UW-Whitewater defeated UW-La Crosse 24-0 Saturday afternoon in Perkins Stadium in Whitewater, Wisconsin. The win ran UW-W's streak to 25 games, the longest in the NCAA (any division), 18 in a row in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, 20 straight in Perkins Stadium, and seven consecutive against UW-La Crosse. UW-W, ranked first in both national Division III polls, will await word on the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III championship playoffs late Sunday. The Warhawks, the defending NCAA III champions, are expected to host a first round game Saturday, November 20. The field will be announced late Sunday.
Box Score
Photo Gallery (Courtesy of Tim Gumz, photos available for sale)
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UW-W's first scoring drive began with the Warhawk defense stopping La Crosse on a fourth and three at the Whitewater 35. Whitewater used seven plays, including a 29 yard scoring pass from Matt Blanchard (Lake Zurich, IL/Lake Zurich) to Adam Brandes (Burlington/Catholic Central) with 4:12 left in the first quarter.
The only other scoring of the first half came on a 21 yard field goal by Eric Kindler (Germantown/Germantown) to put UW-W up 10-0 at the half.
Whitewater added to its margin with a touchdown on its first possession of the third quarter, covering 80 yards in five plays. Levell Coppage (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park) accounted for 17 with a run, Blanchard connected with Brandes for 21, and Blanchard hit Aaron Rusch (Hartford/Hartford) from 32 yards out to make it 17-0 at 12:24 of the third.
After a three and out by La Crosse, Whitewater mounted its final scoring drive of the game. UW-W used 13 plays and 6:39 on the clock to go 69 yards. Coppage ran it in from two yards out, adding to his UW-W and WIAC record with his 71 career rushing touchdown.
Whitewater rushed for 221 yards on 49 carries (4.5 per carry). Coppage, fifteenth in Division III rushing, gained 114 on 23 carries. The Warhawk defense limited La Crosse to 7 yards of rushing on 19 attempts. Whitewater also passed for 196 yards, with Blanchard, the passing efficiency leader in the WIAC, hitting 16-23. Eagle QB Nick Anker was 15-33 for 144 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. Anker was also sacked four times.
UW-L defensive back Dustin Drath topped both teams with 12 tackles, adding 1.5 tackles for a loss. Eagle linebacker Jim Litscher was also in double figures with ten tackles, also adding 1.5 for a loss. Warhawk freshman defensive lineman Louissant Minett was credited with 2.5 quarterback sacks (17 yards) and 2.5 tackles for a loss (17).
UW-W's Blanchard ended his school record string of pass attempts without an interception, with his second attempt of the game picked off by Jake Neckstroth, ending the streak at 213. Rusch, already the school career record holder for receptions and yards, moved up in the WIAC record book Saturday. Now with 256 receptions, he moved in to third place on the league's career list past Theo Blanco of UW-Stevens Point (1985-87). He also edged into fourth place in career receiving yards, 3,393, past Scott Fredrickson of UW-Stout (1986-89). Adam Brandes (Burlington/Catholic Central) moved past Neil Mrkvicka (2004-2007) in the school career list for fifth place in career yards receiving with 2,150 and his one TD Saturday is the 17th of his career, tied for tenth in the Warhawk record book.
The NCAA playoff information will be announced on www.uwwsports.com late Sunday.
