Sports

The No. 7 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team engineered a big first half and hung on in the second half Saturday for a 41-28 triumph over Wartburg (Iowa) in the second round of the NCAA Division III Championship at Perkins Stadium.

The Warhawks (11-1 overall) advance to the national quarterfinals for the 13th time in the last 15 years and will face No. 1 ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor (12-0) (Texas) next Saturday, Dec. 7, 12:00 p.m. CST at MHB in Belton, TX.

UW-Whitewater held Wartburg (10-2) to 32 yards rushing and forced five turnovers in the contest.

Senior running back Jarrod Ware (Bradley, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) rushed for 58 yards, and junior tight end Jared Zausch (Saukville, Wis./Ozaukee) posted four receptions for 41 yards. Senior running back Ronny Ponick (Stanley, Wis./Stanley-Boyd) rushed for 31 yards and one touchdown and caught a 12-yard touchdown.

Senior linebacker Matt Anderson (Rockford, Ill./Lutheran) tallied a team-high eight tackles, including one sack, and one interception. Junior linebacker Kaleb Kaminski (Tomahawk, Wis./Tomahawk) registered four tackles, including one for a loss, and added one forced fumble and two interceptions.

The Warhawks’ special teams made several big plays during the game, including a punt return for a touchdown, five kickoff returns for 146 yards, two made field goals and five punts for an average of 41.6 yards, including three inside the Knights’ 20-yard line.

Senior defensive back Garrett Purdy (Naperville, Ill./Central) posted an interception on Wartburg’s first drive of the game, and UW-Whitewater took advantage of the good field position.

Five plays after a 26-yard completion from junior quarterback Max Meylor (Mt. Horeb, Wis./Mt. Horeb) to junior wide receiver Derek Kumerow (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin), junior running back Alex Peete (Ringwood, Ill./Johnsburg) dove over the pile at the goal line for a 1-yard touchdown with 9:17 on the clock.

The Warhawks doubled the lead two minutes later, taking advantage of a forced fumble by Kaminski. Ware ran down to the Knights’ 12-yard line, and Ponick caught a screen pass for a 12-yard score.

After a three-and-out, UW-Whitewater added to its lead on a 36-yard field goal by junior kicker Wojciech Gasienica (Norridge, Ill./Ridgewood) with 2:37 to play in the first quarter.

After a Wartburg touchdown, the Warhawks responded. Junior wide receiver Ryan Wisniewski (Sparta, Wis./Sparta) returned the ensuing kickoff 46 yards, then threw a 26-yard pass to Zausch on a reverse pass. Three plays later, Meylor ran around the right side for a 4-yard touchdown at the 11:32 mark.

Following a three-and-out by the Knights, senior Justin Prostinak (Milwaukee, Wis./Lake Country Lutheran) went untouched on the punt return 67 yards for the touchdown and a 31-7 advantage with 9:21 remaining in the first half.

UW-Whitewater was the first on the board in the third quarter as Gasienica knocked a 27-yard field goal through the uprights with 9:50 to play. The drive was keyed by Wisniewski’s 38-yard return to near midfield.

Wartburg scored on the next drive to cut its deficit to 34-14, but the Warhawks took advantage of strong field position again later in the quarter. Three plays after a key third-down completion from Meylor to sophomore wide receiver Tyler Holte (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward Central Catholic), Ponick pushed up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown and a 41-14 lead with 2:27 left in the period.

The Knights tacked on touchdowns on their next two drives and had the ball in UW-W territory just past the midway point of the fourth quarter, but Kaminski picked off Noah Dodd at the Warhawks’ 27-yard line.

After a UW-Whitewater punt to the Wartburg 9-yard line, Kaminski registered his second interception of the quarter and returned it to the Knights’ 14-yard line. From there, the Warhawks knelt out the final two minutes of regulation.

