Box Score

UW-Whitewater, ranked third in a national Division III poll, used twenty-four points generated by turnovers to cruise to a 41-14 win over second-ranked University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Saturday afternoon at Perkins Stadium in Whitewater, Wisconsin.

The victory increased Whitewater's win streak at Perkins Stadium to twenty games, dating back to the final contest of the 2004 season.

Whitewater scored on its first possession, driving 63 yards in nine plays, with Justin Beaver (Palmyra/Palmyra-Eagle) scoring from 23 yards out to make it 7-0 Whitewater. The touchdown, the thirty-fifth of his career, moved Beaver in to a second place tie with Travis Talton (1987-91) in the school career record book.

UMHB's next drive was cut short by an interception by Whitewater's Andy Murray (Mount Horeb/Mount Horeb), who returned the ball 33 yards to the Crusader nine yard line. The pick is Murray's thirteenth of his career, tied with Bob Connell (1976-79) for third in career interceptions at UW-W. Two plays later a QB draw by Danny Jones (Pleasanton, CA/Amador Valley) put the Warhawks ahead 14-0 at 7:33 in the first.

Another Crusader turnover proved costly on their next possession, as Matt Blaziewske (Kenosha/Tremper) returned a Josh Welch pass sixty yards to give UW-W a 21-0 lead at 3:20 in the first.

Late in the second quarter Whitewater drove 70 yards in eight plays, with Jones scoring his second rushing touchdown of the game, this time from two yards out, to give UW-W at 28-0 lead at halftime.

Whitewater got on the board first in the second half too, with Jeff Schebler (Davenport, IA/Assumption) kicking a 37-yard field goal to up his school career record to 33 field goals and put Whitewater ahead 31-0.

Mary Hardin Baylor put together an eleven play, 71-yard drive to score at 7:32 in the third, on a one yard run by Quincy Daniels.

The Crusaders created their own opportunity early in the fourth quarter, blocking a Nick Croak (Muskego/Muskego) punt. Jeremy Salinas recovered the ball at the Whitewater twenty-one. Five plays later Daniels added his second TD run of the game, this time from five yards out to cut Whitewater's margin to 31-14.

Another turnover resulted in more Whitewater points, with Gabe Schultz (Fort Atkinson/Fort Atkinson) recovering a Crusader fumble at the UMHB 24 to set up a 40-yard field goal by Schebler with 8:02 remaining.

The Crusader's offense advanced the ball from their own 8 to the Whitewater 40 on the next drive, but that too was cut short by a turnover, with UW-W linebacker Tristan Borzick (Kenosha/Tremper) returning a Welch pass 60 yards for the final score of the game.

The game was billed as a matchup of two of the top running backs in the country, with Whitewater's Justin Beaver (Palmyra/Palmyra-Eagle) second in Division III and UMHB's Jarvis Thrasher fourth in rushing yards per game. That never materialized. Beaver ended up with 77 yards on 29 carries, Thrasher had 67 on 20 attempts.

Thrasher rushed for 324 yards on just 12 carries against Mississippi College a week ago, and backfield mate Quincy Daniels totaled 199 on eight attempts as UMHB rolled up 523 yards on the ground with Thrasher and Daniels setting a NCAA record, all Divisions, for rushing yards by a backfield tandem in one game. Thrasher and Daniels combined for 118 yards, and the Crusaders had 162, against UW-W Saturday.

Jones rushed for two touchdowns and completed 13-19 for 155 yards with no interceptions. Welch ended up 12-29 for 113 yards and three interceptions.

Whitewater linebacker AJ Raebel (Cary Grove, IL/Cary Grove) was credited with 14 tackles (11 solo), a tackle for a loss and a fumble recovered. Crusader linebacker Eric Henri totaled 13 tackles (6 solo), with a tackle for a loss.

UW-W, 7-1, is ranked third in the D3football.com poll and fourth in the Football Gazette and American Football Coaches Association polls. UMHB, 7-1, is second in all three polls.

UW-Whitewater will return to Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play next Saturday, at UW-Stout in Menomonie. With UW-Stevens Point's loss to UW-Oshkosh today the Warhawks are assured of at least sharing the WIAC title. Whitewater will conclude the regular season at home Saturday, November 10 at 1:00, with UW-Platteville visiting Perkins Stadium.

For Additional Information:
Lance Leipold, UW-W Head Coach, 262-472-1453
UW-Whitewater football site: http://www.uwwsports.com/index.asp?path=football