This Week's Game
The Warhawks travel to UW-River Falls for a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 8 at Ramer Field in River Falls, Wisconsin.

Last Year
UW-W won 63-14 in River Falls.  The Warhawks led just 7-0 at the end of the first quarter, then increased the margin to 28-7 at the half and 42-7 after three.  Whitewater amassed 30 first downs, 413 yards rushing (7.2 per attempt), and 599 yards of total offense.  UW-W went 11-11 passing.  The Falcons averaged 2.8 yards on 40 rushing attempts and went 8-21 with one interception in the passing game.  Both teams lost two fumbles.  Antwan Anderson (Madison/Madison Memorial) rushed for a career high 240 yards on 38 carries, with Michael Pirtle (Milwaukee/Bradley Tech) adding 147 on 15 rushes to lead UW-W.  Matt Blanchard (Lake Zurich, IL/Lake Zurich) completed all ten of his pass attempts, three of them for touchdowns to Aaron Rusch (Hartford/Hartford).  The Falcon offense was led by Emmanuel Udeh's 10 carries for 38 yards.  Former Warhawk Taylor Edwards carried the ball 15 times for 41 yards.  UW-RF DB's Matt Ainsworth and Alex Adams led both teams with 12 tackles (6 solo) apiece.

The Series
UW-Whitewater's record all-time against UW-River Falls: 30-18-3
The current streak: UW-W has won the last 9 games
When it started: 1914, UW-Whitewater defeated UW-River Falls 13-0
Most points scored by UW-W: 63 in 2010
Most points scored by UW-RF: 52 in 1998
Most points combined: 80 (52-28 in 1998)
Shutouts by UW-W: 3
Shutouts by UW-RF: 3
Longest win streak by UW-W: 9 (2002 through present)
Longest win streak by UW-RF: 4 (1998 through 2001)
Fewest points, combined: 7 (7-0 RF in 1915)

Purple Streak
UW-Whitewater has maintained the longest win streak in college football in any division (FBS, FCS, NCAA II, NAIA). The Warhawks have won 34 consecutive games.  They also have streaks of 16 in a row on the road, 18 straight at Perkins Stadium, 19 consecutive non-conference contests, 18 WIAC games, and 10 in the NCAA III playoffs.

In The Polls
UW-Whitewater continues to be ranked number one in both the D3football.com and American Football Coaches Association polls this week. UW-River Falls is not ranked.

The Coaches
Whitewater's Lance Leipold has compiled a four year record of 61-3, with a record of 23-1 in the WIAC.  In his first head coaching opportunity, Leipold has earned national Division III coach of the year honors three out of the four years and was named WIAC Football Coach of the Year the last two.  Matt Walker is in his first season at UW-RF.  So far this season he is 0-4 overall and a 0-2 record in the WIAC.  Walker was the head coach at DePauw University 2006-2009, where he went 22-8.  He spent the 2010 season as an assistant coach at Butler University. 

UW-River Falls Notes
The Falcons are 0-4 overall and 0-2 in the WIAC after losing last week at UW-Oshkosh 42-7.  The team is currently third in the WIAC in rushing averaging 176.5 yards a game, and running back Taylor Edwards is second in the conference with 119.5 yards a game and 5.0 yards per carry.  The Falcons also have two receivers, Nathan Brandt and John Wahlstrom, tied for second in the WIAC for receptions with 18.  Brandt is also fourth in the conference in receiving with 70.8 yards per game with three touchdowns.  The early schedule hasn't been kind to a team getting used to a new coach, with losses to the University of Saint Thomas (ranked third), Trine University (others receiving votes and a UW-W playoff opponent last year), UW-Eau Claire (others receiving votes) and UW-Oshkosh (3-1).  Edwards compiled his 13th career 100+ game last week, going 24-117.  UW-RF trailed the Titans just 14-7, but Oshkosh scored the final 28 points in the game.  They lead the league in punt returns (averaging 23.5 yards on four returns), and the Falcon defense is third in first downs allowed and fourth in opponents' third down conversion and fourth down conversion.  Matt Ainsworth is among a group of players tied for the WIAC lead with two interceptions, and Jeff Mills and Brad Beeskow are both among the top ten in kickoff returns.  Junior placekicker Chad Blair is 4-4 on field goal tries.  Linebacker Lincoln Bjorklund, the leading tackler the last two games, is also number one on the season for UW-RF. 

