No one wanted to use the word revenge but a 41-12 UW-Whitewater victory over UW-Stevens Point on Saturday in Stevens Point was just that.  The 'Hawks scored three unanswered touchdowns to take a 21-0 lead en route to a 41-12 thumping of the Pointers.  UW-W, who lost to the Pointers in Whitewater on homecoming in 2008, remains undefeated, 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Box Score

Both teams entered Saturday's contest undefeated in the WIAC.  The win propels the Warhawks to a one game lead with two conference games yet to play.  The game between these two teams in 2008 was a bitter ending to a couple of streaks for UW-W who had run off a 27-game winning streak at Perkins Stadium and a 25-game winning streak in conference games.  The Pointers scored the go ahead point with just seconds remaining to win 17-16.

This Saturday was a different story.  The Pointers started with the ball on their own 35 after a 31-yard kickoff return and the 'Hawks immediately picked off the first pass by quarterback Jared Beckwith.  Zach Christopherson (Hartford/Hartford) made the interception, his second of the year.  The Warhawks then used four plays to cover 47 yards on a drive that ended with a one yard touchdown run by Antwan Anderson (Madison/Madison Memorial).  Jeff Schebler (Davenport, IA/Assumption) tacked on an extra point to give the Warhawks a 7-0 lead just one minute and eight seconds into the game.

The following two possessions, one by each team, ended in a punt.  The ensuing Pointer possession began at the Whitewater 46 yard line.  The Pointers reached the Warhawk 29 and were faced with a fourth and three situation.  UW-SP went for it but Jeremy Deibert (West Allis/Central) snuffed out David Hammer after a two yard reception for a turnover on downs.

The Warhawks went three and out on their next possession and the Pointers returned the favor.

The Warhawks started on their 32 on the following possession.  A ten-yard pass to John Novak (Michigan City, IN/Michigan City) from Jeff Donovan (Wauwatosa/East) followed by back-to-back false start penalties had the Warhawks in the same spot they began.  On the next play Levell Coppage (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park) broke through for a 68-yard touchdown run, his 17th of the   season.  Schebler knocked the extra point through the uprights and the 'Hawks were up 14-0.

The second quarter got no better for the Pointers as they had a punt blocked and covered up at their own eight yard line.  Two rushes by Coppage and he was again in the end zone extending UW-W's lead.

Point responded later in the quarter a with a touchdown on a 93-yard pass from Beckwith to Jared Jenkins.  A failed extra point attempt gave the Warhawks a 21-6 advantage.

Several possessions later the Warhawks began a first half drive at their own 34 with 2:37 remaining.  The Warhawks fought down to the Pointer five-yard line but Jeff Donovan (Wauwatosa/East) had a pass picked off in the end zone to end the half.

A nine play, 74-yard drive began the second half for UW-W.  Donovan found Aaron Rusch (Hartford/Hartford) for a 16-yard scoring strike.  Another successful extra point by Schebler gave the Warhawks a 28-6 lead.

On the next Warhawk possession, Coppage broke off another long run, this time of 36-yards, to score his third touchdown of the game and give the Warhawks a 35-6 lead after Schebler's extra point.

The Warhawks blocked another punt on the following Pointer possession and Schebler got a chance to kick something other than an extra point.  UW-W began with the ball at the UW-SP fourteen and got down to the Pointer one yard line but were unable to cross the goal line.  Schebler's eighteen yard field goal pushed the Warhawks' lead to 32 points.

The Pointers put together a solid eight play, 75 yard drive that overlapped the third and fourth quarters to score another touchdown, but a failed two point conversion meant the score was now 38-12.

Schebler pushed another one through the uprights, this one a 22 yarder, with three and a half minutes remaining to make the final score 41-12.

The Warhawks recorded 22 first downs to Stevens Point's 13.  Levell Coppage (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park) rushed for 199 yards and three touchdowns on the afternoon.  His 68-yard touchdown run in the first quarter is the longest rushing play of the season for UW-W.  Coppage is currently eighth in career rushing (2,542 yards) and second in career touchdowns (40) in the UW-Whitewater record book.

Donovan threw for 178 yards on 16 of 27 passing.  Donovan is currently completing just over 72 percent of his passes, the highest percentage in the WIAC.

Troney Shumpert (Milwaukee/Bay View) led the 'Hawks defensively with five total tackles.  Kyle Supianoski (Tama, IA/South) and Jeremy Deibert (West Allis/Central) also chipped in 3.5 and 3 tackles respectively.

The Warhawks will host UW-Oshkosh next Saturday, November 7, at Perkins Stadium in UW-Whitewater.  Kickoff is slated for 1:00 pm.

For additional information,
Lance Leipold