The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team kicks off its 2019 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference slate this Saturday, Oct. 5, against UW-Eau Claire at 2 p.m. at Perkins Stadium. Saturday's game is part of UW-Whitewater's annual Family Fest, and the Eddie Butts Band continues the 2019 Warhawk Concert Series starting at 12 p.m. across the street from Perkins Stadium.

Saturday's game can be watched live on UWW-TV on channel 100.1 on campus and Spectrum channel 989 in the Whitewater area, or online. It can also be heard live on KOOL 106.5 FM WKCH in the Whitewater area or online at 940wfaw.com. Fans can track live statistics here.

The Warhawks scored 14 second-half points, including the go-ahead touchdown with 5:35 remaining in the third quarter, on their way to a 28-20 victory at NAIA No. 5 St. Xavier (Ill.) in their non-conference finale. UW-Whitewater was held to 76 rushing yards, its lowest output since Sept. 2, 2017, but held the ball for more than 33 minutes and limited the Cougars to 3-of-15 on third down.

The Warhawks remained at No. 3 in the D3football.com Top 25, earning 565 points from pollsters, and at No. 3 in the American Football Coaches Association Division III Coaches Poll, garnering 1,205 points. UW-Whitewater trails only No. 1 Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) and No. 2 Mount Union (Ohio) in both polls. The Warhawks were ranked fourth by Lindy's, Street & Smith and D3football.com entering the new season. 

UW-Eau Claire, which was picked to finish seventh in the WIAC in a preseason poll, knocked off then-No. 6 St. Thomas (Minn.) by a 21-19 score last Saturday in Eau Claire. The Blugolds held off a fourth-quarter rally by the Tommies, stopping a potential game-tying two-point conversion with seven seconds left in the contest. UW-Eau Claire was out-gained 479-205 in total yards, but forced four turnovers and held UST to 1-of-7 on fourth-down conversions.

SERIES

UW-Whitewater leads the all-time series against UW-Eau Claire 48-22, and has claimed each of the last 17 meetings. Last season, the Warhawks out-gained the Blugolds 501-164 in total yards and forced UW-Eau Claire to punt 10 times in a 45-0 victory on Oct. 13, 2018, in Eau Claire. Alex Peete (Ringwood, Ill./Johnsburg) rushed for 100 yards and one touchdown, and Ryan Wisniewski (Sparta, Wis./Sparta) caught three touchdown passes to lead the offense, while Bryce Leszczynski (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) paced the defense with eight tackles.

NOTABLE

• In the last six meetings between the two teams, the Warhawks are averaging 47.7 points per game while allowing 2.0 points per contest. Over that span, UW-Whitewater has shut out UW-Eau Claire three times and allowed only one touchdown.
• The attendance of the Warhawks' 2019 home opener against Dubuque (Iowa) was 10,316, the highest on record in Perkins Stadium history. The school record is 17,535, which was registered on Oct. 8, 2016, against UW-Oshkosh.