No. 11 Pioneers Stun No. 4 Falcons on Homecoming, Improve to 5-0

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. - In a clash of undefeated nationally ranked teams, No. 11 University of Wisconsin-Platteville football defeated No. 4 UW-River Falls 28-7 Saturday afternoon at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium on Homecoming. The Pioneers held the Falcons scoreless through three quarters and picked up their second consecutive upset against a top-five nationally ranked opponent after last Saturday's overtime win against then No. 3 UW-La Crosse.

On a beautiful fall day in front of a packed stadium, the Pioneers (5-0, 2-0 WIAC) dominated much of the day as they shut down the Falcons (4-1, 1-1 WIAC) blistering offense all while going 4-for-4 in the red zone with two touchdowns in the second and third quarters. UW-River Falls avoided a shutout after a touchdown in the final four minutes of the game.

As the only remaining undefeated team in the WIAC after Saturday's games, the 5-0 start is a first for the Pioneers since starting the 2017 season with a five-game win streak. It is also only the eighth time in the team's 120+ year history where the team has started 5-0.

The Falcons entered Saturday's game leading the NCAA DIII with 61.5 points per game and had been averaging 532 yards total offense. UW-Platteville held UW-River Falls to 320 yards on Saturday, including 107 rushing yards, which is a team-low since the Pioneers and UW-River Falls faced off last season.

The Pioneers pass rush continued to wreak havoc as they bolstered a total of 13 tackles for a loss of 59 yards and six sacks for a loss of 44 yards while the secondary added eight pass breakups. The crew of Kaleb Blaha, Cade Fitzgerald and Ben Wesolowski completed just 17-of-49 attempts for 213 yards and the Falcons went 4-of-17 on third down.

In all the Pioneers totaled 312 yards of total offense. Senior Michael Priami passed for 215 yards and three touchdowns while completing 18-of-29 attempts.

Sophomore Zachary Bothun rushed for 58 yards on 24 carries and continues to lead the conference in yards per game.

Senior Ryan Doherty had a game-high 72 receiving yards coming off one deep pass while senior Brandt Stare led the Pioneers with seven catches for 53 yards and a touchdown. Senior John Goomey scored twice, one off a one-yard pass and the second on a one-yard punch into the endzone.

Junior Will Straka had a day, totaling 15 tackles including two for a loss of two yards while also forcing two hurries. Senior Aidan Sproule (-16) and junior Riley Christensen (-16) each tailed two sacks in in the game and sophomores Harrison Meyer and Ollie Hughes along with senior Nicholas Alberico each picked up two pass breakups.

Sophomore Benjamin Younker averaged 40.8 yards across eight punts, including three inside the 20. Sophomore Trevor Schulz was 4-for-4 on PATs and averaged 63 yards on five kickoffs for one touchback.

Gage Timm led the Falcons with 12 tackles and accounted for two of the team's three sacks.

The game remained scoreless through the first quarter and until the Pioneers second possession of the second frame. Priami connected with sophomore Carter Olson on the first snap for a 15-yard gain, setting UW-Platteville up for a first and goal. On fourth and inches, Priami hit a wide-open Goomey in the left corner of the endzone, giving the Pioneers a 7-0 lead with 8:36 left in the half.

On the next drive and on the Pioneers 28-yard line, the Falcons went for it on fourth and four, but Wesolowski's pass was broken up by senior Sayge Terrell.

The Falcons turned the ball back over to the Pioneers with 1:20 left in the half and they went 50 yards in five plays as Priami connected with Stare for a 13-yard completion to go up 14-0 at the half. With the touchdown, Stare ties Rich Smigleski's (1967-70) long-standing career receiving touchdowns record of 31.

UW-Platteville carried the momentum into the second half and acted fast upon it as they used the 72-yard pass from Priami to Doherty to moved down field quickly. Priami found sophomore Jaxson Garbisch for a six-yard reception and a 21-0 lead just three minutes into the second half.

Two possessions later, on third and goal with inches to go, Goomey and company moved the whole line and extended the Pioneers' lead to 28-0 with just over a minute until the end of the third quarter.

The Falcons only score of the game came off a two-yard pass from Wesolowski to Michael Krueger with four minutes remaining.

Saturday's victory is the third time in over 20 homecoming games where the Pioneers played nationally ranked teams, coincidently all three ended in victories for the Pioneers. UW-Platteville upset No. 16 UW-La Crosse 26-13 in 2009 and won 21-14 in 2022 against No. 14 UW-River Falls.

UW-Platteville was celebrating its 100^th Homecoming and the Top-25 showdown marked the 97^th homecoming football game in Pioneer history as no games were played during WWII. The Pioneers are now 51-43-3 all-time and improve to 9-4 against UW-River Falls on Homecoming.

The grind continues for the Pioneers as they hit the road next Saturday, Oct. 19 for No. 20 UW-Oshkosh which is coming off a 34-33 win over No. 12 UW-La Crosse on Saturday. The Pioneers and Titans will kick off at 1:30 p.m. at Titan 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.