Pioneers take down Spartans, 38-7, under the stadium lights

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – Under the lights at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team (2-0) defeated the University of Dubuque Spartans (0-2) 38-7 on Saturday night.

The Pioneers held the Spartans to a slim six net rushing yards and 200 passing yards. Two games into the season, the Pioneers are now averaging -10.5 yards of rushing defense. 

UW-Platteville finished with 503 yards of total offense including 310 in the air. Saturday was the first 500+ yards game for the Pioneers since the 80-13 win at Lakeland in 2023. 

Penalty yards proved to be an issue for both teams with 10 for 95 yards plaguing the Pioneers and 10 for 102 yards hindering the Spartans.

Sophomore Trevor Schulz got the first and only points on the board in the first quarter with a 17-yard field goal 12 minutes into the game. The Pioneers then extended the lead to 10-0 two plays into the second period when senior Michael Priami hit sophomore Zackary Bothun for a 13-yard touchdown. 

The Spartans responded their next possession with an 11-play, 75-yard drive which ended with a 16-yard catch to narrow the Pioneers' lead to three. Of the 77 yards making up Dubuque's only scoring drive of the game, the Pioneers gave up 25 yards on penalties. 

The three-point game didn't last long and the Pioneers needed only two plays to move 74 yards all the way down the field. Priami hit junior Garrett Stare for a 58-yard completion and another touchdown. 

Dubuque went three and out on their next drive and the Pioneers marched 66 yards on 11 plays all the way down field, ending with Priami finding Stare once again to put the Pioneers ahead 24-7 with 4:07 left in the half. 

UW-Platteville received the ball to open the second half and were back celebrating in the endzone two plays later. Priami hit both his targets for 70 yards and this time it ended with a 59-yard catch by senior Ryan Doherty.   

Dubuque cut the Pioneers' next drive short when the Spartans intercepted Priami, but they were forced to punt after going three and out at their own 19-yard line. Special teams then brought the fans to their feet when sophomore Ethan Bode leveled the punter for a loss of 14 yards. UW-Platteville took over from the Dubuque 5-yard line and Priami found junior Trevor Syse, putting the Pioneers ahead 38-7 with 11:10 left in the third quarter. 

On the Spartans' succeeding drive, Dubuque moved 55 yards on 15 plays. A touchdown was called back due to offensive pass interference and the penalty was followed by an interception in the endzone by sophomore Harrison Meyer.

The Pioneers ran over seven minutes of the board on each of their remaining possessions to run out the clock an make their 38-7 lead final.

UW-Platteville controlled the pace of play for much of the game.  The Pioneers held possession for 34:36 compared to 25:24 for Dubuque and the Spartans were able to execute 71 plays, down from their 91 plays just a week ago. 

Priami now has back-to-back games featuring five passing touchdowns. Overall, Priami completed 24-of-37 attempts for 297 yards and one interception. 

Bothun accounted for 157-of-193 team net rushing yards on 24 carries. Bothun averaged 6.5 yards per carry and added three receptions for 33 yards and a touchdown. Bothun rushed for 85 yards in the first quarter alone.  

Stare had a game-high 86 receiving yards and hauled in two touchdowns while Syse pulled down all six of the passes sent his direction including one for a career-first touchdown.  

On defense, senior Elijah Krantz paced the Pioneers with five tackles and two hurries. Senior Sayge Terrell added four tackles, including a sack for a loss of six and Meyer totaled five pass breakups.

Dubuque's Channing Williams had a game-high nine tackles, including one for a loss of two yards.  

Backup quarterback Joey Rhomberg finished the day 25-of-49 for 194 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Rhomberg also rushed for 10 yards on nine carries. Jamarie Jenkins finished with 70 receiving yards on eight catches and Za'Cameron Brice scored the only touchdown while totaling 63 yards off seven receptions.

The Pioneers will return to action next Saturday, Sept. 21 when they wrap up their nonconference schedule with a 1 p.m. game against Wabash at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.

*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.