Pioneers Drop Home Opener to Michigan Tech

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team (2-1) suffered its first loss of the season to Michigan Tech (2-0) Saturday. The Pioneers fell 24-20 to the Huskies in the home opener at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium. 

Fans remained on the edge of their seats all the way until the Huskies intercepted the Pioneers with 1:06 left in regulation, spoiling UW-Platteville's comeback attempt.  

Saturday's game featured two veteran defenses, each forcing three interceptions apiece. The Pioneers added two additional fumbles forced and recoveries.   

The Huskies took a 7-0 lead four minutes into the game with a seven play, 78 yard opening series.  

Michigan Tech's Alex Fries completed a 23-yard pass to Darius Willis on their next drive, but Nicholas Alberico forced a fumble with Colton Ingram on the recovery, to give the ball back to the Pioneers with 2:51 left in the first quarter.  

The Pioneers answered with a three and out, but a huge hurry by Justin Blazek caused the Huskies second straight turnover as Fries was intercepted by Aidan Tyk who returned it 20 yards to the Platteville 27-yardline.  

The teams exchanged punts and on second and nine, Carl Richardson found Brandt Stare for an 89-yard bomb to tie the game with 9:25 left in the half. 

A blocked punt set the Huskies up one yard outside the Pioneers endzone and one push doubled Michigan Tech's lead to 14-7 with 6:38 on the clock. 

The new lead would not last long as Blazek's jump pass to Jett Gillum concluded UW-Platteville's 80-yard, 10-play drive which tied the game once again 14-14 with 2:29 to go in the half.  

Two short series followed, including the Huskies pulling in a second interception, and Michigan Tech picked up seven more off a 7-yard run up the middle to take a 21-14 lead into halftime. 

The Huskies received to open the second half, and both teams exchanged punts before Tyk forced the Pioneers' second fumble of the day. Samuel Tausz on the fumble recovery gave possession back to UW-Platteville at their own 34 with 12:01 left in the third quarter. Unable to convert on 3^rd and 10, Andrew Schweigert kicked a 31-yard field goal to cut Michigan Tech's lead to 21-17.  

The Pioneers kept the momentum rolling as Fries was intercepted again, this time by Ingram following yet again, another hurry by Blazek. Schweigert drilled in another, this time from 41 yards out to pull the Pioneers in within one, 21-20 with seven minutes left in the third quarter. 

Early in the fourth quarter, a 19-yard field goal pushed the Huskies' lead to 24-20. Michigan Tech was on its way to extend its lead even further, but Ollie Hughes picked off Fries for his third interception of the day and returned it nine yards to the Huskies 44. 

Michigan Tech answered with an interception of their own on UW-Platteville's next drive. The Huskies were forced to punt with 1:45 left in regulation and the Pioneers took over from their own 25. UW-Platteville got as far as their 44-yard line before Richardson was intercepted for the third time and the Huskies were just two knees away from the 24-20 win. 

The Pioneers totaled 356 yards offense, sending 266 through the air. The Huskies totaled 381 yards offense, including 288 in the air. 

Michael Priami completed five of 11 passes for 33 yards before exiting the game after a late hit in the first quarter. Richardson took over and completed 14 of 33 attempts for 232 yards and one touchdown. 

Two Pioneer receivers once again hit 100+ yard games with Brandt Stare finishing with 143 yards and one touchdown off seven receptions. Ryan Doherty added another 100 yards off eight catches. 

Leading the Pioneers, Zackary Bothun netted 47 rushing yards off 12 carries and Tag Habedank also tallied 12 carries for 46 yards. 

Fries completed 27 of 44 attempts for the Huskies for 288 yards and one touchdown. Fries hit Ethan Champney 11 times for 143 yards and William Marano had a game-high 59 yards off 20 carries. 

Alberico had a game-high 14 tackles in addition to a fumble forced and pass breakup. Sam Smith was right behind with 13 tackles including one sack, 1.5 TFLs for a loss of two, a fumble forced and pass breakup. Blazek had a game-high three quarterback hurries while also tallying nine tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss of four yards, and was in on one sack for a loss of a yard. 

Marc Sippel led the Huskies defense with 14 tackles, including one tackle for a loss of three yards, one interception and two hurries. 

The Pioneers take a bye week next weekend and then return to action on Saturday, September 30 when they travel to UW-River Falls to open the WIAC portion of their schedule. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.