UW-Whitewater, ranked second in the polls of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III teams, rolled over previously unbeaten University of Puget Sound 60-7 at Peyton Field in Tacoma, Washington, Saturday afternoon.
Box Score
Whitewater led 12-0 after one quarter, 26-0 at halftime, and 47-0 after the third period. The Warhawks scored on four of their five possessions in the first half and five of seven in the second half. Technically, for the Warhawk offense it was four of six in the second half because linebacker Jay Hancock (Madison/Memorial) returned an interception 38 yards for Whitewater's final points.
The efficiency of Whitewater's offense was evident in quarterback Jeff Donovan (Wauwatosa/East)'s stats, 14-20 for 212 yards with one interception. Donovan also added a 12-yard touchdown run. UW-W had three players rush for more than 50 yards, one of them backup QB Bruce Langer (Milton/Milton), led by 95 from freshman tailback Levell Coppage (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park) on 16 carries. Whitewater split its yardage almost equally, rushing for 278 and passing for 251. Aaron Rusch (Hartford/Hartford) caught 7 passes for 88 yards, all in the first half.
Coppage found the end zone four times, all on the ground, tying the UW-Whitewater record held by seven other players. The most recent player to accomplish the feat was wide receiver Derek Stanley against Lakeland College in 2006. The last running back to score four TD's was Chad Wurth, when he did so against UW-Oshkosh in 2003.
The Warhawk defense was as stingy as the offense was productive. UW-W allowed 162 yards, including just 16 yards rushing. The Loggers managed just four first downs in the first two periods and nine for the game. Junior linebacker Kyle Supianoski (Tama, IA/South) topped the Warhawks with eight tackles, including two for a loss. Freshman defensive end Sam Markham (Milton/Janesville Craig) contributed two sacks and three tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
The 162 yards gained by Puget Sound is the fewest by a Warhawk opponent since UW-W limited Lakeland College to 110 in the 2007 season opener.
Whitewater's point total is the most they've scored on the road since September 17, 2005, in a 73-12 win at Lakeland College, a string of 46 games. It is also the most points UW-W has scored anywhere since a 75-14 win 33 games ago, September 2, 2006, also against Lakeland.
UW-W, 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, will return to conference play next week, hosting UW-La Crosse October 4 at 1:00 in Perkins Stadium. UW-W will be looking to extend two winning streaks. Whitewater has won 22 consecutive WIAC games, dating back to a loss to UW-La Crosse in the 2004 season finale. The Warhawks are also unbeaten in their last 26 games in Perkins Stadium.
Puget Sound is 2-1 this season.
Tickets for UW-W home games are available in the University Center ticket office on the main campus mall Monday-Friday during normal business hours, and are sold at the gate on game day. Call 262-472-2222 for ticket information.
For additional information:
Lance Leipold, UW-W coach, 262-472-1453
WIAC football web site
