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High school football players continue success at UWW

WHITEWATER — They played high school football for three of the most successful programs in the state.

Garth Coats was a two-way starter in the line for Evansville, which ruled the Rock Valley Conference.

Bruce Langer set numerous school passing records in leading Milton to three consecutive Southern Lakes titles.

Matt McCulloch earned all-state recognition at cornerback, and he also played quarterback for a Janesville Parker team that had an unbeaten regular season in 2006.

There weren’t many losses during high school for the three, and as members of UW-Whitewater’s defending NCAA Division III champions (13-1), there haven’t been many in college, either.

“It has been pretty unbelievable,” McCulloch said of losing only three games in the last three years. “I’m just trying to enjoy it right now.

“The biggest difference right now is that college football is a lot more mental. And I get a lot more nervous than I did in high school.”

McCulloch, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound sophomore, started the season battling for playing time at free safety. He was moved to cornerback and has gotten plenty of action in the Warhawks’ nickel package. McCulloch has 29 tackles, including 15 solos.

In 14 games, McCulloch has two interceptions, including a pivotal one late in the game against UW-Eau Claire that preserved a 16-14 victory. McCulloch wears No. 23 after his idol, Michael Jordan, and should be on field the field quite a bit against Mount Union (14-0) in Saturday’s Stagg Bowl.

Coats, a 6-2, 282-pound junior, has started every game at center. He’s part of an offensive line that was hit hard by graduation, but has jelled as the season has progressed. Whitewater has rushed for 3,033 yards and is averaging 35.14 points per game.

Coats knows the Warhawks will have to turn it up a notch against Mount Union. The Purple Raiders are allowing a mere 6.79 points a game.

“We need to focus on what we need to do, and then be able to make adjustments as the game goes along,” Coats said. “Without a doubt, when we play our game, we’re one of the top offenses in the country.

“There’s an awful lot of respect on our team for Mount Union, but we feel like the only one that can stop our offense is us. And that’s if we’re not focusing on our technique.”

The 6-2, 200-pound Langer started two games at quarterback for the Warhawks after Jeff Donovan was injured. The sophomore led Whitewater to wins in both starts.

Even though Donovan has returned as the starter, Langer knows he’s only a play away from getting the call.

“I’m a competitor, and I’d rather be starting, but I know I have to be ready to step in if something happens to Jeff,” Langer said.

“It’s exciting, though, to get back to the championship game,” Langer admitted. “We have to go out there and play our game and see what happens.”

And if the success of Garth Coats, Bruce Langer and Matt McCulloch means anything, another Warhawk victory may be the only option.