Pioneers fall to No. 3 UW-Whitewater

WHITEWATER, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team fell 65-21 Saturday afternoon to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, ranked 3^rd in the D3football.com, at Perkins Stadium in the annual George Chryst Memorial Bowl.

The Warhawks (5-0, 2-0 WIAC) outgained the Pioneers (1-4, 0-2 WIAC) 641-412, with UW-Platteville gaining 350 in the air and 62 on the ground. UW-Platteville's 21 points is the most any team has put up against the 2021 Warhawk squad.

Senior Colin Schuetz threw for 258 yards with juniors Austin Guy and Ben Wilson each grabbing six receptions. Guy, who had 170 reception yards was voted Offensive Player of the Game for the Pioneers.

Junior Sam Smith paced UW-Platteville's defense with 11 tackles while junior Colton Ingram totaled nine and was voted UW-Platteville's Defensive Player of the Game.

Quarterback Max Meylor and defensive back Thomas Wojnowski were named Players of the Game for Whitewater.

The Warhawks broke out to an early 7-0 lead on their opening drive which finished with a 2-yard touchdown run with 10:57 on the clock. The Pioneers were intercepted in their first two drives of the game and UW-Whitewater registered two more touchdowns and a safety off a blocked punt for a 23-0 lead at the end of the quarter.

In the second period, the Warhawks broke out to a 30-0 lead, but the Pioneers found their way onto the board with a 75-yard touchdown pass from Schuetz to Guy at the 12:32 mark. Two more scoring drives gave UW-Whitewater a 44-7 lead going into the half.

The Warhawks were first to score in the second half and from then on, the teams went on to exchange touchdowns the rest of the day.

The Pioneers finished a six-play, 68-yard drive with a 10-yard pass from Schuetz to junior Brandt Stare. Freshman Michael Priami's 43-yard pass to freshman Jimmy Durocher capped off an eight-play, 94-yard drive.

The annual match-up between the Pioneers and Warhawks is played in memory of the late UW-Platteville head coach George Chryst, who coached the Pioneers from 1979 until his sudden passing in 1992. With the win, the Warhawks retained the Miner's Axe trophy.

The Pioneers look to bounce back next Saturday, Oct. 16 at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium when they host No. 20 UW-La Crosse at 1 p.m.