In a match-up of two conference unbeatens, it was UW-Whitewater prevailing over UW-River Falls on Saturday in River Falls at Ramer Field by a score of 52-24.
The Warhawks improve their record to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, while the Falcons drop to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in the WIAC. The win also extended the Warhawks conference winning streak to twenty-four consecutive games.
Box Score
The Falcons took the lead to start the game on a thirty-seven yard touchdown pass from Storm Harmon to Ryan Hansen but that was the only time the Falcons had the lead. The Warhawks answered with three straight touchdowns. The first two on five and eight yard runs by
Levell Coppage (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park). The third was on an eleven yard pass from
Jeff Donovan (Wauwatosa/East) to
Nick Slupski (Greenfield/Greenfield).
River Falls answered with another touchdown toss from Storm Harmon, this time to Michael Woodward, to tighten the score to 21-14. Each team took turns booting a field goal through the uprights to increase the score to 24-17.
Two more consecutive Coppage rushing touchdowns, six and one yard respectively, gave the Warhawks a 38-17 advantage.
Whitewater native, Michael Zweifel, caught Harmon's third touchdown pass of the game to bring the Falcons within two scores.
However, the Warhawks responded with two more rushing touchdowns to give the game a final score of 52-24. The first of the last two touchdowns was recorded after a twenty-five yard run by
Antwan Anderson (Madison/Madison Memorial) and the second was a fifty yard run by
Jake Andersen (Kansasville/Westosha Central).
The Warhawks, who are ranked first in the WIAC in scoring offense, racked up 592 yards of total offense while the Falcons mustered 370. Coppage, the WIAC's leading rusher, accounted for 181 of UW-W's yards and totaled four touchdowns, all rushing. Coppage has accumulated twelve touchdowns this season which ties him for ninth in the Warhawk record book for touchdowns in a season. He has also improved his average yards per game to 149.4.
Jeff Schebler (Davenport, IA/Assumption) was perfect on the day connecting on all seven extra points and one field goal of eighteen yards. Schebler is a perfect 6-6 for field goals this season.
Coming in to the game the Falcons boasted the number one receiver in the WIAC in Zweifel and he proved it against the Warhawks hauling in twelve catches for 152 yards and one touchdown. Harmon was also the WIAC leader in passing yards per game and total yards of offense. Harmon went 23-39 with three touchdowns.
The Warhawk defense gave up more points in this game than they have all year, but they were able to get to quarterback Harmon four times for sacks. They also caused and recovered one fumble.
Next week UW-W will travel to UW-Oshkosh on October 18 for a game against the Titans beginning at 1:30 pm. Since 1990 the Titans have only defeated the Warhawks one time and it was back on November 16, 2002 when UW-O topped UW-W by a score of 21-20. The Titans scored two touchdowns in the final quarter to overcome the Warhawks.
The Warhawks return home on October 25 for a 1:00 pm kick-off against WIAC foe UW-Stevens Point. The game also marks Homecoming and the Hall of Fame day for UW-Whitewater. For tickets contact 262-472-2222.
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