The No. 1 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team opens play in the NCAA Division III Playoffs this Saturday at 12 p.m. as it takes on Lakeland University, an automatic qualifier out of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, in a first-round contest at Perkins Stadium.


Saturday's game can be watched live on UWW-TV, which is found on channel 100 on campus, channel 989 for Charter Digital customers in southern Wisconsin or online. The contest can be heard live on KOOL 106.5 FM WKCH in the Whitewater area or online at 940wfaw.com. Fans can also track live statistics.


Tickets for Saturday's game are $11 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens, and can be purchased at the ticket window near the front entrance of the stadium starting at 10 a.m.

One week after securing the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's automatic bid to the postseason, the Warhawks (10-0) claimed the conference title outright with a 34-16 victory at UW-Stout last Saturday. UW-Whitewater forced four turnovers and scored 24 unanswered points over the final 24 minutes of regulation.

UW-Whitewater moved up one spot in both polls, ascending to No. 1 in the American Football Coaches Association Division III Coaches Poll and No. 2 in the D3football.com Top 25. The team garnered five first-place votes from D3football.com voters and 24 from the AFCA. The Warhawks were ranked second in Lindy's Sports Division III Preseason Top 25 and third in both The Sporting News' preseason national rankings and the D3football.com Preseason Top 25.

Lakeland (7-3) clinched the NACC's automatic bid last Saturday with a 52-30 triumph at Rockford (Ill.). The Muskies scored 50 of their points in the first half, including 34 in the second quarter, and finished with 464 yards of total offense, including 324 through the air. Quarterback Michael Whitley finished 19-of-23 passing for 318 yards and four tochdowns to lead the Lakeland offense.

SERIES

Saturday's game is the eighth meeting between the two teams. UW-Whitewater owns a 7-0 advantage in the all-time series, including a 70-7 victory in the most recent game on Nov. 21, 2009, in an NCAA  Playoffs first round contest at Perkins Stadium. After the Warhawks scored on their first play from scrimmage, the Muskies marched 78 yards in 11 plays to tie the game at 7-7 midway through the first quarter. From there, UW-Whitewater scored 63 unanswered points and finished the contest with 353 yards rushing and seven rushing touchdowns.

NEXT UP

The winner of Saturday's game will move on to the second round to face the winner of No. 17 Wittenberg (Ohio) at No. 15 Thomas More (Ky.). Game time and location will be announced following the conclusion of the first round games.

NOTABLE

After falling in their first three home postseason games (1988, 1990, 1997), the Warhawks have won 31 consecutive NCAA Division III Playoffs contests at Perkins Stadium, including last season's 48-0 victory over St. Norbert in the first round.


To view the entire UW-Whitewater game notes package, click here.