Pioneers hammer Falcons 45–14 for fifth straight Homecoming win

PLATTEVILLE — A 30-minute lightning delay couldn’t stop visiting UW–River Falls’ pain and suffering Saturday afternoon.

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Pioneers hammer Falcons 45–14 for fifth straight Homecoming win
October 15, 2016

PLATTEVILLE — A 30-minute lightning delay couldn't stop visiting UW–River Falls' pain and suffering Saturday afternoon. 

The host UW–Platteville Pioneers, who led 14–0 when a bolt of lightning flashed across the sky early in the second quarter, scored four touchdowns and kicked a field goal after the delay to close out a dominating 45–14 Homecoming victory at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium. 

The win was the Pioneers' fifth straight Homecoming victory. 

Senior wide receiver Dan Arnold caught seven passes for 160 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the seventh-ranked Pioneers, who improved to 5–1 overall and 2–1 in the WIAC. 

The Pioneers capitalized on an early River Falls' (2–4, 1–2) fumble when Arnold caught a 22-yard TD pass from senior Tom Kelly just 54 seconds into the game. Arnold added a leaping 8-yard touchdown catch four minutes into the second half to make it 28–6.

Senior Dillon Villhauer added a 12-yard TD catch from Kelly midway through the first quarter to make it 14–0. Kelly kept the play alive, twice escaping a potential sack before making a highlight-reel 35-yard throw across his body to a leaping Villhauer in the back of the end zone.

The Falcons got on the scoreboard just two plays after the lightning delay on a 1-yard run by Michael Diggins five minutes into the second quarter. 

Sophomore running back Sean Studer, scored on a 4-yard run with 56 seconds left before halftime to make it 21–6. Studer finished the game with a career-high 103 yards on 22 carries in his first collegiate start.

UW–River Falls cut its deficit in half on quarterback Sawyer Moon's 24-yard run and Moon to Trenton Monson two-point conversion pass with 6:50 left in the third quarter.

Kelly threw his fourth touchdown pass of the game to senior wide receiver Mitch Munda with 5:33 left in the third quarter to make it 35–14. Kelly completed 18 of 38 passes for 274 yards in the win.

Freshman kicker Samuel Herkert's 37-yard field goal on the second play of the fourth quarter pushed the Pioneer lead to 38–14. 

Backup quarterback junior Jack Eddy concluded the scoring with a 14-yard touchdown run that was punctuated with a leaping dive over the pylon.

Junior linebacker Marty McGrail led the Pioneer defensive attack with 16 total tackles and a sack. Junior cornerback John Hotchkiss and junior linebacker Chandler Crary each added seven tackles. Sophomore Luke Johnson had an interception early in the fourth quarter.

Moon completed 16 of 28 passes for 154 yards to lead the Falcons. He also rushed for 63 yards and a touchdown. Senior Albert Itula led the visitors with 12 tackles.

UW–Platteville is now 45–38–4 all-time in Homecoming contests.
 
The Pioneers will return action next Saturday with a key WIAC clash at No. 5 UW-Oshkosh with possible playoff implications on the line. The Titans only loss was a 17–14 loss to second-ranked UW–Whitewater last weekend. UWO defeated UW–Stevens Point on Saturday to improve to 5–1 overall and 2–1 in the WIAC. 
 

 

By Jason Nihles, UW–Platteville Sports Information Assistant