1998 Review
Week #10 - Pioneers end with loss
UW-Stout's Matt Bunyan proved to be too tall a task for the Pioneers, as he ended his career with five touchdown passes in the Blue Devils' 48-12 win in the season finale at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.
John Weaver hit Cory Kueter on a double-pass for an 18-yard score inthe first quarter, and John Jacobs scampered 14 yards in the third quarter for the Pioneers' scores. Jacobs recorded his first 100-yard rushing day with 114 yards. He was held to 35 yards passing by Stout.
The Pioneers finish 1998 with a 1-9 overall record and an 0-7 conference mark. Stout ended 5-5, 3-4. Bunyan threw for a Blue Devil-record 38 scoring passes this year and 85 for his career.
Week #9 - Titans come back to beat Pioneers
It's a senario that seems to have captured the UW-Platteville football fortunes in a nutshell: the Pioneers led UW-Oshkosh 24-21 in the third quarter and appeared to be driving in for another score. However at Oshkosh's 18, the Titans caused a fumble, picked up the ball and ran it back 64 yards. Three plays later, the Titans took the lead 28-24 and the momentum. Oshkosh proceeded to score 21 more points in the fourth quarter to take a 49-24 victory.
The win was the Titans' first in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference this season and raised their overall mark to 4-5. The Pioneers lost their sixth straight league game this season and 21st dating back to 1995. UWP is now 1-8 overall.
Saturday's loss spoiled a near record-setting day by Jeremiah Shoemaker. The senior rumbled for 214 yards, becoming only the fourth player in school history run for more than 200 yards in a game. He was part of a 490-yard rushing day by the offense.
Shoemaker scored two touchdowns, with his last giving the Pioneers the 24-21 lead with 9:32 left in the third quarter. The Pioneers held that lead until just seven seconds remained in the third quarter.
It appeared the Pioneers would not have been in the game after the first quarter. Oshkosh quarterback Brian Tomalak made his first two passes count, hitting John May for 67- and 35-yard bombs for a 14-0 lead 3:50 into the game. The Pioneers battled back to take a 17-14 lead on Stephen Buchs' 30-yard field, a four-yard TD by Michael Hudson and a three-yard scoring run by Shoemaker. Tomalak, however, hit Shannon King for a 22-yard touchdown pass with 15 seconds left in the half for a 21-17 lead at the break.
Hudson added 96 rushing yards, and quarterback John Jacobs ran for 94 more. Platteville out-gained Oshkosh 516-450.
The Pioneers close the season Saturday at home against UW-Stout.
Week #8 - Blugolds bomb Pioneers
UW-Eau Claire took advantage of UW-Platteville mistakes and routed the host Pioneers 55-12 on Halloween afternoon.
The Blugolds took advantage of Pioneer fumbles on the Platteville 27 and 6, plus they blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone to take a 27-0 lead. Platteville got on the board on John Jacobs' 18-yard pass to Greg Siegert with 52 seconds left in the first half, but the Blugolds answered with a score of their own 43 seconds later for a 34-6 halftime lead.
Jacobs caught a touchdown pass from halfback Eric Bunner on the opening drive of the third quarter, slicing the lead to 34-12. Three plays later, however, Eau Claire quarterback Sean Hoolihan found Steve Crutchley for the combos third scoring pass of the day, this one covering 86 yards, for a 41-12 lead.
Platteville dropped its 20th consecutive WIAC game, falling to 1-7 overall and 0-5 in league play. The Blugolds remained a game behind UW-La Crosse, their next week's opponent, and UW-Whitewater, whom they already beat, in the league at 3-2. Platteville travels to UW-Oshkosh next Saturday.
Week #7 - Warhawks edge Pioneers in thriller
It wasn't a win for the UW-Platteville football team, but it sure was a good show.
The Pioneers battled UW-Whitewater to the last whistle before falling 27-21 in the sixth annual George Chryst Memorial Bowl Oct. 24 at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.
