Related Links:Game Notes (PDF)
Live StatsLive Audio (courtesy of WKCH – Kool 106.5 FM)
Live Video (courtesy of UWW-TV)
UW-Stevens Point Football Web PageUW-Platteville Game Recap (Nov. 1)
Wally & Rod's Warhawk Raffle and Public Auction – Nov. 8, 6:30 p.m.Military Appreciation Day InformationD3football.comAFCA Division III Top 25Â
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.
Â
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.
Â
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.
Â
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.
Â
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.
Â
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.
Â
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.
Â
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.
Â
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.
Â
Tight ends
Derric Junakin (Cudahy/Cudahy) and
Logan Solano (Dousman/Kettle Moraine) have combined for four touchdowns in the team's last three games.
Â
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).
Â
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.
Â
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.
Â
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.
Â
The special teams have been bolstered by its punt coverage. UW-Whitewater leads the nation in net punting with 39.15 yards per punt.
Â
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)
Â
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.
Â
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).