Buschbacher scores three first-half TDs in 47–31 win at UW–Stevens Point

STEVENS POINT — The UW–Platteville football team bounced back from last week’s narrow loss to second-ranked UW–Whitewater with a wild 47–31 victory at UW–Stevens Point Saturday afternoon.

Audio Video Live stats Box Score Preview

Team Stats

Buschbacher scores three first-half TDs in 47–31 win at UW–Stevens Point
October 8, 2016

STEVENS POINT — The UW–Platteville football team bounced back from last week's narrow loss to second-ranked UW–Whitewater with a wild 47–31 victory at UW–Stevens Point Saturday afternoon.

The Pioneers raced out to a 28–7 halftime lead and held on for a 16-point victory. Coach Mike Emendorfer's team improved to 4–1 overall and 1–1 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Senior Quinn Buschbacher caught a pair of touchdowns and ran for another — all in the first half — to jumpstart the seventh-ranked Pioneers'. He finished with eight catches for 123 yards and added 50 yards on the ground on six carries.

Buschbacher gave UW–Platteville an early 7–0 lead when he hauled in a 15-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Tom Kelly with 3:43 left in the opening quarter. He added a 3-yard touchdown run with seven seconds left in the period to extend the lead to 14–0.

The previously unbeaten Pointers (4–1, 1–1 WIAC) responded with a 2-yard touchdown run by Evan Dux early in the second quarter.

UW–Platteville sophomore Sean Studer scored on a 17-yard run with roughly eight minutes left in the first half.

Two minutes later after sophomore Dakota Tomkins interception ended a UWSP drive into Pioneer territory, Kelly connected with Buschbacher for a 35-yard TD pass and a 28–7 lead.

The host Pointers dominated much of the third quarter, scoring 17 straight points to pull within four points at 28–24 on junior quarterback Ryan Swigart's 12-yard TD run with three minutes left in the third game.

The Pioneers' offense got back on track and Kelly's 5-yard touchdown pass to senior Dan Arnold with 1:27 left in the third to make it 41–24.

Senior defensive back Patrick Swanson scooped up a UWSP fumble on the ensuing drive and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown.

The Pioneers delivered the knockout blow with a trick play three minutes later, when senior wide receiver Dillon Villhauer threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Arnold and a 47–24 lead.

Jerry Williams returned the ensuing kickoff for Stevens Point to account for the final score. 

The UW–Platteville offense was nearly unstoppable Saturday, other than its three turnovers, piling up 529 yards. The Pioneers rushed for 208 yards on 39 carries. Studer led the way with 78 yards on 10 attempts. Senior Kyle Whitman added 54 yards on 10 totes.

Kelly finished the day 18 of 29 for 293 yards passing with three touchdowns and two interceptions. 

Linebackers Marty McGrail and Ben Mogilevsky, and senior defensive back Brandon Johnson each finished with six tackles to lead the Pioneer defense. Johnson also broke up three passes.

The Pioneers will return home next Saturday to face UW–River Falls at 2 p.m. for Homecoming. The Falcons (2–3, 1–1) are coming off a 41–21 victory over UW–Eau Claire.

 

By Jason Nihles, Sports Information Assistant