Platteville, searching for its first conference victory since 1995, took a 14-13 lead into the fourth quarter against the Warhawks, who came into the game with the WIAC's top-ranked offense and defense.
Jeremiah Shoemaker scored on a two-yard touchdown run with under three minutes to play in the second quarter to tie the game at 7-7. After Whitewater scored 58 seconds later, the Pioneers marched right back down the field. Quarterback John Jacobs lofted a perfectly executed 24-yard touchdown pass to Troy Gagner with 8 seconds left in the half for a 14-13 lead.
Whitewater's Ty Grovesteen scored on a fourth-and-goal play from the one early in the fourth quarter, then hit Tony Magestro with an 80-yard bomb three minutes later for a 27-14 lead.
Still, the Pioneers refused to quit, reaching the Whitewater 8 before losing the ball on downs. After forcing a Warhawk punt, the Pioneers drove 50 yards and scored on Jacobs' 9-yard pass to Gagner. Whitewater, however, recovered the on-sides kick and ran out the clock.
Defensive back Brian Childs, who had eight tackles, and running back Billy Frazier, who gained 80 rushing yards off the bench, were named the Pioneer players of the game by the media. The Warhawks' Grovesteen, who threw for three tocuhdowns and ran for another, and Mitch Gauthier, who had two big quarterback sacks, earned UWW's honors.
The game is played in memory of the late Pioneer Coach George Chryst, who compiled a 79-60-2 record from 1979 until his sudden death in December, 1992.
Week #6 - Pioneers' efforts "Arn"-t enough at La Crosse
The UW-Platteville football team could not control the big-play efforts of UW-La Crosse's Jared Arn and fell to the host Eagles 35-7 Oct. 17.
Arn scored four times--on a 49-yard punt return and rushes of 13, 54 and 37 yards--to help the Eagles remain undefeated in league play at 3-0. Platteville fell to 1-5 overall and 0-3 in the WIAC.
After spotting the Eagles a 14-0 halftime lead, the Pioneers made an impressive opening drive of the third quarter. They went 66 yards in 12 yards, including a key 26-yard completion from John Jacobs to Troy Gagner on a 4th and 5 play. Jacobs then hit Adam Hansen for a 4-yard touchdown pass.
La Crosse, however, came right back with a 67-yard drive of its own, capped off by Arn's 13-yard run. Platteville looked like it had an answer for that, but Jacobs' pass was tipped an intercepted in the La Crosse end zone. Arn's 54-yard run 6 plays later increased the lead to a 28-7.
The Eagles outgained the Pioneers 385-252. Jacobs was the leading rusher for the Pioneers with 74 yards, but was also intercepted 4 times.
Week #5 - Falcons run over Pioneers
UW-River Falls brought in one of the nation's top rushing offenses and proceeded to run over the Pioneers 39-0, spoiling UW-Platteville's Homecoming.
The Falcons, who led 24-0 at the half, ran for 440 yards and threw for 63 more. The Pioneers were held to 92 yards on the ground and 41 through the air.
The highlights of the day belonged to Brian Childs, who recorded 20 tackles, including 15 solos, and freshman punter Brad Abraham, who boomed 5 punts for a 48.2 average and allowed only 5 yards on returns in his collegiate debut.
The Pioneers fell to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The league-leading Falcons improved to 4-1, 2-0.
Week #4 - UWP falls short at Point, 26-20
Even though the UW-Platteville football team appeared to be improved over last year's team, Saturday marked the first time the Pioneers faced a team whom they played last season when they played at UW-Stevens Point. Even though Platteville lost again, the score and game showed how far the Pioneers have come. A year after being blown out 54-0, the Pioneers gave the Pointers all they could handle before losing 26-20 at Stevens Point's Goerke Field.
