Pioneers down Stevens Point on Homecoming

PLATTEVILLE – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team defeated UW-Stevens Point 45-21 in the 92^nd annual Homecoming game on Saturday at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium. The Pioneers have won 10 of the last 12 homecoming games and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory improves the Pioneers' all-time Homecoming record to 49-39-4.

After UW-Stevens Point (2-5, 0-4) tied the game 7-7 with 5:19 left in  the first quarter, UW-Platteville (2-5, 1-3) went on to score 35 points before the Pointers would find themselves on the scoreboard again late in the third quarter. UW-Platteville registered a season high 536 yards total offense while the Pointers tallied 296 yards. UW-Platteville moved 370 of the yards through the air while recording a season high 166 yards on the ground.

"This team continues to impress me with their tenacity and positive attitudes facing adversity, especially earlier this season," said head coach Mike Emendorfer. "I'm proud of the level which the team is playing at and look forward to seeing what they can do in the next three games."

In UW-Platteville's opening drive, senior Colin Schuetz went a perfect 7-for-7 as the Pioneers powered 99 yards over 12 plays in 5:39. Senior Evan Gates' 3-yard run for a touchdown put the Pioneers on the scoreboard and gave them a 7-0 lead with 6:14 to go in the first quarter.

UW-Stevens Point responded with a 4-play, 54-yard drive to tie the game at the 5:19 mark in the first quarter.

Four plays later, Schuetz's 30-yard pass to junior Austin Guy put the Pioneers on the Pointers' 28-yard line. Schuetz finished the 6-play, 75-yard drive with a 23-yard pass and touchdown to junior Brandt Stare. UW-Platteville closed the first quarter leading 14-7 while Schuetz finished 12-for-13 for 160 passing yards.

UW-Platteville owned the second quarter and increased their lead to 21-7 less than a minute into the period when Gates punched in another one for his second touchdown to close out a 5-play 67-yard drive. The teams exchanged punts before Schuetz and Stare teamed up and moved 39-yards in four plays in their last drive of the half. A 4-yard pass from Schuetz to Stare pushed the Pioneers' lead to 28-7 which would go into the second half.

The momentum continued into the third quarter as the Pioneers charged 75 yards in eight plays. This time, it was junior Tyler Lamer with a 13-yard rush and touchdown to extend the lead to 35-7 four minutes into the half.

Junior Kyle Antos picked-off Trey Schroeder in the Pointers' next drive and the Pioneers did not let it go to waste and moved 90 yards in nine plays which finished with Schuetz finding freshman Jimmy Durocher for a 20-yard pass and touchdown for the Pioneers' largest lead of 42-7 with 3:43 left in the third quarter.

The Pointers put together a 6-play, 56-yard drive in 2:28 to cut their deficit to 42-14 before the final quarter.

Junior Andrew Schweigert put a 26-yard field goal kick through the uprights to conclude the Pioneers' next drive and a 45-14 lead.

UW-Stevens Point tallied one final scoring drive of the game, going 69 yards in 14 plays and an 8-yard pass for a touchdown with 6:05 left in the game.

The Pioneers were 70% (7-of-10) on third down as Schuetz guided the team, completing 29-of-37 (78.4%) attempts with no interceptions for 370 yards and three touchdowns. Schuetz surpassed the 2,000 season passing yards threshold and found six receivers with four Pioneers registering 50+ yards.

Among Schuetz's targets, Stare pulled in a game-high eight receptions for 95 yards and two touchdowns. Guy followed closely behind with seven catches for 87 yards. Durocher recorded 76 yards and a touchdown off three receptions and sophomore Lucas Petersen finished with five receptions and 57 yards.

On the ground, the Pioneers had a season high 166 rushing yards. Lamer finished with 69 yards off 12 carries and a touchdown while Gates rushed for 47 yards and two touchdowns off 10 attempts.

The Pointers finished the day with 195 passing yards and 101 yards on the ground with just 17 first downs. The visitors were 30% (3-of-10) on third down conversions.

Junior Colton Ingram had a team high seven tackles. Junior Jack Dietzen finished with five tackles including two sacks for a loss of nine yards. Antos finished with five tackles and registered the lone interception of the game.

Junior Andrew Schweigert was a perfect 6-for-6 on extra points. Junior punter Hunter Grams averaged 49 yards per punt and placed both punts inside the 20.

The Pointers' Trey Schroeder was 19-of-27 for 195 yards and threw for two touchdowns and ran in the third touchdown. Joe Aguilera pulled in seven receptions for 96 yards.

Kameron Kryzanski had a game-high 11 tackles with one tackle for loss.

UW-Platteville hits the road next Saturday and travels to UW-River Falls on Oct. 30 for a 1 p.m. start.