Box Score
UW-Whitewater extended its unbeaten streak in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play to twenty-one games with a 21-7 win over UW-Platteville at Perkin Stadium in Whitewater Saturday. The win also gave the Warhawks their twenty-first consecutive victory at Perkins Stadium.
Whitewater went 80 yards in ten plays on the opening drive of the game, with Justin Beaver (Palmyra/Palmyra-Eagle) scoring on a 23-yard run at 11:16. That's where the score stood until late in the half when UW-W defensive back Matt Blaziewske (Kenosha/Tremper) intercepted a Terry Belville pass at the Whitewater 26 and brought it back to the 48 yard line. Five plays later Danny Jones (Pleasanton, CA/Amador Valley) hit Neil Mrkvicka (Greendale/Greendale) with a 24-yard pass to make it 13-0 at 0:20 in the half. The extra point on the play was notable in that Jeff Schebler (Davenport, IA/Assumption), UW-W's sophomore All-American, did not kick the point to make it 14-0. Nick Croak (Muskego/Muskego), the leading punter in UW-W and WIAC history, took over for Schebler.
Whitewater finished its scoring for the day in the third quarter, when Beaver ended four-play, 49 yard drive with a one yard run. The TD pushed Beaver's career rushing total 38 touchdowns, one more than Chad Wurth accumulated (2000-2003).
Platteville got on the scoreboard with forty-nine seconds left, concluding a seven play, 54 yard drive with a 14 yard run by Mike Genslinger.
Platteville actually out-gained the Warhawks, 364 to 356, but Whitewater's defense picked of five Pioneer passes.
Justin Beaver (Palmyra/Palmyra-Eagle) added to his WIAC record total with 121 yards rushing on 25 carries. Senior wide receiver Neil Mrkvicka (Greendale/Greendale) contributed five catches 106 yards. Platteville's offense was led by receivers Nick Grosso (8 catches for 50 yards) and Dan Schwartz (7 for 95). UW-W lineabcker Tristan Borzick (Kenosha/Tremper) intercepted two passes, and defensive back Matt Blaziewske (Kenosha/Tremper) picked off a pass and recovered a fumble. Both had three pass deflections, and Whitewater's defense totaled seven sacks. Nolan Krajco led UW-P with nine tackles, seven solo, a fumble recovery and a QB sack.
UW-P finishes the year 2-8 overall and 1-6 in the WIAC.
UW-Whitewater ended the regular season with a 9-1 mark, 7-0 in league play. The Warhawks have not lost a conference game, or a home game, since the final game of the 2004 season. Whitewater will learn about the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III playoffs Sunday. The Warhawks, ranked second in one national Division III poll and third in two others, will host a first round game Saturday, November 17. The opponent and time will be announced late Sunday.
