The No. 2 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater remained unbeaten and in first place in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Saturday with a convincing 48-6 victory at UW-Eau Claire.
 
The Warhawks (8-0 overall, 5-0 WIAC) finished with 414 yards of total offense and tallied 16 tackles for a loss, including five sacks, and three turnovers defensively.
 
Junior running back Drew Patterson (Sussex, Wis./Hamilton) posted four touchdowns, including three rushing scores in the first half and one receiving touchdown in the third quarter. He now has 17 for the season, including 14 rushing.
 
Sophomore quarterback Cole Wilber (Dana Point, Calif./Dana Hills) finished 12-of-19 passing with 175 yards and a touchdown, while senior quarterback Chris Nelson (Twin Lakes/Wilmot Union) tallied 93 yards and a score.
 
Senior wide receiver Marcus Hudson (Delavan, Wis./Delavan-Darien) posted eight receptions for 114 yards and added a 73-yard rushing touchdown early in the third quarter.
 
Sophomore defensive lineman Cal Durni (Brookfield, Wis./East) tallied five tackles, including three for a loss and two sacks, and sophomore linebacker Bryce Leszczynski (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) registered five stops, including one for a loss, and one interception.
 
UW-Whitewater recovered a bad punt snap by the Blugolds (2-6, 1-4) midway through the first quarter, and junior kicker Will Meyer (Sheboygan Falls, Wis./Sheboygan Falls) converted a 23-yard field goal to give the Warhawks the lead with 7:01 on the clock.
 
After Leszczynski's interception and 19-yard return, Patterson took a handoff on second-and-9 and ran 10 yards to the end zone to make it 10-0 with 5:21 left in the quarter.
 
After UW-Eau Claire turned the ball over on downs, UW-Whitewater cashed in again with a nine-play, 58-yard drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown by Patterson with 13:38 left on the second quarter. Sophomore wide receiver Manny Jones (Kenosha, Wis./Indian Trail) helped set up the play with a 15-yard catch from Wilber on third and long.
 
Following another Blugold turnover on downs, the Warhawks converted a pair of fourth downs on their ensuing drive, and Patterson posted his third touchdown of the day from five yards out to increase the advantage to 24-0 with 4:08 remaining.
 
UW-Whitewater added a 13-play, 78-yard drive later in the quarter as Meyer converted a 32-yard field goal with three seconds to go in the half to make it 27-6.
 
On the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter, Hudson sprinted around left end and up the sideline on a handoff for a 73-yard touchdown to give the Warhawks a 34-6 advantage with 14:41 left.
 
After a UW-Eau Claire punt, Wilber hit Dess for a 52-yard gain and completed the drive with a 21-yard strike to Patterson to make it 41-6 with 11:06 left in the third.
 
Sophomore defensive lineman David O'Gorman (Watertown, Wis./Watertown) set up UW-Whitewater's next scoring drive with an interception and return to the Blugolds' 12-yard line. Nelson hit junior tight end Tony Gumina (Sussex, Wis./Hamilton) for a 4-yard score with 1:06 to play in the quarter.
 
The Warhawks can clinch at least a share of the WIAC championship with a win next Saturday at home against UW-River Falls. Kickoff on Senior Day, Shriners Day and Military Appreciation Day at Perkins Stadium is scheduled for 2 p.m.