Next Saturday’s game against Mary Hardin-Baylor is a rematch of the 2018 national semifinal, which the Crusaders won 31-14 in Belton, Texas.
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Team Statistics

Game Stats	WARFB	UWW
Total Yards	382	236
Pass Yards	350	101
Rushing Yards	32	135
Penalty Yards	2-20	3-40
1st Downs	23	12
3rd Downs	10-16	5-14
4th Downs	0-1	1-1
TOP	28:23	31:37

1ST QUARTER
09:17 – UWW – Alex Peete 1 yd run (W. Gasienica kick), 8 plays, 43 yards, TOP 3:43	0	7
07:12 – UWW – Ronny Ponick 12 yd pass from Max Meylor (W. Gasienica kick) 4 plays, 31 yards, TOP 1:52	0	14
02:37 – UWW – W. Gasienica 36 yd field goal 8 plays, 20 yards, TOP 4:07	0	17
2ND QUARTER
13:12 – WARFB – Brandan Childs 25 yd pass from Noah Dodd (Kain Eagle kick) 10 plays, 85 yards, TOP 4:21	7	17
11:32 – UWW – Max Meylor 4 yd run (W. Gasienica kick), 4 plays, 40 yards, TOP 1:29	7	24
09:21 – UWW – J. Prostinak 67 yd punt return (W. Gasienica kick)	7	31
3RD QUARTER
09:50 – UWW – W. Gasienica 27 yd field goal 9 plays, 39 yards, TOP 5:03	7	34
08:26 – WARFB – Kolin Schulte 22 yd pass from Brandan Childs (Kain Eagle kick) 4 plays, 48 yards, TOP 1:18	14	34
02:27 – UWW – Ronny Ponick 1 yd run (W. Gasienica kick), 6 plays, 44 yards, TOP 3:06	14	41
00:11 – WARFB – Kolin Schulte 9 yd pass from Noah Dodd (Kain Eagle kick) 8 plays, 57 yards, TOP 2:10	21	41
4TH QUARTER
09:33 – WARFB – Lee Bonifas 12 yd pass from Noah Dodd (Kain Eagle kick) 11 plays, 84 yards, TOP 4:11	28	41

Game Leaders

Choose a category:         Passing Leaders         Rushing Leaders         Receiving Leaders         Defense Leaders     

#7 Max Meylor

• CMP 11
• TD 1
• YDS 75
• INT 1

#6 Ryan Wisniewski

• CMP 1
• TD 0
• YDS 26
• INT 0

Players Mentioned

#56 Matt Anderson

LB 6′ 0″ 230 lbs Senior

#9 Wojciech Gasienica

K 5′ 9″ 175 lbs Junior

#18 Tyler Holte

WR 5′ 10″ 180 lbs Sophomore

#13 Kaleb Kaminski

LB 6′ 0″ 225 lbs Junior

#1 Derek Kumerow

WR 6′ 2″ 200 lbs Junior

#23 Alex Peete

RB 5′ 8″ 205 lbs Junior

#2 Ronny Ponick

RB 5′ 8″ 200 lbs Senior

#30 Justin Prostinak

WR 5′ 8″ 185 lbs Senior

#4 Garrett Purdy

DB 6′ 0″ 200 lbs Senior

#9 Jarrod Ware

RB 5′ 10″ 195 lbs Senior

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In Second Round play Wartburg came back on 11/30 from a 31-7 halftime score to give the Warhawks a challenge in the second half, but UW-W prevailed with 41-28. Mary Hardin-Baylor (MHB) beat Huntingdon 42-6 to face the Warhawks on 12/7 (location TBA) in the NCAA Division III 3rd Round. In 2018 MHB beat UW-W by 31-14 in a Semifinal game and went on to win the championship over Mount Union.

By the way, Mount Union, the record-holding winner of 13 championships, was eliminated by North Central (IL) by a score of 59-52 in the Second Round.

No. 7 Warhawks Advance to NCAA Quarterfinals (Update 12/2/19)

The No. 7 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team engineered a big first half and hung on in the second half Saturday for a 41-28 triumph over Wartburg (Iowa) in the second round of the NCAA Division III Championship at Perkins Stadium.

The Warhawks (11-1 overall) advance to the national quarterfinals for the 13th time in the last 15 years and will face No. 1 ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) next Saturday, Dec. 7 at Belton, TX.

UW-Whitewater held Wartburg (10-2) to 32 yards rushing and forced five turnovers in the contest.

