Pioneers fall to Falcons in season finale
RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team fell 31-24 on the road Saturday at UW-River Falls to conclude the 2019 season. The Pioneers finish 7-3 overall and 4-3 in the WIAC with the three losses coming at a combined deficit of 18 points.
RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team fell 31-24 on the road Saturday at UW-River Falls to conclude the 2019 season. The Pioneers finish 7-3 overall and 4-3 in the WIAC with the three losses coming at a combined deficit of 18 points.
UW-Platteville led 24-21 at halftime, but were unable to find the scoreboard in the second half as the Falcons (2-8 overall, 1-6 WIAC) tacked on 10 points in the half to secure the victory.
UW-River Falls out-gained the Pioneers 497-379 in total offense with 405 yards passing and 92 yards rushing.
Senior Tyler Knigge had nine receptions for 126 yards while freshman Brandt Stare added seven catches for 83 yards. Senior Wyatt Thompson combined 10 carries for 35 yards and one touchdown.
Junior Colin Schuetz completed 31-of-53 attempts for 346 yards, one touchdown, and was intercepted three times. UW-River Falls' Ben Beckman completed 24-of-41 attempts for 405 yards, three touchdowns and had two receivers finish with over 100 receiving yards.
On defense, senior linebacker Jordan Zilbar had a team high 11 tackles with three tackles for a loss of 10 yards. Sophomore defensive back Travis Klassy captured seven tackles, one pass break-up, and recorded the Pioneers' lone interception of the game.
UW-River Falls' defense forced eight tackles for a loss of 44 yards and four sacks.
Schuetz' 223 pass completions in the 2019 season sits seventh in program history while 2,873 passing yards and 25 touchdowns sit fifth in the record books. Knigge's 900 receiving yards places the senior in eighth in program history.
The Pioneers finish the season with 17 interceptions which sits fifth in the nation and second in the nation with a turnover margin of 19. UW-Platteville finished first in the WIAC in scoring offense while averaging 34.7 points per game and 403.4 yards total offense per game. Schuetz finished first in the WIAC in pass efficacy, completing 223-of-367 attempts for 2,873 yards, 25 touchdowns, and just three interceptions prior to Saturday's game. Allender finished tied for first in the WIAC in scoring with 13 touchdowns.