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UW-Whitewater Football Playoff Central
 
The No. 5 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team scored all of its points in the first half and made four fourth-down stops defensively in the second Saturday to defeat sixth-ranked Wheaton (Ill.) 31-17 in the second round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs at McCully Stadium in Wheaton, Ill.
 
With the win, the Warhawks (11-1 overall) improved to 8-0 all time on the road in the NCAA Division III Playoffs and advance to next Saturday's national quarterfinal, where they'll take on Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference rival and third-ranked UW-Oshkosh. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. in Oshkosh.
 
UW-Whitewater also improved its record in the playoffs since 2005 to 43-3, with all three losses coming in the Stagg Bowl (national championship game).
 
UW-Whitewater scored all 31 of its points in the first half, including a 24-point second quarter, and held the Thunder (11-1) to just one fourth-quarter field goal after halftime.
 
Senior running back Jordan Ratliffe (Milwaukee/Milwaukee Vincent) rushed a career-high 38 times for 192 yards and three touchdowns, his second career three-touchdown postseason performance (vs. Macalester, Nov. 22, 2015).
 
Junior quarterback Chris Nelson (Twin Lakes/Wilmot Union) completed 16-of-23 passes for 222 yards and one touchdown. Senior wide receiver Joe Worth (Hartford/Hartford Union) compiled four receptions for a career-high 92 yards, including two receptions to help set up scores, and junior wide receiver Marcus Hudson (Delavan, Wis./Delavan-Darien) collected five receptions for 68 yards and a score.
 
Junior defensive back Vince Mason (Green Bay, Wis./Green Bay Southwest) posted a career-best 13 tackles to lead the defense. Senior defensive back Ryan Winske (Omro/Omro) and junior linebacker Paul Foster (Janesville/Craig) conbributed nine stops apiece, while senior defensive lineman Zach Franz (DeForest/DeForest Area) totaled a career-high eight tackles.
 
After Wheaton took a 7-0 advantage on its first offensive drive of the game, UW-Whitewater answered with a seven-play, 66-yard drive for a score. Two plays after a 39-yard pass from Nelson to Worth, Ratliffe bounced a run to the left side and dove inside the pile-on for a four-yard touchdown with 3:49 on the clock.
 
Ratliffe tallied again on the Warhawks' next drive, completing a 10-play, 62-yard drive with a five-yard plunge at the 12:37 mark of the second quarter to give the team a 14-7 advantage.
 
An interception by senior linebacker Justin Dischler (Milwaukee/Pius XI) stymied a drive by the Thunder, but UW-Whitewater was forced to punt on the ensuing drive.
 
Following a punt by Wheaton, Worth set the Warhawks up again with first and goal on a 32-yard catch over the middle. Three players later, Ratliffe scampered around left end for a five-yard touchdown on third and goal to give UW-Whitewater a two-touchdown lead with 4:32 remaining in the period.
 
After the Thunder cut the Warhawks' lead to a touchdown, Nelson hit Hudson for a 21-yard scoring strike with 1:04 on the clock to make it 28-14.
 
Junior tight end Jordan Gruettner (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) blocked his second punt of the year on Wheaton's attempt following a three-and-out, and junior kicker Lake Bachar (Wheaton, IL/Wheaton North) knocked through a 46-yard field goal, the longest of his career, to give UW-Whitewater a 31-14 advantage as time expired in the first half.
 
The two teams exchanged turnovers on downs to star the third quarter, and the Warhawks held their 31-14 lead heading into the fourth.
 
UW-Whitewater held Wheaton again on fourth down, this time from the Warhawks' 32-yard line, to maintain the 17-point advantage.
 
The Thunder cut its deficit to two possessions with a field goal at the 7:42 mark in the fourth, but junior defensive lineman John Flood (Spring Grove, IL/Richmond-Burton Community) posted a sack on fourth down to give UW-Whitewater the ball back with 4:02 to play.
 
UW-Oshkosh handed the Warhawks their lone loss of the season, 10-7 on Oct. 10 in Oshkosh, ending UW-Whitewater's college football leading win streak at 36 games.