The No. 2 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team competes in its final 2016 regular season contest Saturday as it visits Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponent UW-Stout. With a win, the Warhawks can clinch the WIAC championship outright.


Saturday's game can be heard live on KOOL 106.5 FM WKCH in Whitewater or online at 940wfaw.com. Fans can also watch the game live online and track live statistics online.

Last Saturday, UW-Whitewater (9-0 overall, 6-0 WIAC) wrapped up at least a share of the WIAC championship and secured its 11th trip to the NCAA Division III Playoffs in the last 12 years with a thrilling 27-20 overtime victory over UW-River Falls on Senior Day at Perkins Stadium. The Warhawks forced seven turnovers in the contest and tallied 17 unanswered points to tie a school record with their 30th straight home win.

UW-Whitewater remained at No. 2 in the American Football Coaches Association Division III Coaches Poll and moved to No. 3 in the D3football.com Top 25. The team garnered one first-place vote from D3football.com voters and two 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.

UW-Stout (3-6, 1-5) had the lead midway through the fourth quarter but surrendered a touchdown with 7:27 to play in a 35-28 loss at UW-Stevens Point, which finished with 456 yards passing and finished 4-of-4 on fourth down conversions. Jay Alston threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns, and Tony Blair collected 15 tackles to lead the defense.

SERIES

Saturday's game is the 60th meeting between the two teams. UW-Whitewater owns a 47-10-2 advantage in the all-time series and has won the last 14 meetings between the two teams, with the last UW-Stout win coming in 2001. Last season, the Warhawks tallied 42 first-half points en route to a 63-14 triumph over the Blue Devils at Perkins Stadium. Jordan Ratliffe (Milwaukee/Milwaukee Vincent) rushed for 217 yards and two touchdowns, and Chris Nelson (Twin Lakes/Wilmot Union) threw for 218 yards and four touchdowns. Paul Foster (Janesville/Craig) paced a balanced defense with five tackles.

NEXT UP

UW-Whitewater will compete in the first round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 19. Location and time will be announced this Sunday at 5 p.m. in the NCAA Selection Show on NCAA.com.

NOTABLE

With a victory this Saturday at UW-Stout, UW-Whitewater can clinch its 18th unbeaten regular season in program history. The Warhawks have seven perfect regular seasons since 2005, with the most recent coming in 2014. Including postseason games, the program has had five undefeated seasons since 2009, all of which resulted in national titles (2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014).


To view the complete UW-Whitewater football game notes, click here.