Football team tunnel action photo
Michael McLoone

Football

No. 1 Warhawks Host UW-Stevens Point on Senior Day

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UW-Platteville Game Recap (Nov. 1)
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Military Appreciation Day Information
D3football.com
AFCA Division III Top 25
 
The top-ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team concludes its regular season home schedule Saturday against UW-Stevens Point in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest scheduled for 1 p.m. at Perkins Stadium.
 
The Warhawks (8-0 overall, 5-0 WIAC), slotted as the No. 1 team in the nation by both D3football.com and the American Football Coaches Association for the seventh consecutive week, will recognize the program's 11-member senior class approximately 20 minutes prior to kickoff.
 
Saturday's game also marks the annual Shriner's Day as well as Military Appreciation Day at Perkins Stadium. All current and former military personnel with a military ID will receive two complimentary tickets for admission to the game.
 
UW-Whitewater extended its Division III-leading winning streak to 25 games, the second-longest run in college football, with a 17-7 triumph at then-No. 16 UW-Platteville last Saturday.
 
The Warhawks tied the game at 7-7 late in the first half and took the lead for good on a 35-yard field goal by freshman kicker Will Meyer (Sheboygan Falls, Wis./Sheboygan Falls) in the third quarter. After extending its lead to two possessions early in the fourth, UW-Whitewater forced turnovers deep in its own territory on the Pioneers' last two possessions to hold the lead and emerge victorious.
 
The Warhawks lead the WIAC and rank 20th in the nation in scoring offense (41.4 yars per game). UW-Whitewater boasts the league's No. 1 rushing attack, averaging 221.4 yards per game, and the No. 2 passing offense with 251.8 yards per contest. The team also leads the conference and ranks second in the nation in turnover margin (+20) and is allowing the seventh-fewest sacks in NCAA Division III.
 
Senior quarterback Matt Behrendt (Westchester, IL/Nazareth Academy) leads the WIAC and ranks among the top 12 in the country in both completion percentage (69.4) and passing efficiency (174.5). He has compiled 1,692 yards, 19 touchdowns and just one interception heading into Saturday's affair.
 
Junior running back Dennis Moore (Elgin, IL/Elgin) leads the Warhawks with 77 carries for 491 yards (6.4 yards per carry) and two touchdowns. Juniors Nick Patterson (Sussex/Hamilton), Jordan Ratliffe (Milwaukee/Milwaukee Vincent) and senior Ryan Givens (Milwaukee/Milwaukee Riverside) also play a key role in the ground game. Patterson has 402 yards, including a unit-best 8.4 yards per carry, and a team-best six touchdowns. Ratliffe and Givens have three touchdowns apiece and have rushed for 390 and 279 yards, respectively.
 
Senior Justin Howard (West Bend/Homestead) and junior Joe Worth (Hartford/Hartford Union) look to lead the receiving corps this Saturday. Howard enters with 35 receptions for 462 yards and three touchdowns, while Worth has contributed 21 catches for 246 yards and two scores.
 
Tight ends Derric Junakin (Cudahy/Cudahy) and Logan Solano (Dousman/Kettle Moraine) have combined for four touchdowns in the team's last three games.
 
Defensively, UW-Whitewater remains No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 5.5 points per contest. The team is also fourth in rushing defense (63.3 ypg), fifth in total defense (217.1 ypg) and 11th in third-down percentage defense (26.5 percent).
 
Junior linebacker Justin Dischler (Milwaukee/Pius XI) leads the team with 46 tackles (27 solo) and ranks second in the conference with four forced fumbles. Junior defensive back Ryan Winske (Omro/Omro) is close behind with 43 tackles, and is second on the team with a pair of forced fumbles.
 
Senior Mykaell Bratchett (Milwaukee /Hope School) and junior Zach Franz (DeForest/DeForest Area) lead the defense up front. Bratchett and Franz are tied for fourth in the league with 4.5 sacks apiece, and enter Saturday's game with 20 and 21 tackles, respectively.
 
Senior defensive backs Zach Nellis (Waupaca/Waupaca) and Brady Grayvold (Norway, MI/Norway) lead the secondary. Nellis has 29 tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown. Grayvold has 28 stops and is tied for the conference lead with five interceptions, including one returned for a score. Senior Marcus McLin (Delavan/Delavan-Darien) has 20 tackles and a pair of fumbles recovered.
 
The special teams have been bolstered by its punt coverage. UW-Whitewater leads the nation in net punting with 39.15 yards per punt.
 
UW-Stevens Point (6-2, 3-2), which is currently receiving votes each of the two national polls, is coming off a 21-7 setback against UW-Oshkosh. The team ranks third in the conference in scoring offense (25.5 ppg) and fourth in scoring defense (20.6 ppg)
 
The Pointers are led offensively by quarterback Cody Nuernberg, running back DeJuan Wright and wide receiver Matt Sosinsky. Nuernberg has appeared in three games and has completed 21-of-46 passes for 208 yards and one touchdown.  Wright leads the team's rushing attack with 490 yards and four touchdowns, while Sosinsky enters Saturday's game with 51 receptions for 695 yards and five scores.
 
Four players enter Saturday's game with at least 50 tackles to lead the UW-Stevens Point defense. Defensive back Zach Vallafskey ranks among the top five in the conference with 66 stops, while fellow secondary member Deion Jones is tied for the league lead with five interceptions. Defensive lineman Aaron Karlen leads the nation in forced fumbles (5) and ranks fourth in sacks (8.5).
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Players Mentioned

Matt Behrendt

#16 Matt Behrendt

QB
6' 2"
Senior
Justin Dischler

#47 Justin Dischler

LB
6' 0"
Junior
Zach Franz

#98 Zach Franz

DL
6' 0"
Junior
Ryan Givens

#6 Ryan Givens

RB
5' 9"
Senior
Brady Grayvold

#36 Brady Grayvold

DB
5' 11"
Senior
Justin Howard

#11 Justin Howard

WR
5' 11"
Senior
Derric Junakin

#89 Derric Junakin

TE
6' 3"
Senior
Marcus McLin

#3 Marcus McLin

DB
5' 8"
Senior
Dennis Moore

#31 Dennis Moore

RB
5' 9"
Junior
Zach Nellis

#49 Zach Nellis

DB
6' 0"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Matt Behrendt

#16 Matt Behrendt

6' 2"
Senior
QB
Justin Dischler

#47 Justin Dischler

6' 0"
Junior
LB
Zach Franz

#98 Zach Franz

6' 0"
Junior
DL
Ryan Givens

#6 Ryan Givens

5' 9"
Senior
RB
Brady Grayvold

#36 Brady Grayvold

5' 11"
Senior
DB
Justin Howard

#11 Justin Howard

5' 11"
Senior
WR
Derric Junakin

#89 Derric Junakin

6' 3"
Senior
TE
Marcus McLin

#3 Marcus McLin

5' 8"
Senior
DB
Dennis Moore

#31 Dennis Moore

5' 9"
Junior
RB
Zach Nellis

#49 Zach Nellis

6' 0"
Senior
DB