place in the UW-W record book (Bryan Mader, 1994-97). UW-O placekicker Lucas Raschke (sr, Clintonville), the all-time field goal kicker in the WIAC, had his only attempt of the day blocked.

Warhawk senior running back Justin Beaver (Palmyra/Palmyra-Eagle) (Palmyra) added 179 yards to his WIAC career record, which now totals 5,145 yards. Beaver, the leading rusher in the WIAC, also pushed his season total over the 1,000 yard mark. He is the second back in UW-W history (Chad Wurth, 2000-2002) to rush for 1,000 yards in three seasons.

Oshkosh came in to the game ranked eighth in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III statistics in total offense, 480.4 yards per game, but the Titans were held to 224 by the Warhawk defense, which ranks first in the WIAC in total defense (259.6).

Patek, the leading passer in the WIAC at 247 yards per game, completed 20-37 for 177 yards, two interceptions and a touchdown. Andy Moriarty (sr, Mequon), the second leading rusher and number one scorer in the WIAC, was limited to 64 yards on the ground. Moriarty also added six receptions for 35 yards to lead UW-O in that category. Senior wideout Neil Mrkvicka (Greendale/Greendale) (Greendale) led Whitewater receivers with six catches for 80 yards.

Nick Croak (Muskego/Muskego) (sr, Muskego) punted eight times for 322 yards, pushing career total to a UW-Whitewater and WIAC record 9,128 yards. The previous school and conference record was 8,997 by former Warhawk Joel Gmack (1982-85).

Senior linebacker AJ Raebel (Cary Grove, IL/Cary Grove) (Cary Grove, IL) added five tackles to his career total, moving him in to sixth place in the UW-W record book. Oshkosh had four players in double figures for tackles, led by free safety Josh Wara (sr, Oshkosh/North) with eleven (five solo).

UW-W is ranked third in one national Division III poll and fourth in the other two. UW-Oshkosh was in the “others receiving votes” category of all three polls.

UW-Whitewater, 5-1 overall and 4-0 in the WIAC, will play at UW-Stevens Point Saturday, October 20. The next home game for the Warhawks will be October 27 when second-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor visits Perkins Stadium for a 1:00 kickoff. UW-Oshkosh is 4-2 overall and 1-2 in league play.

For additional information:

Lance Leipold, UW-W coach, 262-472-1453

UW-Whitewater football site: http://www.uwwsports.com/index.asp?path=football