No. 8 Pioneer Football throttles Buena Vista, 63-3

STORM LAKE, Iowa -- Senior Jacob Zilbar and the defense set the tone early for the eight-ranked University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team, as the Pioneers throttled Buena Vista 63-3, on Saturday at Storm Lake Iowa. 

Zilbar recovered a fumble forced by fellow senior Evan Constant on the second offensive play of the game. The Pioneer offense came up empty with the great field position, but Zilbar found the ball again with an interception, putting the offense on BV's 38-yard line. Senior Andy Puccini and his offensive line weren't going to let another great opportunity slip away, as Puccini scampered into the end zone from 30 yards out. 

Two possessions later, senior quarterback Bryce Corrigan and his wide receivers found their rhythm with an eight-play 65-yard scoring drive. Corrigan connected with Mitch Munda for a 11-yard touchdown pass, giving the Pioneers 14-0 lead. 

UW-Platteville's defense didn't allow the Beavers to cross midfield in the first quarter, which set up the offense for another scoring drive.  Puccini found the end zone for the second time on a nine-yard run, giving the Pioneers a commanding 21-0 lead. 

On the Beavers next possession, the Pioneer defense bent but didn't break. BV's Dylan Barrett rattled off a 58-yard run to get into UW-Platteville's red zone. The Pioneers kept BV out of the end zone, as Tyler Stolen made a 24-yard field goal to make it a 21-3 game. 

Midway through the second quarter, junior Andrew Belken blocked Stolen's punt and Kyle Whitman corralled the loose ball for a three-yard touchdown, scoring the Pioneers' first defensive points on the season, 28-3. 

To close out the first half, Corrigan found senior Russell Martin for a 63-yard touchdown pass to give the Pioneers a 35-3 lead into the half. 

In UW-Platteville's second possession of the third quarter, Corrigan and Martin connected again, this time from nine yards out, pushing the Pioneers up 42-3. 

UW-Platteville's reserves had just as much success as the starters did, sophomore Tom Kelly conducted a five-play 48-yard drive, which ended with a five-yard touchdown pass to Dan Arnold, midway through the third quarter 49-3.  

BV's Bobby Brown's day ended with an interception by reserve linebacker Colin Griffin at the Pioneers' five-yard line with six minutes left in the third quarter. 

Freshman Jack Eddy found the end zone on a 17-yard rush, capping off the Pioneers' 95-yard 13-yard drive, 56-3. 

The Pioneers final score came off a bad snap by BV, and freshman Dalton McManus scooped up the loose ball for a 10-yard touchdown, 63-3. 

Puccini ended up the 119 yards rushing on 13 touches with two touchdowns. Corrigan went 16-25 for 213 yards and three touchdowns. Corrigan connected with classmate Trevor Whitehead six times for a game-high 93 yards. Whiteheads longest reception was 49 yards. 

Zilbar added three tackles to his two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Junior Logan Emendorfer led the defense with six tackles, followed by junior Devon Vance with five. 

The eighth ranked Pioneers open their home slate on Saturday, Sept. 13 against Dubuque for the Battle of the Bridge. 

NOTES: Pioneers have won their last 16 season openers … Head Coach Mike Emendorfer has led UW-Platteville to out score their opponents 536-165 in season openers … UW-Platteville is 7-0 all-time against Buena Vista …  Pioneers have won their last 13 games against IIAC teams.