No. 7 Pioneer Football falls to No. 5 North Central

Fifth-ranked North Central’s hot start was too much for the seventh-ranked Pioneer football team to overcome, falling 28-7 in the season’s first top-10 matchup on Saturday at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.

Audio Audio Video Live stats Box Score Preview

Team Stats

No. 7 Pioneer Football falls to No. 5 North Central
September 20, 2014

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- Fifth-ranked North Central's hot start was too much for the seventh-ranked Pioneer football team to overcome, falling 28-7 in the season's first top-10 matchup on Saturday at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. 

In a blink of an eye, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville was down 21-0. The Cardinals opened the game with a nine-play 67-yard touchdown drive. Then on UW-Platteville second offensive play, NCC Nick Samuelson came off the edge untouched forcing a sack fumble and picked up the loose ball for a 23-yard touchdown, 14-0. After a Pioneer three and out, the Cardinals used a well-balanced attack, which was capped off by Ryan Kent scampering into the end zone from seven yards out putting the NCC up 21-0. 

The Pioneer offense finally got on track and put together two very good drive, but come empty handed after a missed field goal and a possession turned over on downs at the NCC's six-yard line. UW-Platteville went into halftime scoreless for the first time since Oct. 15, 2011 against UW-Oshkosh. 

UW-Platteville didn't waste any time in the second half to get on the board, as Bryce Corrigan conducted a 10-play 76-yard drive, which was topped off by a stellar one-handed touchdown catch by Trevor Whitehead, 21-7. 

The Pioneers had a chance to make it a one-possession game, but a miscue in the red zone on the first play of the fourth quarter gave NCC the ball on its own 10-yard line. 

The Cardinals capitalized on the opportunity when Kent bursted for 62-yard rushing touchdown, putting NCC up by three scores 28-7 and the game out of reach for the Pioneers. 

Corrigan ended up completing 30 of his 53 passes for 233 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. 

Whitehead was Corrigan's top target with nine receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown. 

Puccini gave the Pioneers some offensive balance with 87 rushing yards on 19 carries and caught seven passes for 59 yards. 

UW-Platteville will take next week off to prepare for the rigorous WIAC schedule, which starts on Oct. 4 at UW-Eau Claire for the Pioneers.