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UW-Whitewater Football Playoff Central
The No. 1/2 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team tallied 31 first-half points, including 24 in the second quarter, on Saturday en route to a 45-27 triumph over Lakeland in the first round of the NCAA Division III Football Championships at Perkins Stadium.
The Warhawks (11-0 overall) extended their home winning streak to a school-record 31 games and advanced to the second round, where they'll face 17th-ranked Wittenberg (Ohio), a 33-30 first-round winner in four overtimes at No. 15 Thomas More (Ky.), next Saturday at noon at a location to be determined.
UW-Whitewater finished with 263 yards rushing and 485 total yards while holding the Muskies (7-4) to 27 yards on the ground.
The Warhawks held the ball for more than 37 minutes of the contest and converted 8-of-16 on third down.
Freshman running back
Josh Ringelberg (Greendale, Wis./Greendale) totaled 27 carries for 142 yards and three touchdowns, all career highs. Senior quarterback
Chris Nelson (Twin Lakes/Wilmot Union) completed 8-of-15 passes for 214 yards and three scores.
Junior wide receiver
Marcus Hudson (Delavan, Wis./Delavan-Darien) posted four receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown, and junior tight end
Tony Gumina (Sussex, Wis./Hamilton) registered two receptions for a career-high 89 yards and one score.
Sophomore linebacker
Bryce Leszczynski (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) recorded a team-best eight tackles, including three for a loss. Senior defensive lineman
Yuri Pogosyan (Mequon/Homestead) was one of four players with two tackles for a loss, both on sacks.
UW-Whitewater struck first late in the opening period, taking advantage of a bad snap on a Lakeland punt. Ringelberg carried six times on the drive and converted two third downs, including his 3-yard scoring run on third and goal to give the team a 7-0 advantage with 4:09 remaining.
Sophomore
Canton Larson (Oconomowoc, Wis./Oconomowoc) took a reverse 25 yards on the final play of the quarter, and 15 more yards were added to the end of the run on a Lakeland personal foul. Four plays later, Ringelberg found the end zone from eight yards out to make it 14-0 with 12:50 to play in the second.
After a short punt later in the quarter, Nelson hit sophomore wide receiver
Mitchell Dess (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) for a 21-yard score to make it a three-touchdown contest with 5:58 left in the half.
On the Warhawks' next possession, Nelson found Gumina for a 49-yard touchdown for a 28-0 lead with 4:01 on the clock.
After a Muskie 93-yard scoring play, junior kicker
Will Meyer (Sheboygan Falls, Wis./Sheboygan Falls) knocked in a 41-yard field goal to give UW-Whitewater a 31-7 advantage heading into halftime.
With 9:08 left in the third quarter, Nelson tossed a shovel pass to Hudson for an 11-yard score to make it 38-7.
Following a Lakeland touchdown, Ringelberg found the end zone from three yards with 2:50 left in the frame. The play was set up by a 33-yard pass from Nelson to sophomore wide receiver
Canton Larson (Oconomowoc, Wis./Oconomowoc) two plays earlier.
The Muskies tacked on two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to account for the final margin.
Check back Sunday for the latest on next week's game location.
