Pioneer Football Cruises Past Buena Vista in Season Opener, 42-17

The 11th-ranked UW-Platteville football team opened the 2013 season just like it has the past five years beating Buena Vista University, 42-17, on Saturday afternoon at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.

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Pioneer Football Cruises Past Buena Vista in Season Opener, 42-17
September 7, 2013

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The 11th-ranked University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team opened the 2013 season just like it has the past five years beating Buena Vista University. The Pioneers cruised past Buena Vista, 42-17, on Saturday afternoon at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.

The Pioneers are now 6-0 all-time against the Beavers and head coach Mike Emendorfer remains perfect in season openers, 15-0, in his 15th season at the helm of the Pioneers.

UW-Platteville didn't waste any time to get on the board, scoring on its first possession of the 2013 campaign. Senior John Kelly conducted a 12-play 89-yard drive and connected with junior Bryan Whitehead for a 19-yard touchdown pass. Just over four minutes later, the Pioneers took advantage of Beaver fumble when junior Andy Puccini put UW-Platteville up 14-0 on a 23-yard touchdown run.

Just as Emendorfer stated during preseason that the Pioneers would use two quarterbacks during the first couple games of the season, junior Bryce Corrigan came in in the second-quarter with the Pioneer offense not missing a beat scoring in his first possession of game, and putting UW-Platteville up 21-10.

After a Buena Vista fumble in its own territory, it only took Corrigan and the Pioneers 39 seconds to go up 28-10. The Beavers would manage to score before the break cutting the Pioneer's lead to 28-17 at halftime.

In the second-half, the Pioneer defense took the game over and only allowed 58 yards of total offense, shutting out BVU in the final half as UW-Platteville cruised to a 42-17 victory. Kevin Ybarra, Devon Vance, Yoel Wonsey and Jacob Zilbar all led the team with five tackles apiece.

Puccinni led the Pioneer offense with 149 rushing yards on 21 touches. Corrigan was extremely efficient, completing 15 of 19 for 120 yards and two touchdowns. Kelly recorded two touchdowns of his own and went 14-23 with an interception.

Seniors Ryley Bailey and Paul Reit led the Pioneer receivers with Bailey recording a game-high 76 yards on five catches and Reit catching six passes for 37 yards.

BVU's Bobby Brown threw for 142 yards for two touchdowns and his main target Adam Cave hauled in six passes for 67 yards.

The Pioneers will travel to Dubuque on Sept. 14 for the "Battle of the Bridge" sponsored by the Dairy Queen of Platteville at 6 p.m.