Pioneers fall short at Stout in third overtime

MENOMONIE, Wis. – The No. 22 nationally ranked University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team fell just short, 24-22 in a three-overtime thriller against UW-Stout Saturday afternoon at Don and Nona Williams Stadium. In the end, it was a one-handed catch in the back of the endzone that secured the Blue Devil (5-3, 3-2) victory and gave the Pioneers (4-4, 3-2) their second WIAC loss of the season. 

The back-and-forth ball game saw neither team lead by more than three points after the Pioneers took a 7-6 lead with 8:09 left in first half. The Pioneers forced three turnovers and took their first lead of the day off a 64-yard bomb from Michael Priami to Ben Wilson, but after the Pioneers kept the Blue Devils out of endzone late in the fourth quarter, Stout forced overtime with an 18-yard field goal.  

Andrew Schweigert scored the final nine UW-Platteville points, including 26 and 33 yard field goals in the first and second overtimes. Schweigert was 3-of-4 for field goals with one blocked and 1-of-2 in PATs. The veteran also averaged 44.4 yards per punt off five kicks placing three inside the 20 and a long of 71 yards which is good for third all-time in the Pioneer Record book. 

Once in overtime, both teams settled for three points in the first overtime with the Pioneers scoring first. Stout scored three first in the second overtime and Schweigert answered back to send it to 3OT.  In accordance with the new NCAA rule this season, the teams set up for two-point conversions starting in the third overtime until a team leads at the end of the overtime. Priami's pass was unsuccessful, but UW-Stout's Jon Smozynski's one-handed catch one play later ended the game. 

The Pioneers held a 381-319 edge in total offense, tallying 257 yards in the air and 124 yards rushing. The Pioneers held the Blue Devils to a stifling one yard of net rushing on the day. The UW-Platteville defense also had its second game this season tallying six sacks for a loss of 47 yards.   

Priami completed 21-of-38 attempts for 256 yards, one touchdown and an interception.  

Will Lawrence rushed for 103 yards off 23 attempts and Wilson hauled in five receptions for 106 yards and one touchdown. 

Sean Borgerding led the Blue Devil offense and completed 28-of-48 attempts for 318 yards and one touchdown. Levy Hamer had a game-high 144 receiving yards and one touchdown. 

On defense, Sam Smith registered 11 tackles and forced and recovered one fumble. Justin Blazek was in on eight tackles and recorded 2.5 sacks for a loss of 24 yards.  Aidan Sproule also recorded 2.5 sacks for a loss of 19 yards. Dayne Friday tallied five tackles and three pass break-ups. Colton Ingram follow up a pick-six last week with another interception, but with no return this week.

Cannon Griner led the Blue Devils with 14 tackles and one pass breakup.

The day started off with UW-Stout going 36 yards down the field all the way to the UW-Platteville one-yard line, but three big stops by the Pioneers forced the Blue Devils to settle for three in the first drive of the game. 

The Pioneers followed that with an 11 play, 45 yards drive of their own and were also forced to try for three points on fourth and seven, but the attempt was blocked and no good, leaving UW-Stout with a 3-0 lead.

The Blue Devils offense took to the field and Ingram forced a fumble on the very next play with Tyler Bacon recovering the fumble for a Pioneer ball. UW-Stout got the ball back on a turnover on downs, but another Blue Devil fumble and Pioneer recovery at their own 17-yard line, this time by Smith, returned possession back to UW-Platteville. 

UW-Stout doubled their lead with 8:34 left in the half off a 33-yard field goal, but the tides turned two snaps later when Priami hit Wilson deep down the right sideline for a 64-yard touchdown pass and the Schweigert extra point gave the Pioneers a 7-6 lead with 8:09 on the clock. 

In the second half, the UW-Platteville's up-tempo offense caught the Blue Devils off guard as they marched 94 yards in 10 plays for a short 1-yard pass from Braeden Katcher to John Goomey for another touchdown to lead 13-6 after a failed extra point kick attempt. 

UW-Stout answered back with a four-play, 66 yard drive which ended with a 23-yard touchdown pass to tie the game 13-13 with 4:30 remaining in the third quarter.  

Ingram intercepted Borgerding two drives later, but the Pioneers were unable to cash in on the turnover and turned the ball over on downs after failing to convert on fourth down and eight at the Stout 29-yard line.  

The Pioneers pulled ahead 16-13 with 7:03 left in regulation after Schweigert put one through the uprights on fourth and one from the 12-yard line. 

UW-Stout then ate up 5:44 off the clock as they marched 74 yards in 13 plays. The Blue Devils found themselves at the three-yard line on first down, but a pass breakup by Friday, and huge stop by Blazek and Jack Dietzen kept Stout out of the endzone and forced the 16-16 tie that sent the game into overtime. 

The Pioneers will return to action and Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium for Senior Day and Veterans Day on Family Weekend as they host UW-Eau Claire on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 1 p.m.