The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team bounced back with a dominant win over UW-Eau Claire on a cold, Saturday afternoon. The Warhawks started clicking in the second quarter, exploding for 31 second quarter points to enter the halftime up 41-3. The Warhawks kept the Blugolds at bay, taking the 51-10 victory as it started to snow on Perkins Field.

After a three-and-out on their first drive, the Warhawks put together a promising 10-play, 50 yard drive to get the ball moving early in the game. The Blugolds managed to hold UWW out of the endzone, but Hunter Liszka (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) hit the field goal from 30-yards out to add the first three points on the board.

UW-Eau Claire drove down the field their next drive, and was able to match the field goal to tie the game 3-3.

From there, the flood gates opened. UW-Whitewater kept stringing together big plays and scored 38 unanswered points with a huge help from the defensive turnovers.

During the stretch, Ty Schultz (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) ran for three touchdowns, including a 67-yard touchdown to kickstart the run. Schultz then ran it twice more after Kaden Sleets (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park River Forest) and Ethan Gallagher (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport Township) each grabbed an interception on back-to-back Blugold drives.

The Warhawks then decided to showcase the passing game. Justin Klinker connected with Jacques Brooks (Franklin, Wis./Franklin) on a 41-yard pass in the endzone to add another score on the board. The following drive, Hunter Liszka (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) made another field goal from 43 yards out to put the Warhawks up 34-3.

The Blugolds managed to get the ball away from the Warhawks after five straight scoring drives with an interception, but then threw an interception to Efrein Ramirez (Minooka, Ill./Minooka) on UWEC's very first offensive play of the drive. UWW marched down the field to give Justin Klinkner (Two Rivers, Wis./Two Rivers) a rushing touchdown before the end of the half. 

In the first half alone, the Warhawks put up 357 total yard of offense (206 rushing, 151 passing) while holding UW-Eau Claire to just 83 total yards (1 rushing, 82 passing).

The Warhawks' big plays slowed down in the second half, as they were controlling the clock and their large lead. UW-Eau Claire scored their first touchdown of the game with five minutes left in the third, set-up by good field position after recovering a Warhawk fumble.

Liszka capped off his perfect day with a 25-yard field goal to add another three points to the board. The Warhawks forced another punt, and gave Ty Schultz (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) his fourth rushing touchdown of the game, tying the Single Game Rushing Touchdown mark in the Warhawks' record book. Schultz finished with 171 yards in 20 carries.

UW-Eau Claire started to drive down the field again, but Ashton Maney (Three Lakes, Wis./Three Lakes) yanked the ball out of the receivers hands to get the interception and end the Blugolds from adding another touchdown at the end of the game.

The Warhawks finished the day with over 311 yards rushing and 210 yards passing. The defense held UW-Eau Claire to just 214 yards with 87 yards on the ground. Kartsen Libby led the team with 10 tackles, including two tackles for a loss.

The Warhawks will head out to Oshkosh to face the Titans next weekend in the regular season finale. Kick-off is set for 1 PM on November 15th.