No. 1 UW-Whitewater setbacks No. 16 Pioneers, 17-7

A pair of fourth-quarter turnovers proved to be too much for the 16th-ranked UW-Platteville football team to upset No. 1 UW-Whitewater, as the Warhawks came out victorious, 17-7, at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium in the 20th George Chryst Memorial Bowl on Saturday.

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No. 1 UW-Whitewater setbacks No. 16 Pioneers, 17-7
November 1, 2014

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. -- A pair of fourth-quarter turnovers proved to be too much for the 16th-ranked University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team to upset No. 1 UW-Whitewater, as the Warhawks came out victorious, 17-7, at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium in the 20th George Chryst Memorial Bowl on Saturday. 

Undefeated UW-Whitewater takes sole possession of first-place in the conference, as UW-Platteville goes to second with a 4-1 record and 6-2 overall. 

The Pioneer defense held the most efficient passer in the WIAC, Matt Behrendt, to 16-27 for 177 yards, but gave up 243 rushing yards. Jacob Zilbar recorded a game-high 16 tackles, while Andrew Robinson totaled 10 tackles, three quarterback hurries, and a sack. 

Offensively, the Pioneers totaled 315 yards on the top defense in the WIAC. Corrigan completed 24-45 for 245 yards and a touchdown and also had an interception. Russell Martin caught eight passes for 99 yards, while Trevor Whitehead recorded seven receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown. Andy Puccini registered 80 yards rushing on 20 carries.

After a scoreless first quarter, Corrigan conducted a 10-play 80-yard touchdown drive on the Pioneers' first possession of the second quarter, which was capped off with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Whitehead.  

On UWW's ensuing possession, the Pioneers forced the Warhawks to a 28-yard field goal attempt, which hit the left upright, keeping UW-Platteville up 7-0. 

UWW's defense forced the Pioneers to a three and out, and after a poor Pioneer punt; the Warkhawks received the ball at UW-Platteville's 40-yard line with 50 seconds left in the half. 

Whitewater capitalized on the great field position with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Matt Behrendt to Logan Solano, tying the game up 7-7 at the half. 

The Warhawks managed to get a field goal on their first possession of the second-half, taking a 10-7 lead. 

Then on the second play of the fourth-quarter, Behrendt found Derric Junakin near the front pylon for six-yard touchdown pass, making it a two score game, 17-7. 

The Pioneers managed to march down the field, but a fumble at UWW's 10-yard line stopped the UW-Platteville from making it a one score game. 

The defense kept the Pioneers' hopes alive with another stop on the high powered Warhawk offense.

The Pioneers drove all the way down to UWW's 11-yard line, but Corrigan threw an interception near the goal line on third down. 

UWW ran out the clock on its next possession.

The George Chryst Memorial Bowl is named for former UW-Platteville head coach George Chryst, who died suddenly at the age of 55 in 1992. The winner of the game, which is dedicated to Chryst's memory, earns the Miner's Pick, the rivalry trophy. 

The Pioneers travels to UW-La Crosse on Nov. 8 with kickoff set for 1 p.m.