Pioneers dominate record-setting season opener at Lakeland

PLYMOUTH, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team kicked off the 2023 season Thursday night with a showstopping performance at Lakeland University. After putting 56 points on the board in the first half, the Pioneers went on to win 80-13, breaking the 53-year old program record of 70 points scored in a single game, set in 1970 against UW-Stout. The win also marks the team's first season opener victory since 2019. 

Ryan Munz's squad totaled 571 yards total offense, enough to tie for sixth in the Pioneer record book. The Pioneers sent 348 yards through the air and netted 223 yards rushing as nine different Pioneers scored eleven touchdowns. Lakeland totaled 237 yards with 80 yards rushing and 157 in the air.

Andrew Schweigert was a perfect 11-for-11 on PATs and his lone field goal attempt of 30-yards sent the Pioneers past the 70-point threshold to set the school record. Eleven PATs also sits first in the UW-Platteville record book and ties the WIAC record. 

UW-Platteville set the game tone from the very start as the Pioneers took just five plays and less than three minutes to go 71 yards to get on the scoreboard. The Pioneers ultimately found the endzone in their first six drives of the night and used just 38 plays to score the first 56 points. 

Michael Priami passed for a career best four touchdowns, completing 11 of 14 attempts for 195 yards. Priami hit Garrett Stare for a 17-yard reception and the first touchdown. Priami then found Brandt Stare for a 31-yard touchdown moments later.   

On the following drive, defensive end Justin Blazek got in on the action and punched in his first career offensive touchdown. Brandt Stare and Priami doubled-down a couple minutes later and Ryan Doherty finished off the period catching Priami's fourth touchdown pass of the quarter. 

As UW-Platteville built its lead, the Pioneer defense held the Muskies to -11 yards and 19 plays after their first five drives. The Pioneers allowed Lakeland only 68 yards total offense in the first half as the Muskies were unable to get past the 50-yardline into UW-Platteville territory until the Pioneers had a comfortable 42-0 lead with 13 minutes left in the half. 

In the second quarter, Tag Habedank ran in the first and last touchdowns of the period while Zackary Bothun's four-yard carry scored the freshman's first career touchdown.  

Lakeland avoided a shutout when Robby Michael rushed 14 yards for a touchdown in the opening drive of the second half. 

Carl Richardson (9-12-1) made his debut in the opener and passed for 109 yards and ran in one touchdown. Nathan Shackelford (2-2-0) also ran in a touchdown and rushed for 40 yards off two carries. McKade Jelinek's three-yard carry scored the Pioneers' eleventh and final touchdown of the night.  

Sam Smith and Logan Drone led the defense with six tackles apiece while Smith tallied one sack and hurry as Drone registered 2.5 tackles for loss of seven yards. Freshman Ollie Hughes grabbed UW-Platteville's lone interception returning it 36 yards and Nicholas Alberico had a team-high two pass breakups. 

K'Vondre Meadows netted 64 rushing yards  on 12 carries to lead the Pioneers.

On special teams, Tyler Sedlock returned two punts for 89 yards and three kickoffs for 49 yards.  

Lakeland's Robby Michael completed 13 of 32 attempts for 146 yards. Xaviar Thomas led the Muskies with 87 yards on two catches including a 53-yard reception. 

On defense for Lakeland, Justin McMahon recorded a game-high seven tackles as Karlis Ozols recorded four tackles including one sack for a loss of 14 yards, and a fumble forced.

The Pioneers held a 35:46 – 24:14 time of possession advantage, 30-16 edge in first downs and converted on seven of 11 third-down attempts. Thursday's victory is one of just two games in the last 100 years where any WIAC team scored 80 or more points.

UW-Plattevillle will look to keep the momentum going into next week as the Pioneers make the short trip to the University of Dubuque on Saturday, Sept. 9. Playing under the lights for the second game in a row, kick off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

*As with every UW-Platteville win this year, the Platteville A&W will be offering a $3 Pioneer burger the day after the win and the Platteville Taco John's will be offering 10 tacos for $10 the day after each Pioneer win.