The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team hosts Central (Iowa) for a quarterfinal game of the NCAA Division III Championship this Saturday at 12 p.m. at Perkins Stadium. The Warhawks are an automatic qualifier out of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, while the Dutch are the automatic qualifier out of the American Rivers Conference.

The Warhawks recorded 38 points in the first half and gained 600 total yards of offense last Saturday in a 45-0 victory against DePauw (Ind.) in the second round of the NCAA Playoffs at Perkins Stadium. UW-W rushed for 332 yards and held the Tigers to minus-2 yards on the ground. The team also tied the school record for sacks in one game with nine, and Alex Peete (Ringwood, Ill./Johnsburg) tied the program mark for rushing touchdowns in one game with four.

The Warhawks remained at No. 3 in the latest D3football.com Top 25, earning 580 points from pollsters without receiving a first-place vote. UW-W is also third in the latest American Football Coaches Association Division III Coaches' Poll, picking up 1,080 points and one first-place vote from panelists. The team was ranked second in the Lindy's Sports Preseason Division III Top 25 and fourth in the preseason by College Football America.

Central scored on the final play of the game last Saturday for a thrilling 30-28 win against No. 6 Wheaton (Ill.) in Pella, Iowa. After the Dutch converted a fourth-and-10, Blaine Hawkins found Tanner Schminke in the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown with no time on the clock. Central passed for 434 yards, overcoming a 21-10 deficit early in the fourth quarter and tallying 20 points in the final period.

ON THE AIR

Saturday's game will air live on UWW-TV, which can be viewed online, on channel 100.1 on campus or on Spectrum channel 989 for customers in the Whitewater area. The contest can also be heard on KIX 106.5 FM WKCH in the Whitewater area, or online at kix1065.com.

SERIES

The Warhawks and Dutch last played on Nov. 19, 2005, in the first round of the NCAA Playoffs. UW-W rode a 24-7 halftime lead to a 34-14 victory at Perkins Stadium. Justin Beaver posted 32 carries for 182 yards and a touchdown to lead the Warhawks, who totaled 422 yards (262 rushing) and forced four turnovers in the contest. Derek Brown led the defense with seven tackles, one fumble forced, one fumble recovered and one interception.

WHAT'S NEXT

The winner of Saturday's game advances to the semifinals to play the winner of the Linfield (Ore.) at Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) game on Satuday, Dec. 11, at a site to be determined.

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