No. 8 Pioneers axe No. 19 Warhawks, 17-10

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – Trailing 10-7 into the fourth quarter, No. 8 University of Wisconsin-Platteville scored 10 unanswered points to capture Saturday's thrilling 17-10 victory over No. 19 UW-Whitewater at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium. With the win in the 31^st installment of the George Chryst Memorial Bowl against the Warhawks (4-3, 2-2 WIAC), the Pioneers (6-1, 3-1 WIAC) bring the Miner's Axe back to Platteville. 

In the fourth quarter alone, the Pioneers featured a record-setting 92-yard touchdown, the only interception of the game, and a huge defensive stop on 4^th and goal. 

While the fans were on the edge of their seats until time expired, up until the final seven minutes of the game, the only scores from either team were in the second quarter.  

The Warhawks took a 3-0 lead at the start of the second frame behind a 25-yard field goal. Three snaps later on 3^rd and 10, senior Michael Priami found sophomore Jaxson Garbisch deep down field for a 40-yard completion. Priami double-down on the very next snap and hit senior Brandt Stare in the endzone for another 40-yard reception and the 7-3 lead. 

UW-Whitewater missed a 30-yard field goal on their next possession, but later took the lead, 10-7, before halftime on a 34-yard pass from Jackson Chryst to Brian Wilterdink. With less than two minutes to move 70 yards, the Pioneers moved down field and set up for a 37-yard field goal attempt on their last play of the half, but the kick was blocked. 

After halftime, as the Pioneers offense was relatively silent, the defense held steadfast to stay within one score of UW-Whitewater, never allowing the Warhawks past the UW-Platteville 46-yard line in the third quarter.

Midway through the fourth quarter, UW-Whitewater was knocking on the Pioneers' door on 1^st and goal at the four-yard line, but an illegal substitution by the offense, followed by a one-yard gain, an incompletion and a pass breakup by senior Nicholas Alberico, left the Warhawks with a 4^th and goal situation at the eight-yard line. Instead of going for three, UW-Whitewater went for it, but a huge quarterback hurry by junior Riley Christensen forced the incomplete pass and the turnover on downs.  

The Pioneers made the Warhawks pay for the decision as three snaps later, on 3^rd and 10, Priami found Stare near midfield and he ran it all the way down the right sideline for the 92-yard touchdown, becoming the longest offensive touchdown in program history.  

The touchdown was the catalyst the Pioneers had been looking for and two plays later, sophomore Elijah Krantz picked off Chryst and returned it 12 yards to the Warhawk's 23-yard line. The drive concluded with sophomore Trevor Schulz's 24-yard field goal to extend the Pioneers lead to 17-10 with 2:48 left in regulation. 

UW-Whitewater moved 39 yards on 10 plays in less than a minute and a half, but Alberico's pass breakup on 4^thand 9 forced a turnover on downs. The Warhawks would get the ball back one more time with 00:19 on the clock and after a first down, a pass breakup by junior Will Straka sealed the win for the Pioneers.

UW-Platteville held the Warhawks to 23.1% (3-of-13) on third down conversions and 1-of-3 on fourth down.

Overall, UW-Whitewater put up 435 yards total offense compared to the Pioneers 363 total yards. The Warhawks split the day with 254 yards in the air and 181 off their run game. UW-Platteville on the other hand sent 299 yards through the air as they registered 64 yards rushing. 

Priami was 21-of-41 for 299 yards and two touchdowns. Stare, who was named the Pioneers Offensive Player of the Game, paced the Pioneers with seven receptions for 163 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore Zackary Bothun rushed for 57 yards off 25 carries.  

Stare's first touchdown of the day broke Rich Smigleski's 54-year old career receiving touchdowns record of 31. After a pair of 40+ yard touchdowns on Saturday, Stare sits with 33 career touchdowns.

Chryst completed 18-of-39 attempts for 254 yards while running for another 38 yards. Noah Battle rushed for 80 yards on 11 carries and Wilterdink had a team-high five receptions for 75 yards. 

Sophomore Benjamin Younker averaged 42.3 yards on seven punts and placed three inside the 20. 

Straka finished with a game-high 13 tackles  while  junior Logan Drone added 10 more and was named Defensive Player of the Game. Alberico finished with three of the Pioneers' four pass breakups. 

Ethan Gallagher led the Warhawks with 11 tackles. 

Saturday's win gives the Pioneers a 3-1 record this season against nationally ranked opponents, having faced all of them on four consecutive weekends. 

While it is only the fourth time in program history that the Pioneers have won the Miner's Axe, it is the second time in the last three meetings of the teams. The annual match-up between the Pioneers and Warhawks is played in honor of the late UW-Platteville head coach, George Chryst who coached the Pioneers from 1979 until his sudden passing in 1992. Coincidentally, UW-Whitewater's quarterback, Jackson Chryst, is the grandson of George Chryst. 

Postgame, offensive and defensive players of the game are voted on by the media and were recognized. George Chryst's wife Patty was in attendance to congratulate the players of the game and award the Miner's Axe trophy. 

UW-Platteville Offensive Player of the Game: Brandt Stare

UW-Platteville Defensive Player of the Game: Logan Drone

UW-Whitewater Offensive Player of the Game: Noah Battle

UW-Whitewater Defensive Player of the Game: Ethan Gallagher 

The Pioneers will return to action and hit the road for UW-Stevens Point, next Saturday, November 2 at 1 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.