Warhawks face Pioneers

By GAZETTE STAFF Friday, Sept. 28, 2012

Platteville's spread offense has produced an average of 52 points a game in three victories this season.

Whitewater's defense has allowed just 14 points in three games.

What unit maintains its level of performance likely will determine what team wins when the Warhawks travel to Ralph E. Davis Stadium in Platteville in the WIAC opener Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

The Warhawks defense, led by leading tacklers Kyle Wismer and Ryan Wenkman, shut out Washington (Mo.) University in the opener, allowed a last-second game-winning touchdown to Buffalo State in the second game and then allowed a touchdown against UW-Stevens Point—the Pointers had averaged 43 points and 469 yards in their first two games—in a 34-7 nonconference win last week.

Lou Minett has two sacks, and Marcus McLin has stepped in for preseason All-America cornerback Noah Timm and has three interceptions.

The Warhawk defense will be challenged by Pioneer quarterback John Kelly. The senior has completed 60 of 86 passes for 770 yards and nine touchdowns without an interception.

The Pioneers have thrown for 1,037 yards and rushed for 440 while defeating Buena Vista University, 56-13; Dubuque, 52-35, and UW-Eau Claire, 49-19.

In the nonconference win at home against Eau Claire, Kelly went 30 of 41 for 414 yards and four touchdowns, while running back Lee Vlasek ran for three other scores.

Platteville and Oshkosh are the only WIAC teams that made it through the nonconference season undefeated.

The Warhawks, ranked fourth in the D3football.com poll, are averaging 383 yards on offense and 24.4 points.

Platteville's defense has given up 345.6 yards and 22.6 points a game.

The teams play in the annual George Chryst Memorial Game, and the Warhawks have won the last seven games and are 68-28-3 against Platteville all-time.

Saturday's game will be broadcast on WKCH, 106.5 FM.

Before you post a comment, consider this:

Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy Agreement

Keep it clean. Comments that are obscene, vulgar or sexually oriented will be removed. Creative spelling of such terms or implied use of such language is banned, also.
Don't threaten to hurt or kill anyone.
Be nice. No racism, sexism or any other sort of -ism that degrades another person.
Harassing comments. If you are the subject of a harassing comment or personal attack by another user, do not respond in-kind. Hit the "Suggest Removal" button on offensive comments.
Share what you know. Give us your eyewitness accounts, background, observations and history.
Do not libel anyone. Libel is writing something false about someone that damages that person's reputation.
Ask questions. What more do you want to know about the story?
Stay focused. Keep on the story's topic.
Help us get it right. If you spot a factual error or misspelling, email newsroom@gazettextra.com or call 1-800-362-6712.
Remember, this is our site. We set the rules, and we reserve the right to remove any comments that we deem inappropriate.

Post Comment

Commenting requires registration.

News:

Opinion:

Blogs | Columns | Political Cartoons | Polls

Sports:

Multimedia:

Community:

Births | Couples | Obituaries | Death Notices

Blogs

Blog List | Latest Blog Entries

Services:

Reader Rewards | Retail Locations

Copyright ©2007 Bliss Communications Inc. All rights reserved. Use of this material and this site are subject to the GazetteExtra Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Content may not be published, broadcast, re-distributed or re-written.