UW-Whitewater opened defense of its Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title with a 35-3 win over UW-Platteville before a Family Day crowd of 9,157 at Perkins Stadium in Whitewater, Wisconsin Saturday afternoon.
box score
photo gallery by Tim Gumz
photo gallery by Joy Kowald
slide show by Tom Hughes
Levell Coppage (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park) began a record-setting day with a 25 yard run on Whitewater's first possession to open the scoring at 9:13. Warhawk defensive back Troney Shumpert (Milwaukee/Bay View) picked off a Nick Anderson pass at the Whitewater thirty, and four plays later Coppage took it in from 35 yards out for a 14-0 lead at 5:08 in the first. Third drive, ditto. Coppage from three yards to end a 75 yard drive. Whitewater led 21-0 at 10:32 left in the second quarter.
Platteville held on to the ball for six minutes, moving 60 yards on 12 plays until Whitewater intercepted a pass, but was whistled for pass interference to on a third down to keep the drive alive. Tony Smidl booted a 27 yard field goal to make it 21-3 Whitewater with 4:49 left in the half. That's the score the teams took into the lockerroom at the half.
Whitewater started the second half quickly too, with Jeff Donovan (Wauwatosa/East) connecting with Adam Brandes (Burlington/Catholic Central) for a 36 yard score at 11:56 for the only score of the period.
Coppage ended a 78 yard drive with his fourth TD of the day, this time for ten yards, to make it 35-3 at 10:33 in the fourth. Coppage tied the school record with his four touchdowns. The feat has been accomplished ten times, most recently twice by Coppage last season.
Whitewater totaled 425 yards of offense, Platteville 236. The Warhawks completed 22-25 passes for 249 yards and one TD with no interceptions. Platteville had three turnovers (fumble, two INT) and Whitewater did not turn the ball over.
Linebacker Lane Olson (Racine/Horlick) led the Warhawk defense with three quarterback sacks, all in the first half. UW-W's offensive line did not allow a sack, a stat category in which they lead the WIAC. Donovan accounted for all of the passing except one for nine yards, and Coppage rushed for 166 yards on 27 carriies. Brandes led UW-W receivers with six catches for 93 yards.
Anderson was 26-41 for 175 yards, with the two picks. Brandon Hertrampf was on the receiving end of seven passes for 59 yards, and Hank McIvor gained 48 yards rushing on just four carries.
The George Chryst Players of the Game were Coppage and linebacker Kyle Supianoski (Tama, IA/South) for UW-W, and Anderson and defensive back Brian Snyder.
UW-W, ranked second in the national Division III poll, is 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the WIAC. UW-P is 2-2 and 0-1 in league play.
UW-W, winners of four consecutive WIAC crowns, will continue league play at home next Saturday (October 10), hosting UW-Eau Claire at 3:00 in Perkins Stadium. Call the University Center ticket office at 262-472-2222 for ticket information.
