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The No. 2 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team secured at least a share of the program's 35th Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship Saturday with a 27-20 triumph in overtime against UW-River Falls at Perkins Stadium.
 
With the win, the Warhawks (9-0 overall, 6-0 WIAC) also secured their 11th bid to the NCAA Division III Playoffs in the last 12 years and extended their home winning streak to a school record-tying 30 games.
 
Senior quarterback Chris Nelson (Twin Lakes/Wilmot Union) ran in for a six-yard touchdown on UW-Whitewater's first drive of overtime and accounted for all 25 yards on the drive on running plays.
 
The Falcons (3-6, 2-4) had first-and-goal from the Warhawk 9-yard line on the ensuing possession, but on second down, UW-Whitewater forced a fumble and junior linebacker Matt Seitz (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) recovered to secure the victory.
 
The overtime game was the Warhawks' first since 2002.
 
Freshman running back Cam Maly (Middleton, Wis./Middleton) posted career highs in carries (20) and rushing yards (92) and had a touchdown. Nelson tallied 12 carries for 72 yards and two scores.
 
Junior wide receiver Marcus Hudson (Delavan, Wis./Delavan-Darien) recorded three receptions for 83 yards to lead the passing attack.
 
Senior linebacker Paul Foster (Janesville/Craig) led the defense with eight tackles, while Seitz, senior defensive backs Bennett Young (Madison/Edgewood) and Vince Mason (Green Bay, Wis./Green Bay Southwest) each posted seven stops. Senior defensive back Colin Buck (Greendale, Wis./Franklin) registered three tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble.
 
After a scoreless first quarter, UW-Whitewater struck first on a 28-yard field goal by junior kicker Will Meyer (Sheboygan Falls, Wis./Sheboygan Falls). The score was set up by consecutive completions from sophomore quarterback Cole Wilber (Dana Point, Calif./Dana Hills) to Hudson for 26 and 43 yards, respectively.
 
UW-River Falls responded with touchdowns on back-to-back possessions to take a 12-3 advantage, the Warhawks' largest deficit of the season to date. Buck helped thwart a drive late in the second quarter with his first pick of the game.
 
In the third, senior defensive lineman Brandon Tamsett (Waterford/Waterford-Union) sacked quarterback Sawyer Moon, and junior defensive lineman Ben Threloff (Chicago, IL/St. Rita of Cascia) recovered to give UW-Whitewater the ball at the Falcons' 41-yard line.
 
Three plays later, Maly ran in from 23 yards out to cut the Warhawk deficit to 12-10 with 11:57 remaining in the quarter.
 
After UW-River Falls scored and was successful on a 2-point conversion to make it 20-10, UW-Whitewater punted on its next series, but Buck forced a fumble on the punt return that was recovered by senior linebacker Jordan Strasburg (Fort Atkinson/Fort Atkinson) at the Falcons' 16-yard line.
 
Three plays into the next drive, Nelson snuck in from one yard out to make it 20-17 with 5:20 on the clock in the third quarter.
 
Meyer tied the game on a 33-yard field goal just nine seconds into the fourth quarter to complete a 10-play, 51-yard drive.
 
Buck and Mason helped preserve the tie with interceptions in the fourth quarter and help send the game to overtime.
 
Prior to the contest, UW-Whitewater's 19 seniors were recognized on the field. Over the last four years, the team has amassed a 51-2 record, including a perfect 28-0 mark at Perkins Stadium, and has captured three WIAC titles, two national championships and one trip to the NCAA semifinals.
 
The Warhawks look to claim the WIAC title outright next Saturday, Nov. 12, at UW-Stout. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. in Menomomie.