The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team continues its 16th appearance in the NCAA Division III Playoffs this Saturday, Dec. 7, at 12 p.m. as it visits Mary Hardin-Baylor in a quarterfinal contest at Crusader Stadium in Belton, Texas. UW-Whitewater, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference co-champion, earned a Pool C, or at-large, bid to the postseason, while Mary Hardin-Baylor, the champion of the American Southwest Conference, picked up a Pool A, or automatic, berth in the playoffs.

Saturday's game can be heard live on KOOL 106.5 FM WKCH in the Whitewater area or online at 940wfaw.com. It can also be watched live online courtesy of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Fans can track live stats through the NCAA here.

The Warhawks scored 17 first-quarter points and led 31-7 at halftime on their way to a 41-28 victory over Wartburg (Iowa) in the second round of the NCAA Playoffs last Saturday at Perkins Stadium. UW-Whitewater forced five turnovers, tallied four sacks and allowed only 32 rushing yards to offset a 350-yard passing performance by the Knights. 

The Warhawks are at No. 7 in the latest D3football.com Top 25 and to No. 10 in the most recent American Football Coaches Association Division III Coaches Poll. UW-Whitewater garnered 430 points from D3football.com voters and 807 points from AFCA pollsters. The Warhawks were ranked fourth by Lindy's, Street & Smith and D3football.com entering the new season.

Mary Hardin-Baylor, which is ranked No. 1 by the AFCA and No. 2 by D3football.com, jumped out to a 31-0 first-half lead on its way to a 42-6 triumph over Huntingdon (Ala.) in the second round last Saturday in Belton. Jase Hammack passed for 337 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Crusaders, who totaled 508 yards of offense, including 422 through the air. UMHB's defense forced four turnovers and turned the miscues into 14 points. Kicker Anthony Avila posted four field goals, and Tevin Jones led the defense with 11 tackles, including 2.0 for loss.

SERIES

Saturday's game is the seventh meeting between the two teams, including the fifth straight in the quarterfinal or semifinal round of the NCAA Playoffs. The Warhawks claimed the first five meetings before falling 31-14 on Dec. 8, 2018, in the national semifinals. The Crusaders scored 17 points in the second quarter, and UW-Whitewater was unable to overcome the deficit as UMHB held the ball for nearly 35 minutes in the game and forced four turnovers. Ronny Ponick (Stanley, Wis./Stanley-Boyd) and Alex Peete (Ringwood, Ill./Johnsburg) combined for 135 rushing yards and one touchdown, Derek Kumerow (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) caught four passes for 52 yards and Cole Wilber (Mission Viejo, Calif./Dana Hills) threw for 107 yards and one score. Matt Anderson (Rockford, Ill./Lutheran) and Jacob Erbs (Reedsburg, Wis./Reedsburg) led the defense with 13 and 11 tackles, respectively.

UP NEXT

The winner of Saturday's game advances to the semifinal round to face the winner of Saturday's St. John's (Minn.) at Wheaton (Ill.) game. The fourth-round contest will take place Saturday, Dec. 14, at a site to be announced this Sunday and will air on ESPN3.

To view the entire edition of this week's game notes, click here.