December 1 vs. Wabash
For the first quarter fans in the Perkins Stadium stands must have thought they were experiencing a flashback to last Saturday's game against North Central, when UW-W used turnovers to jump out to a 21-0 lead. This week UW-W burst out of the gates to a 28-0 lead in the first quarter on the way to a 47-7 win over Wabash College Saturday in Perkins Stadium in Whitewater, Wisconsin. The Warhawks will host Mary Hardin-Baylor, a 27-10 winner over Wesley College in another quarterfinal game played Saturday, in a semifinal that will kick off at 12:00 in Perkins Stadium Saturday, December 8.
box score
Animoto video
In the second play of the game, UW-W's Gabe Schultz (Fort Atkinson/Fort Atkinson) intercepted a Dustin Huff pass and set up the Warhawk offense at the Wabash 22. It took just three plays, ending with a Justin Beaver (Palmyra/Palmyra-Eagle) three yard run, to take advantage of the turnover and put Whitewater ahead 7-0 at 13:29.
Whitewater's next possession, lasted nine plays and covering sixty yards, ended with a Danny Jones (Pleasanton, CA/Amador Valley) to Nick Slupski (Greenfield/Greenfield) nineteen yard touchdown to put UW-W up 14-0 at 8:52.
The Warhawks also stopped the Little Giants' next possession with an interception, this time from linebacker Jace Rindahl (Cambridge/Cambridge) who gave UW-W the ball at the Wabash fifteen. It took six plays to go the fifteen yards, but Jones ran the ball six yards around the left end to make it 21-0 Whitewater with 5:09 left in the first.
Wabash suffered its third turnover of the first quarter, when Warhawk defensive back Matt Blaziewske (Kenosha/Tremper) picked off a Matt Hudson pass, Blaziewske's fifth pick in the last six games. The next play Jones connected with senior wide receiver Neil Mrkvicka (Greendale/Greendale) for a 33 yard score, making it 28-0 with the extra point with 4:02 left in the first quarter.
Leipold was asked about the effect of the weather, especially in regard to quarterback Danny Jones (Pleasanton, CA/Amador Valley), a California native. "We practiced inside all week. We went outside yesterday for a walk through for about a half hour." "It's one of those things, the majority of this team has played games this time of year. The more you dwell on it the more it becomes a distraction. If you're going to have a chance to play this time of year you have to take on all comers, whether it's the weather or the opponent."
Whitewater closed out the first half scoring with another Jones pass, this time to sophomore wide receiver Aaron Rusch (Hartford/Hartford) for sixteen yards, and it was 35-0 with thirty-three seconds left in the half.
Wabash turned its first possession of the second half in to its only score of the game, with a methodical twelve play, 84 yard drive that resulted in a Hudson to Mike Russell touchdown from six yards out.
Whitewater answered the Wabash touchdown with one of their own, with senior back Brady Pittz (Dodgeville/Dodgeville) going 42 yards for the score, his longest run from scrimmage this season. UW-W missed the point after, leaving the score 41-7 with 5:48 left in the third.
Wabash got the ball on Whitewater's 49 and moved to the 29 where an incomplete pass on fourth and two gave the ball back to the Warhawks. After a Wabash timeout with nine seconds left in the quarter, Jones and Rusch connected again, this time for 57 yards. Whitewater missed the extra point, ending the scoring with two seconds left in the third quarter.
Given the weather, cold with a mixture of snow and ice, it is amazing that neither team lost a fumble. Whitewater's defense picked off five passes, the most in a game this season. The five picks helped Whitewater break the school and Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference record with 32 interceptions this season. The old mark of 30 was set last year by UW-W.
Whitewater's offense rolled up a season high 523 yards, aided by a season best 338 on the ground. Pittz rushed for 156 yards on 21 carries, both season highs, and Beaver 145 yards on 21 attempts. The Warhawk defense limited Wabash to 196 yards, just 17 on the ground. Matt Hudson led Wabash, completing 16 of 33 for 166 yards and a touchdown. Brock Graham caught five passes for 46 yards, and Russell grabbed four for 71 yards.
Wabash had three defenders reach double figures in tackles. Safety Jake Martin, linebacker Adi Pynenburg, and linebacker Andy Deig each made ten tackles.
"As good as Whitewater is, I wouldn't trade a one of them for anybody on my team," said Wabash coach Chris Creighton. "Our guys fought hard and laid it all out there, and that's all you can ask. The thing is, we had so much fun doing it. When you're with guys with great character, who give you everything they have, it's fun. We had fun this year. We've overcome some things, had some things happen this year, fought, scratched, clawed and stayed together as a family, so I am real proud right now. I think I could be happier. We wanted to win this football game. We had every intention of doing that."
In addiiton to his two interceptions, Blaziewske had three solo tackles, one assist, and two passes broken up. Senior defensive end Ryan Ogrizovich (Burlington/Burlington), with a quarterback sack on the last play of the first half, broke Ryan Kleppe (Mount Horeb/Mount Horeb)'s one year old record, giving Ogrizovich fifteen for the season.
Leipold reflected on a rematch with Mary Hardin Baylor. "They're an excellent ball club. That was much like today, got off to a slow start in the first quarter. I'm sure they're going to work on that. It's going to be a very tough ball game. They have excellent speed, and ever since our game they've corrected things and they haven't had many close games since."