The Pioneers led the game three times, including twice in the second half. John Jacobs threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Mike Aird to complete the Pioneers' opening drive and also tossed a 30-yard bomb to John Weaver in the third quarter for a 13-10 advantage. After the Pointers re-took the lead at 16-13, Tim Duffy picked up a fumble on an attempted punt and ran into the end zone for a 20-16 UWP lead. The tide of the game turned, however, when Stevens Point inserted quarterback Ryan Aulenbacher, who threw four scores against in last year's game but lost his starting job this year. Aulenbacher led the Pointers down the field immediately after Duffy's fumble and threw a scoring pass to take the lead for good. The Pointers added a fourth-quarter field goal for the final 26-20 count.
Platteville fell to 1-3, with their three losses totalling 15 points. The Pioneers play at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium for just the second time next Saturday when they play host to UW-River Falls in the annual Homecoming contest at 2 p.m.
Week #3 - Pioneers lose heart-breaker
UW-Platteville's comeback attempt fell just short, as the Pioneers dropped their home opener 16-14 to nationally ranked Augustana Sept. 19.
John Jacobs connected with Troy Gagner for a 20-yard touchdown pass with 2:09 remaining, and Stephen Buchs' extra-point attempt brought the Pioneers within 16-14. Platteville recovered an on-sides kick, but was called for illegal procedure. Amazingly, the Pioneers recovered the next one as well. But after picking up one first down, Jacobs was sacked on fourth down with 1:09 to play. The Vikings then ran out the clock.
Augustana, ranked ninth in the Street&Smith pre-season poll, improved to 2-0. UWP fell to 1-2.
The Vikings grabbed a 9-0 second quarter lead, but Jacobs and Gagner hooked up on a 40-yard scoring pass 1:03 before halftime. The Pioneers missed two short field goals--one wide right and the other blocked--that would have given them the lead in the second half.
Augustana out-gained the Pioneers 327-236, holding the home team to 80 rushing yards on 36 attempts. Jacobs threw for 156 yards, including 5 for 76 yards to Gagner and 4 for 50 to John Weaver. Safeties Tony Lewis (11 tackles) and Jon Rodriguez (10) led the defensive effort.
The Pioneers have an open date next Saturday and play at UW-Stevens Point Oct. 3.
Week #2 - Pioneers stop streak
The UW-Platteville football team stopped its 10-game losing streak with a 17-13 victory at Iowa Wesleyan Sept. 12.
Jeremiah Shoemaker scored on a 39-yard run late in the first quarter, and freshman quarterback John Jacobs added a one-yard touchdown run with 59 seconds left in the first half to give the Pioneers a 14-7 lead. Stephen Buchs added a 27-yard field goal with 14:09 remaining for a 17-7 advantage.
Iowa Wesleyan cut the deficit to 17-13 with 9:53 remaining, but missed the extra point. Down by 4 instead of 3, the Tigers were forced to go for it with 4 minutes left deep in Pioneer territory, but Platteville held on downs.
Safety Jon Rodriguez came up with two turnovers in the final 2:30, one on a fumble and another on Iowa Wesleyan's last-second desperation heave.
Brian Childs also thrawted a Tiger drive earlier in the game with an interception at the Pioneer 3.
The Pioneers make their home opener Saturday against Augustana College at 7 p.m. The Vikings, ranked ninth in the pre-season by Street&Smith magazine, defeated Hope 20-6 in their first game Saturday. Complete Game Statistics
Week #1 - Pioneers drop opener
Six turnovers doomed the Pioneers' effort in their season opener at Lakeland College Sept. 5 as the Muskies won 21-14.
The win was Lakeland's 19th in a row, the second longest winning streak in the nation. Platteville lost for the tenth consecutive time.
Jeramiah Shoemaker scored on a one yard TD run late in the second quarter, and John Weaver caught a 7-yard pass from John Jacobs with 2:57 remaining for the Pioneers scores.
Weaver lead the Pioneers with 99 yards on six receptions. Jacobs completed 9 of 16 passes for 115 yards. Michael Hudson gained 66 rushing yards on 8 carries.