Pioneers fall to Cowboys
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The No. 24 ranked University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team fell 41-0 Saturday to No. 6 ranked Hardin-Simmons University at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The No. 24 ranked University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team fell 41-0 Saturday to No. 6 ranked Hardin-Simmons University at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.
The Pioneers move to 1-2 on the season while the Cowboys improve to 2-0 overall. Hardin-Simmons outgained UW-Platteville 387-244, went six-for-six in the redzone and forced three turnovers to run off with the win.
Jordan Hammonds intercepted junior Nathan Shackelford on the Pioneers' opening drive for a 25-yard return to the UW-Platteville five-yard line. Myles Featherston punched one into the endzone two plays later to take an early 7-0 lead with 10:09 left in the first quarter.
After the early touchdown, the score would stay stagnate as a battle of defenses kept the first half a one possession game up until 1:22 left in the half.
For the third game in a row, the Pioneer defense held an opponent to under 30 total yards in the first quarter. Junior Justin Blazek's interception and four-yard return set up UW-Platteville for a shot at tying the game with 10:02 left in the half. The Pioneers went 23 yards in 10 plays and lined up for a 34-yard fieldgoal attempt on 4th and 10, but the Andrew Schweigert kick was blocked.
The Cowboys doubled their lead and went 48 yards in five plays following a Pioneer fumble and Hardin-Simmons recovery with 2:37 on the clock. The Cowboys added another three off a 30-yard kick with the seconds ticking away before the half break.
Hardin-Simmons continued the momentum gained at the end of the half and added another ten in the third quarter accompanied by a pair of touchdowns in the final 15 minutes including a touchdown with 16 seconds remaining after the Cowboys' defense intercepted Shackleford in the endzone. Hardin Simmons stacked up all 104 yards in the fourth quarter on the ground.
Shackelford completed 14 of 32 attempts for 106 yards and was intercepted twice. He also netted a team high 69 yards off 11 carries. Senior Ben Wilson (3) and junior Austin Guy (2) each had team-high 22 receiving yards.
Gaylon Glynn completed 12 of 24 attempts for 127 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Featherston had a game-high 73 yards on the ground with one touchdown. Gatlin Martin accumulated 59 yards and one touchdown off four receptions.
Seniors Aidan Tyk and Sam Smith each recorded seven tackles while Blazek and senior Tyler Bacon forced two quarterback hurries. The defense as a whole tallied three pass breakups and six QB hurries.
Matt Mitchel led the Cowboys with eight tackles, one tackle for loss and a pass breakup.
The Pioneers will take a break next weekend and gear up for the start of Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. UW-Platteville will return to action and travel to No. 16 UW-Oshkosh on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 1 p.m.