Pioneers drop road game at No. 5 UW-Whitewater

WHITEWATER, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team (4-4, 2-3 WIAC) fell 45-23 Saturday to No. 5 nationally ranked UW-Whitewater (7-1, 4-1 WIAC) at Perkins Stadium. With the win, the Warhawks reclaimed the Miners Axe in the George Chryst Memorial Bowl. 

The match-up between the Pioneers and Warhawks is named in honor of the late head football coach, George Chryst who coached the Pioneers from 1980 to his sudden passing in 1992. Brandt Stare and Justin Blazek were named Offensive and Defensive Players of the Game for UW-Platteville.  

Having lost the Miners Axe last year in Platteville, the Warhawks made their intentions known early with an interception on the first play of the game. They used that momentum to move 33 yards in nine plays to take a 7-0 lead with 11:53 on the clock. UW-Whitewater doubled its lead six minutes later on a three-yard carry up the middle. 

On the ensuing drive, the Pioneers attempted a 52-yard field goal, which would have been a school record by the current record-holder Andrew Schweigert, but the kick bounced off the left upright. 

Alec Ogden found Drake Martin for a 15-yard touchdown pass on the next drive to give the Warhawks a 21-0 lead at the quarter break. 

The Pioneers began to find rhythm in the second quarter, moving 78 yards in six plays. The scoring drive finished with one of Brandt Stare's incredible catches of the day, this one a 38-yard pass from Carl Richardson. Schweigert's point after made it 21-7 with 9:35 remaining in the half. 

The Pioneers kept momentum on their side as Justin Blazek intercepted Ogden three plays later on third-and-three and returned it 23 yards to the Warhawk 20-yard line. 

Jared Scheberl kicked a 34-yard field goal to cut UW-Whitewater's lead to 21-10. The score was short-lived as the following kick-off was returned for a touchdown and the Warhawks led 28-10 with 7:04 to go in the first half. 

The Warhawks added one more touchdown before halftime on a 10-play, 66-yard drive, leaving the Pioneers trailing 35-10 at the half. 

UW-Platteville kicked off to start the second half and UW-Whitewater continued to move down the field 81 yards in 11 plays for another touchdown. 

The teams exchanged punts and Brandt Stare followed up a 36-yard reception with a four-yard rushing touchdown. A blocked point after attempt kept the score at 42-16 with 4:26 left in the third quarter. 

Each team would score once more before the end of the game with Nathan Shackelford running in the final Pioneer touchdown with 00:22 left on the clock. 

The Warhawks offense was on the field for a total of 38:13 and held the advantage in total offense with 449 yards to the Pioneers 288 yards. UW-Platteville totaled 233 yards in the air and 57 on the ground. The Warhawks finished with 203 passing yards as the WIAC's leading rushing offense netted 246 yards. UW-Platteville finished 4-of-11 on third down while UW-Whitewater was 11-of-17 on third down and 2-of-3 on fourth down. 

Richardson finished 12-of-19 for 144 yards and passed for one touchdown and one interception. Shackelford passed for 71 yards and was 7-of-8.

Brandt Stare hauled in six receptions for 106 yards and one touchdown while also running in a second touchdown. Zackary Bothun paced the Pioneers with 11 carries for 50 yards. 

The Warhawks Offensive Player of the Game, Ogden finished 19-of-30 for 190 yards, passing for two touchdowns and one interception while running in two additional touchdowns. 

Tyler Vasey was Ogden's favorite target and led the Warhawks with five receptions and 64 yards. Tamir Thomas combined 11 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown. 

Colton Ingram led the defense with a total of 14 tackles. Samuel Tausz finished with nine tackles and recorded the Pioneers only sack of the game for a loss of eight yards. Blazek finished with five tackles and had the showstopping interception and 23-yard return.  

Dys Klubertanz intercepted the Pioneers twice, returning the picks 34-yards which earned him being named UW-Whitewater's Defensive Player of the Game. 

The Pioneers return to action and Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium next Saturday, Nov. 4 when they host UW-Oshkosh at 1 p.m.