UW-Whitewater, ranked second in the NCAA Division III preseason polls, opened the 2009 season with a 38-3 win at Dickinson State University at the Badlands Activity Center in Dickinson, North Dakota Saturday afternoon.

box score

Both teams could throw out the first and third periods, when no one scored, and shorten the game to thirty minutes.  

UW-W's All-American kicker Jeff Schebler (Davenport, IA/Assumption) opened the scoring with a 23 yard field goal to end a fourteen play drive early in the second quarter.  The Warhawks added their first TD of the season, ending a seven play, seventy-nine yard mark with a twenty-six yard pass from Jeff Donovan (Wauwatosa/East) to Jordan Wells (Elgin, IL/Elgin).  The first half scoring ended with All-American tailback Levell Coppage (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park) going the final yard to make it 17-0 at intermission.

After a scoreless third period, Donovan connected with Aaron Rusch (Hartford/Hartford) for an eight yard score, followed by a one yard TD by Jake Taylor (Brookfield/Central) and seven yard run by Matt Blanchard (Lake Zurich, IL/Lake Zurich), the first collegiate touchdown for both.

With UW-W leading 38-0, Dickinson got a 28 yard field goal from Cole Zamira to avert the shutout.

Donovan went 23-32 for 349 yards, the two touchdowns and no interceptions for the Warhawks.  Wide receiver Aaron Rusch (Hartford/Hartford) caught eight passes, giving him 134 for his career and sixth place on the UW-W career list.  Next on the list is tight end Steve Tenhagen with 145 receptions from 1998-2001. Kyle Heller (Appleton/West) led the defense wwith eight tackles, five of them solo and a quarterback sack.

UW-W is 1-0 and DSU is 0-2.

Whitewater will open the home schedule next week, hosting Midland Lutheran College at 12:00 in Perkins Stadium.  Tickets are available at the University Center ticket office during business hours Monday-Friday, or at Perkins Stadium on game day.