The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team took advantage of several big plays offensively while turning in another strong defensive performance Friday night to defeat UW-La Crosse 21-14 in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest under a steady rainfall at Perkins Stadium.
 
The Warhawks (3-3 overall, 2-1 WIAC) overcame 17 penalties for 132 yards with a defense that held the conference's No. 1 passing offense to 222 yards on 54 attempts and an offense that recorded three plays of 40-plus yards that set up or resulted in touchdowns.
 
Junior running back Drew Patterson (Sussex, Wis./Hamilton) posted his third straight 100-plus yard rushing performance, totaling 32 carries for 221 yards and three touchdowns, including a 93-yarder, the program's longest run since 2006 (Justin Beaver, 97 yards), that proved to be the game-winning score.
 
Sophomore linebacker Jacob Erbs (Reedsburg, Wis./Reedsburg) collected a team-high 10 tackles, including two for a loss, to lead the defense. Junior defensive lineman Harry Henschler (Janesville, Wis./Craig) enjoyed another strong performance, finishing with nine tackles, including four for a loss and three sacks to bring his season total to 9.5.
 
Junior linebacker Bryce Leszczynski (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) registered eight tackles, and junior defensive lineman David O'Gorman (Watertown, Wis./Watertown) recorded six stops, including 1.5 for a loss.
 
On the game's first drive, the Eagles (5-1, 2-1), who entered the game ranked No. 24 in the nation by the American Football Coaches Association, drove into UW-Whitewater territory, but was stopped on fourth down by the UW-Whitewater defense.
 
Later in the first quarter, Patterson started a drive with a 26-yard run down near midfield. Three plays later, junior quarterback Cole Wilber (Dana Point, Calif./Dana Hills) hit senior Marcus Hudson (Delavan, Wis./Delavan-Darien), who ran past his defender as the ball was in the air, for a 45-yard strike down the far sideline.
 
On the next play, Patterson drove to the left side for a four-yard touchdown with 5:26 on the clock.
 
UW-La Crosse took advantage of a UW-Whitewater turnover midway through the second quarter to tie the game at 7-7 with 2:51 to play in the first half.
 
The Warhawks took the lead for good early in the third quarter. On the first play of the drive, junior wide receiver Jarrod Ware (Bradley, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) took a reverse around right end for 53 yards, the team's longest run of the season to that point. Patterson plowed over the left side for his second score of the game to make it 14-7 with 10:31 remaining in the period.
 
UW-Whitewater took its seven-point lead into the fourth quarter.
 
After junior defensive back Bailey Breunig (Prairie du Sac, Wis./Sauk Prairie) posted a sack on third down to force a punt, the Warhawks were flagged for holding on the return and took over at their own 7-yard line.
 
On the first play from scrimmage, Patterson ran toward the left side, made several cutbacks and weaved his way down the field for a 93-yard touchdown run that put UW-Whitewater ahead by two touchdowns with 9:46 to go in the game.
 
The two teams exchanged punts before the Eagles cut into their deficit on a touchdown with 2:11 to play.
 
Junior wide receiver Canton Larson (Oconomowoc, Wis./Oconomowoc) recovered the onside kick, but the Warhawks were forced to punt it away and give the ball back to UW-La Crosse with 1:00 to play.
 
The Warhawks turned the Eagles over on downs seven plays into the next drive, and ran out the clock to seal their second straight win over a nationally-ranked opponent.
 
UW-Whitewater returns to the road next Saturday, Oct. 21, for a game at UW-River Falls. Kickoff is slated for 12 p.m.