Defense leads Football past Lewis & Clark
Two defensive touchdowns in the first-minute of the game led the UW-Platteville football team past Lewis & Clark College, 63-34, on Saturday at Griswold Stadium in Portland Ore.
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Two defensive touchdowns in the first-minute of the game led the University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team past Lewis & Clark College, 63-34, on Saturday at Griswold Stadium in Portland Ore.
The Pioneers' junior Rob Austin intercepted the ball on the first offensive play of the game and took it back 25 yards for a touchdown. On Lewis & Clark's third offensive play senior Mike Gabbey forced a fumble on a sack and recovered the fumble for a touchdown giving the Pioneers a 14-0 lead.
L&C tied the game up at 14-14 after a 44-yard touchdown pass then a 60-yard touchdown pass. It only took UW-Platteville 1:01 and six plays to regain the lead when senior John Kelly connected with junior Trevor Whitehead on a 17-yard touchdown pass. Lewis & Clark then responded with a scoring drive of its own tying the game back up, 21-21, closing out the first-quarter.
The second-quarter was all UW-Platteville as the Pioneers outscored L&C 21-6 taking a 42-27 lead into halftime. UW-Platteville defense only allowed 24 yards of total offense while the Pioneer offense tallied 182 yards and 11 first downs.
The second-half was much like the second-quarter as the Pioneer defense dominated Lewis & Clark and only allowed 86 yards in the third-quarter and 22 yards in the final quarter. The stout defense allowed UW-Platteville to cruise to 63-34 victory.
Kelly ended the game with five touchdowns, four passing and one rushing, and completed 27-37 for 313 yards. Fellow senior Ryley Bailey caught 10 of Kelly's passes for 91 yards and two touchdown, while Whitehead finished with two touchdowns and six catches for 84 yards. Senior Lee Vlasak averaged 18.2 yards a carry as he rumbled for 73 yards on four carries.
Senior Kevin Ybarra and sophomore Andrew Belken led the defense with nine tackles apiece. Ybarra forced a fumble to go with is nine tackles.
The Pioneers will enjoy a week off before beginning conference play on Oct. 5 when the UW-Platteville welcomes UW-Eau Claire for homecoming. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.