By Angela Kelm
Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Menomonie, Wis. — UW-Whitewater Football Dominates Ground Game for Road Win
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team dominated in the ground game for a 16-7 win at UW-Stout Saturday.
The Warhawks posted 253 yards on 55 carries while holding the Blue Devils to just 13 yards in the ground game. Sixteen of UWW’s 24 first downs came on rushing plays while the defense allowed UWS 14 total first downs in the contest. Tamir Thomas and Jaylon Edmonson combined for 168 yards on 32 carries to lead the Warhawks.
The game opened with three consecutive punts, but the Warhawks changed the score on their second possession of the contest. Thomas opened the drive with a 26-yard scamper up the middle to set up a 38-yard field goal from Jeffery Isotalo-McGuire to give UWW a 3-0 advantage.
The Blue Devils responded with an 11-play, 75-yard drive that culminated with a touchdown near the end of the first quarter to claim the lead 7-3.
In the Warhawks second drive of the second quarter, quarterback Evan Lewandowski kept it for a 33-yard gain on the first play. Thomas followed with a 24-yard burst to the left. UWW kept pounding the rock until Lewandowski dropped back and four Tommy Coates in the endzone from four yards out to put the Warhawks back in front 10-7.
The score held through the third quarter and UWW carried the lead the rest of the way.
Isotalo-McGuire added six cushion points on a pair of field goals in the fourth quarter. He capped a 19-play, 85-yard drive that took nearly 11 minutes off the clock with a 23-yarder and wrapped up the scoring with another 23-yard field goal with just over six minutes remaining.
Lewandowski was 15-20 for 130 yards and a touchdown. Tyler Hotle hauled in six catches for 42 yards while Coates added 40 yards on four receptions.
Defensively, Egon Hein led the Warhawks with seven tackles including six solo adding a pass breakup. Luke Nelson picked off the UW-Stout quarterback adding a 10-yard return to bolster the defense. Ryan Liszka, Trey Castella, Reed Farrington and Justin Allen all recorded sacks in the contest.
The Warhawks return to Perkins Stadium for the regular season finale on November 12. The game has been designated Military Appreciation, Shriner’s and Senior Day. All veterans will receive a free ticket and an additional ticket Saturday (available on day-of purchases at the ticket windows only). Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.
