Pioneers roll past Pointers on Senior Day, 41-14
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team (7-2, 4-2 WIAC) closed out its 2019 home schedule with a 41-14 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (3-6, 2-4 WIAC) Saturday afternoon in Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team (7-2, 4-2 WIAC) closed out its 2019 home schedule with a 41-14 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (3-6, 2-4 WIAC) Saturday afternoon in Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.
The Pioneers jumped ahead to an early 14-0 lead after the first quarter with 169 passing yards including a pair of touchdown passes with the first measuring 72 yards and the second right behind at 68 yards. After a quiet second quarter, the Pioneers return after halftime and this time, it was their running game that shined with four touchdowns, 219 yards, and 20 unanswered points.
The stadium erupted in the first minute of the game when junior Colin Schuetz looked deep and found junior Donald Allender for a 72-yard pass for a touchdown, taking a 7-0 lead with 14:07 on the game clock.
Schuetz mirrored his first scoring drive and this time found senior Tyler Knigge for a 68-yard reception and touchdown with 3:49 left in the first quarter.
The Pioneers looked to add to their 14-0 lead in the second quarter, but their best opportunity at the 8:00 mark was unsuccessful as Schuetz's pass attempt on 4th and 7 to Allender in the endzone was broken up by Donovan Lucas. UW-Stevens Point narrowed the lead to 14-7 with a six-play, 75-yard drive that ended when Matt Urmanski found Jonte Webb for a nine-yard touchdown pass.
Senior Wyatt Thompson paced the Pioneers to begin the second half and combined three straight carries for 26 yards with the final three-yard rush in for a touchdown to give the Pioneers a 21-7 lead with 9:52 remaining in the third quarter.
The Pointers responded quickly the next drive and combined nine plays for 70 yards and a touchdown, as UW-Stevens Point trailed 21-14 with 5:01 left in the third quarter.
Schuetz closed out the quarter with a 38-yard run to the Pointers' nine-yard line and handed it off to Allender two plays later for a six-yard rush and touchdown to extend the lead to 28-14 with 14:49 remaining.
Unable to move the chains, UW-Stevens Point was forced to punt, and the Pioneers extended their lead to 34-14 while they went 66 yards in eight plays, with freshman Brandt Stare finishing with a 12-yard run for a touchdown.
UW-Platteville concluded their 20 unanswered point stretch, and extend the lead to 41-14, courtesy of freshman Mitchell McNutt who combined seven consecutive carries for 65 yards including a 25-yard run in for a touchdown with 3:48 left in the game.
Overall, the Pioneers stacked up 528 yards total offense to the Pointers' 320 yards. UW-Platteville passed for 281 yards with all, but 52 yards being recorded in the first half. The Pioneers had two receivers, Knigge and Allender, each tally over 100 receiving yards.
Schuetz completed 20-of-31 attempts for 281 yards and two touchdowns.
Knigge finished with seven catches for 111 yards and a touchdown while Allender totaled 102 receiving yards off three receptions and a touchdown in addition to his six-yard run and touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Thompson had a team high 12 carries for 99 yards with a 40-yard long run and one touchdown. McNutt tacked on another 73 yards off nine carries.
UW-Platteville's defense held the Pointers to 14 points and 36% (5-of-14) on third down conversions. Senior Antonio-Jose Ramos had a team high eight tackles with one for a loss of six yards. Seniors Bryce Arneson and Tyler Reinhardt each added seven tackles with Reinhardt recording a forced fumble. Freshman Michael Griffin recorded the game's lone interception to bring the team's total to 16 which sits third nationally.
UW-Stevens Point's Urmanski completed 20-of-31 attempts for 200 yards and two touchdowns. ShamaJ Williams combined 19 carries for 86 yards while Webb had a team high nine receptions for 89 yards.
The Pioneers recognized the 2019 senior class during pregame. This senior class in all has an overall record of 26-14 in addition to an NCAA DIII Playoff appearance in 2016. Pioneers recognized included:
99, Bryce Arneson
76, Nick Broadhurst
62, Roy Glassey III
87, Samuel Herkert
30, Travis Hofslien
21, Luke Johnson
4, Tyler Knigge
90, Jackson McMahan
6, Walter Ollie
41, Drew Rakers
10, Tyler Reinhardt
92, Alex Rezny
33, Wyatt Thompson
78, Hank Westemeyer
93, Cole Whalen
29, Jordan Zilbar
UW-Platteville has their final game of the 2019 scheduled slated for next Saturday, Nov. 16 at UW-River Falls. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in David Smith Stadium.