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Postgame Press Conference
UW-Whitewater Football Playoff Central
 
The No. 1/2 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team extended its school-record home winning streak to 32 games and advanced to the national quarterfinals Saturday with a 37-9 victory over No. 17/20 Wittenberg (Ohio) in the second round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs at Perkins Stadium.
 
The Warhawks (12-0 overall) will face No. 6/10 John Carroll (Ohio) in next Saturday's third round at noon Central Time. Location will be announced late Sunday afternoon.
 
UW-Whitewater held the ball for more than 38 minutes against the Tigers (10-2), converted 10-of-17 on third down and totaled 496 yards on 86 offensive plays.
 
Running backs Drew Patterson (Sussex, Wis./Hamilton) and Josh Ringelberg (Greendale, Wis./Greendale) each enjoyed strong days in leading the rushing attack. Patterson posted 20 carries for 70 yards and two touchdowns, and Ringelberg finished with 19 carries for 146 yards.
 
Sophomore quarterback Cole Wilber (Dana Point, Calif./Dana Hills) finished 21-of-31 passing for 237 yards, and senior quarterback Chris Nelson (Twin Lakes/Wilmot Union) tossed a pair of touchdown passes. Senior wide receiver Marcus Hudson (Delavan, Wis./Delavan-Darien) caught seven passes for 116 yards.
 
Senior defensive lineman Brandon Tamsett (Waterford/Waterford-Union), senior defensive back Bennett Young (Madison/Edgewood) and sophomore linebacker Bryce Lesczcynski led a balanced defense with five tackles apiece. Tamsett collected 1.5 tackles for a loss.
 
Wittenberg took the ball to the Warhawks' 1-yard line on its opening drive, but UW-Whitewater stopped the Tigers on third and goal and forced a field goal with 10:49 on the clock.
 
From there, UW-Whitewater tallied 30 unanswered points, beginning with 41-, 39- and 37-yard field goals by junior kicker Will Meyer (Sheboygan Falls, Wis./Sheboygan Falls) on consecutive drives.
 
After the defense forced consecutive three-and-outs, the Warhawks found the end zone for the first time in the contest. Two plays after a 49-yard Wilber-to-Hudson connection, Patterson rushed in from three yards out to give the team a 16-3 advantage with 1:22 on the clock.
 
The two teams traded turnovers to start the second half.
 
Following the sixth interception of the season for senior defensive back Vince Mason (Green Bay, Wis./Green Bay Southwest), UW-Whitewater converted two third downs on a 14-play, 70-yard drive that was capped by a pass from Nelson to senior tight end Brent Campbell (Rockford, IL/Winnebago) from three yards out to make it 23-3 midway through the third quarter.
 
After another three-and-out on defense, the Warhawks pushed their lead to 30-3 on a two-yard run by Patterson to finish a 10-play, 79-yard drive with 2:52 remaining in the frame.
 
The Tigers found the end zone for the first time of the game with 12:34 to play.
 
The teams traded punts before UW-Whitewater registered a 10-play, 80-yard drive completed by a 4-yard touchdown pass from Nelson to sophomore wide receiver Manny Jones (Kenosha, Wis./Indian Trail) with 5:58 on the clock.
 
The Warhawks forced two more turnovers on interceptions by sophomore defensive back Jon Weyker (Mequon, Wis./Homestead) and senior defensive back Mickey Morgan (Wauwatosa/Wauwatosa West) in the final five minutes of regulation.