One repetition at a time.  One practice at a time, One game at a time.  UW-W's Lance Leipold had his team so focused on their next step there was never any time, or reason, to look ahead.  The Warhawks can afford to take some time now, but to look back and reflect on their second National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III title in three years.  UW-Whitewater defeated Mount Union College 38-28 Saturday at Salem Stadium in snow-covered Salem, Virginia.  

box score
photo gallery one (game, Joy Kowald)
photo gallery two (game, Joy Kowald)
photo gallery three (game, Joy Kowald)
photo gallery four (game, Joy Kowald)
postgame celebration (Joy Kowald)
Homecoming in Whitewater (Tim Gumz)
Homecoming in Whitewater (Joy Kowald)

Make no mistake, Salem Stadium was in great shape.  The city of Salem and the game organizers worked through the night and morning, and despite a five hour delay in the kickoff, had the field ready for a championship game.  

The teams were 1-2 (Mount, Whitewater) in both national Division III polls since the preseason poll in August, and the game that resulted reinforced that view.

Leipold allowed himself to reflect on his team.  "It has been a long journey," UW-W head coach Lance Leipold said.  They had a chance to be a great football team.  Guys didn't care who got the carries or catches.  And our defense epitomized that.  You look at the stats after a game and nothing jumps out at you.  They just do the job"

After Whitewater stopped Mount Union on the opening drive the Warhawks took over on their own 15.  Levell Coppage (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park) broke off 25 yard run to move it out to the 41, putting him over the 2,000 yard mark this season. Jeff Donovan (Wauwatosa/East) found Adam Brandes (Burlington/Catholic Central) for 24 yards.  Donovan connected again, this time with Jordan Wells (Elgin, IL/Elgin) for 23 yards to take the ball to the one yard line, where Coppage ran it in with 8:38 gone in the first.  Jeff Schebler (Davenport, IA/Assumption)'s kick made it 7-0.

Whitewater has scored first in four of the five Stagg Bowl meetings between these teams.

Mount came back, driving from its 32 to Whitewater's 21, but a pass on fourth down lost five yards and Whitewater took over.

Whitewater took over and moved downfield, with the biggest play a 37 yard Aaron Rusch (Hartford/Hartford) reception.  The catch put Rusch into the number one spot in the school record book for career yards with 2,630, passing Derek Stanley (2,621, 2003-2006).  UW-W finished the drive with a one yard Donovan to Cory Robinson (Cambridge/Cambridge) fade as Robinson ran into the deep right corner of the end zone, Robinson's first touchdown this season.  Schebler made it 14-0 with 13:31 left in the half.  The touchdown marked the first time Mount Union fell behind an opponent by 14 points since a 2005 loss to Ohio Northern University, the last time the Purple Raiders lost a regular season game.

Mount Union responded immediately.  The Purple Raiders covered 70 yards in just five plays, with Cecil Short catching a Kurt Rocco pass for 27 yards.  Three plays later the duo hooked up on a 19 yard scoring pass, and Herm Timmersjo's PAT cut the margin to 14-7 Whitewater at 11:30 in quarter two.

Ten plays and 65 yards later UW-W had the margin back up to 21-7.  Donovan found Coppage on a screen for 28 yards to take the ball to the one, and on the next play Coppage ran it in.  The score was Coppage's 33rd of the season and 54th of his career, adding to his school and Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference records.  Schebler made it 21-7 at 7:27.

As you would expect from the defending champion, MU came right back.  A 52 yard Rocco to Kyle Miller pass set up a Rocco to Wes Ryder two yard scoring pass.  Timmersjo's kick made it 21-14 Whitewater awith 4:33 left in the half.

Like a heavyweight fight UW-W got up off the canvas (turf).  Donovan completed all seven of his passes, the last one to Rusch for the score.  Schebler put the lead back at fourteen, 28-14 with 0:52 left in the half.  The score broke the school and WIAC records for touchdowns (84, was 83 in 2005) and points (625, was 617 in 2005).

At the half Whitewater's point total was already more than Mount Union had given up in a game, not just a half, was Whitewater's 31-21 Stagg Bowl win in 2007.  The Warhawks converted on 9-9 third downs in the half.  The Warhawks totaled 291 yards to 182 for the Purple Raiders.  Donovan hit 17-22 for 224 yards in the first two periods.  

"It was a combination of me wanting to play my best, the receivers making catches, the line playing great, and our coaches calling the right plays," Donovan said.

Mount Union's first possession of the second half began at their 23.  Rocco hit Cecil Shorts, who caught two scoring passes in last year's game, from 23 yards out at 9:59, with Timmersjo's kick again cutting the margin to one touchdown, 28-21.

Not only the scoring margin was closer after three quarters.  Whitewater's still led in total offense, but the difference was down to 369-329.  

On third play of the fourth quarter Mount Union's Alex Ferrara picked off a pass at the Whitewater 31.  Five plays later Rocco ran it in from five yards out and the extra point tied the game 28-28 with 12:08 left.

UW-W had not given up 28 points in any game this season, with a 58-21 win over UW-La Crosse November 14 the most previously.  The Warhawks had not yielded this many points since a 30-27 win over Willamette November 29, 2008 in a second round NCAA playoff win.

With the momentum seemingly turning UW-W senior defensive back Paul Wick (Franklin/Franklin) broke the trend with a fumble recovery at the MU 49.

"We didn't panic," UW-W senior linebacker Lane Olson (Racine/Horlick) said.  We had to make plays because the offense was so hot."

Whitewater did not move the ball, and on taking over Mount Union moved to Whitewater's 31, where Lane Olson (Racine/Horlick) made one of those plays, forcing a fumble that #Matt McCulloch# recovered for the Warhawks at the 28 to end the drive.

Both teams went three and out, with a sack by Olson forcing the Purple Raiders to punt.  

Whitewater's next possession began on the WW 42, and on the fifth play Coppage went 31 yards to put the Warhawks back on top at 1:17.

It was fitting that Jeff Schebler (Davenport, IA/Assumption), the all-time career kick scoring leader in NCAA (all divisions), ended the scoring with a 44 yard field goal with 0:26 left for the 38-28 win.

Mount Union totaled more yards than UW-W, 471-467, but the Warhawks limited the Purple Raiders to 88 yards rushing and a 2.8 average per carry.  Whitewater controlled the ball 33:52 to 26:08, and the Warhawk offensive line, which allowed just nine sacks coming in, did not allow a sack in the game.  Warhawk defenders totaled five sacks.

Coppage, who rushed 22 times for 111 yards, was named the Stagg Bowl Most Outstanding Player.  Donovan, in the process of setting the school record for passing accuracy (percentage) completed 26-40 for 323 yards.  Rusch caught eight passes for 109 yards. Senior linebacker Kyle Supianoski (Tama, IA/South) led both teams with 13 tackles, eight solo.  He added a sack and 1.5 tackles for a loss.  Olson contributed nine tackles (five solo), also with a sack and 1.5 tackles for a loss.

Rocco completed 23-39 for 383 yards to lead Mount Union.  Shorts was on the end of ten of those passes, totaling 185 yards.  Terrance Morring rushed 22 times for 88 yards for the Purple Raiders.  Linebacker Sam Kershaw topped his team with ten tackles, three solo.

For the first time in school history UW-Whitewater won 15 games.  The Warhawks have had just four undefeated and untied seasons since the school began playing football in 1889.  The 1894 team went 1-0, 6-0 in 1914. and 6-0 again in 1950.