UW-Whitewater Notes
The Warhawks are 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the WIAC after a 34-14 win at home over UW-Platteville.  The team is first in the conference in both scoring offense and scoring defense averaging 39.8 and 8.8 points per game respectively.  Whitewater is also averaging 475.2 yards of total offense per game, while only allowing 222.8 yards per game on defense, both totals are first in the WIAC.  The Warhawks also lead the WIAC in rushing offense, rushing defense, turnover margin, pass efficiency defense, opponent first downs, opponent third down conversion, sacks allowed, fewest penalties and time of possession.

Running back Levell Coppage (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park) leads the conference in rushing with 512 total yards, 6.1 yards per carry, and seven touchdowns.  Backfield mate Desmin Ward (Milwaukee/Hamilton) is averaging 5.5 yards per carry with five TD's.  Coppage became just the second back in WIAC history to rush for over 6,000 yards after gaining 168 on 30 carries against Platteville.  Quarterback Matt Blanchard (Lake Zurich, IL/Lake Zurich) is now third in the WIAC in passing efficiency with 829 yards, a 69.5 completion percentage as well as six touchdowns with only one interception. The Warhawks also have the top three scorers in the WIAC with kicker Eric Kindler (Germantown/Germantown) at 45 points, and running backs Coppage and Ward at 42 and 30 points respectively.  Kindler is 9-11 on field goals, with his only misses coming from 49 and 50 yards. 

Linebacker Greg Arnold (Big Bend/Mukwonago) led UW-W with 12 tackles (6 solo) in the win over Platteville, the first time UW-W has had a player reach double figures since Lane Olsen had 11.5 in the second round playoff win over Trine last year (a six game gap).  Linemen Jake Keeser (Fort Atkinson/Fort Atkinson) and Zack Cook (Necedah/Necedah) are both among the top ten in the league in sacks, with DB's Jesse Hamilton (Racine/Park) and Jared Kiesow (Horicon/Horicon) on the list for fumbles forced. 

UW-Whitewater
Passing: Matt Blanchard (Lake Zurich, IL/Lake Zurich) (Lake Zurich, IL/Lake Zurich) 58-83, .699, 209.0/game, 6 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Levell Coppage (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park) (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park) 84-527, 128.0/game, 6.1/att, 7 TD
Receiving: Tyler Huber (North Prairie/Mukwonago) (Mukwonago/North Prairie) 16-283, 70.8/game, 17.7/att, 3 TD
Field Goals: Eric Kindler (Germantown/Germantown) (Germantown/Germantown) 9-11
Punting: Kris Rosholt (Reedsburg/Reedsburg) (Reedsburg/Reedsburg) 14-521, 37.2 avg
Defense: Greg Arnold (Big Bend/Mukwonago) (Big Bend/Mukwonago) 24 tackles, 2 tackles for loss;
        Kyle Wismer (Spring Grove, IL/Richmond-Burton) (Spring Grove, IL/Richmond-Burton) 18 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 passes broken up, 2 defended
UW-River Falls
Passing: B.J. Letourneau 51-91, .560, 128.7/game, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Taylor Edwards 95-496, 119.5/game, 5.0/att, 2 TD
Receiving: Nathan Brandt 18-281, 70.2/game, 15.6/att, 3 TD
Field Goals: Chad Blair 4-4
Punting: Will Jensen 30-1,023, 34.1 avg
Defense: Lincoln Bjorklund 27 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss;
        Nate Smits 24 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 pass broken up, 1 fumble forced

By the Numbers

Special Note
This week's matchup will be UW-River Falls Homecoming/Hall of Fame game.  UW-Whitewater will celebrate its Homecoming/Hall of Fame game October 29 against UW-Stevens Point.

What's Coming Up
The Warhawks will host UW-Stout at Perkins Stadium in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup Friday, October 14 at 7:00 pm. A fireworks display will be held following the game. Tickets for UW-W home games are sold at the University Center ticket office Monday-Friday during normal business hours. Tickets are also sold at Perkins Stadium on game day. Call 262-472-2222 for ticket information.

For More Info
Tom Fick, UW-W sports information: 262-472-1147 or fickt@uww.edu