The No. 3 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team used a strong third quarter and an opportunistic defense Saturday afternoon to defeat UW-Eau Claire 24-14 in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game on a rainy, cool day at Perkins Stadium.
 
The Warhawks (4-0 overall, 1-0 WIAC) forced three turnovers, all on fumbles, and took advantage with 14 points off the Blugolds' miscues in the third quarter to turn a three-point lead into a three-score advantage.
 
Junior running back Alex Peete (Ringwood, Ill./Johnsburg) led the offense with 13 carries for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Junior quarterback Zach Oles (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) passed for 173 yards, and freshman wide receiver Sam DeLany (Delafield, Wis./Kettle Moraine) caught two passes for 55 yards.
 
Senior running back Matt Anderson (Rockford, Ill./Lutheran) tallied nine tackles, including three for a loss, to pace the defense. Senior defensive lineman Jordan Brand (Chicago, Ill./St. Rita) collected two sacks, and junior defensive back Mark McGrath (Lisle, Ill./Lisle) registered five tackles, including two for a loss, and forced and recovered one fumble.
 
On UW-Whitewater's third offensive play from scrimmage, Peete bounced off of three tacklers and sprinted down the right sideline for a 45-yard touchdown just two minutes into the contest.
 
After a botched punt snap by UW-Eau Claire early in the second quarter, the Warhawks took over at the Blugolds' 15-yard line and had one play before the contest was suspended due to inclement weather.
 
Following an approximately 45-minute delay, junior kicker Wojciech Gasienica (Norridge, Ill./Ridgewood) knocked a 27-yard field goal attempt through the uprights to give UW-Whitewater a 10-0 advantage with 9:27 left in the period.
 
UW-Eau Claire (2-2, 0-1) took advantage of a botched punt snap later in the quarter and scored with 1:06 remaining before halftime to cut the Warhawks' advantage to 10-7.
 
After a three-and-out by UW-Whitewater to start the second half, senior defensive back Garrett Purdy (Naperville, Ill./Central) stripped Keshaun Story on a long run into Warhawk territory on the next drive, and senior defensive back Jacob Frey (Milwaukee, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran HS) recovered the loose ball.
 
The Warhawks then embarked on a seven-play, 64-yard drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by Peete to make it 16-7 with 8:44 to play in the third.
 
On the ensuing drive, McGrath forced and recovered a Blugold fumble near midfield, and UW-Whitewater took advantage again. On third-and-16 near midfield, Oles hit senior wide receiver Josh Ringelberg (Greendale, Wis./Greendale) for a 32-yard gain. Three plays later, senior running back Jarrod Ware (Bradley, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) rushed in from two yards out, and senior running back Ronny Ponick (Stanley, Wis./Stanley-Boyd) picked up the two-point conversion on a running play to make it 24-7 at the 3:06 mark of the quarter.
 
UW-Eau Claire scored with 1:25 remaining to cut its deficit to 10, and after a UW-W fumble, had the ball deep in Warhawk territory in the final minute.
 
UW-Whitewater made a defensive stand at its own 14-yard line, forcing an incompletion with 11 seconds remaining to seal the win.
 
The Warhawks resume conference play next Saturday, Oct. 12, against unbeaten UW-Platteville. Kickoff on Homecoming Saturday at UW-Whitewater is slated for 2 p.m. at Perkins Stadium.