SHENANDOAH, Texas – The No. 7 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team fell behind early Friday night and was unable to overcome the early deficit in a 41-14 setback against No. 5 North Central (Ill.) in Stagg Bowl XLVII, the NCAA Division III national championship game, at Woodforest Bank Stadium.
Appearing in their first Stagg Bowl since 2014, the Warhawks (13-2 overall) surrendered 27 first-half points and were unable to gain any momentum during the contest.
Junior quarterback
Max Meylor (Mt. Horeb, Wis./Mt. Horeb) tallied 15 carries for 104 yards and threw for 183 yards and one touchdown. Junior running back
Alex Peete (Ringwood, Ill./Johnsburg) posted 17 carries for 79 yards and one score, and sophomore wide receiver
Tyler Holte (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward Central Catholic) caught six passes for 64 yards.
Senior defensive back
Nate Tranel (Lancaster, Wis./Lancaster) paced the defense with 11 tackles, and senior linebacker
Matt Anderson (Rockford, Ill./Lutheran) collected 10 tackles. Senior defensive lineman
Jordan Brand (Chicago, Ill./St. Rita) totaled nine stops, including one for a loss, and freshman linebacker
Terrell Williams (Appleton, Wis./North) finished with six tackles, including one sack.
The Warhawks, who finished with 207 yards rushing in the contest, were unable to convert on two trips inside the Cardinals' 30-yard line in the first half.
After a North Central touchdown midway through the third quarter, UW-Whitewater got on the board. Freshman wide receiver
Sam DeLany (Delafield, Wis./Kettle Moraine) returned the ensuing kickoff 65 yards, and Meylor hit junior tight end
Jared Zausch (Saukville, Wis./Ozaukee) for a 12-yard touchdown with 4:52 to play in the period.
The Warhawks made it a three-possession game after Peete plunged in from one yard out to complete a 15-play, 92-yard drive. Meylor keyed the drive with a 44-yard run and a 27-yard pass to Holte on fourth-and-19.
Senior linebacker
Jacob Erbs (Reedsburg, Wis./Reedsburg) recovered the ensuing onside kick at midfield, but UW-Whitewater was unable to take advantage, turning the ball back over to the Cardinals (14-1).
UW-Whitewater's 2019 run included a share of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship and playoff wins over Monmouth (Ill.), Wartburg (Iowa), defending national champion Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) and St. John's (Minn.).