Senior running back Jarrod Ware rushed for 58 yards, and junior tight end Jared Zausch posted four receptions for 41 yards. Senior running back Ronny Ponick rushed for 31 yards and one touchdown and caught a 12-yard touchdown.

Senior linebacker Matt Anderson tallied a team-high eight tackles, including one sack, and one interception. Junior linebacker Kaleb Kaminski registered four tackles, including one for a loss, and added one forced fumble and two interceptions.

The Warhawks’ special teams made several big plays during the game, including a punt return for a touchdown, five kickoff returns for 146 yards, two made field goals and five punts for an average of 41.6 yards, including three inside the Knights’ 20-yard line.

Senior defensive back Garrett Purdy posted an interception on Wartburg’s first drive of the game, and UW-Whitewater took advantage of the good field position.

Five plays after a 26-yard completion from junior quarterback Max Meylor to junior wide receiver Derek Kumerow, junior running back Alex Peete dove over the pile at the goal line for a 1-yard touchdown with 9:17 on the clock.

The Warhawks doubled the lead two minutes later, taking advantage of a forced fumble by Kaminski. Ware ran down to the Knights’ 12-yard line, and Ponick caught a screen pass for a 12-yard score.

After a three-and-out, UW-Whitewater added to its lead on a 36-yard field goal by junior kicker Wojciech Gasienica with 2:37 to play in the first quarter.

After a Wartburg touchdown, the Warhawks responded. Junior wide receiver Ryan Wisniewski returned the ensuing kickoff 46 yards, then threw a 26-yard pass to Zausch on a reverse pass. Three plays later, Meylor ran around the right side for a 4-yard touchdown at the 11:32 mark.

Following a three-and-out by the Knights, senior Justin Prostinak went untouched on the punt return 67 yards for the touchdown and a 31-7 advantage with 9:21 remaining in the first half.

UW-Whitewater was the first on the board in the third quarter as Gasienica knocked a 27-yard field goal through the uprights with 9:50 to play. The drive was keyed by Wisniewski’s 38-yard return to near midfield.

Wartburg scored on the next drive to cut its deficit to 34-14, but the Warhawks took advantage of strong field position again later in the quarter. Three plays after a key third-down completion from Meylor to sophomore wide receiver Tyler Holte, Ponick pushed up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown and a 41-14 lead with 2:27 left in the period.

The Knights tacked on touchdowns on their next two drives and had the ball in UW-W territory just past the midway point of the fourth quarter, but Kaminski picked off Noah Dodd at the Warhawks’ 27-yard line.

After a UW-Whitewater punt to the Wartburg 9-yard line, Kaminski registered his second interception of the quarter and returned it to the Knights’ 14-yard line. From there, the Warhawks knelt out the final two minutes of regulation.

Next Saturday’s game against Mary Hardin-Baylor is a rematch of the 2018 national semifinal, which the Crusaders won 31-14 in Belton, Texas.

The Whippet girls fell 31-57 to Evansville Tuesday night, November 26. Kacie Carollo led the Whippet scorers with 12 points followed by Abby Grosinske with 9 and Cassidy Laue with 8.

The Whitewater girls hosted the Big Foot basketball team on Friday, November 22, and came out on top, 56-22. Kacie Carollo led the Whippets’ scoring with 20, followed by Alyssa Schumacher with 13.

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Photos courtesy of Bob Mischka

The No. 7 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team scored 28 first-half points Saturday afternoon on its way to a 35-10 triumph over Monmouth (Ill.) in the first round of the NCAA Division III Championship at Perkins Stadium.

The Warhawks (10-1 overall) advance to the second round, where they’ll face Wartburg (Iowa) next Saturday, Nov. 30, 12 p.m. CST, Perkins Stadium.

UW-Whitewater picked up 28 first downs and totaled 478 yards of offense, including 278 on the ground. The team also held the ball for nearly 39 minutes in the contest.

The Warhawks’ defense held the Fighting Scots (7-3) to six first downs and 172 total yards, including zero on the ground.

Junior quarterback Max Meylor (Mt. Horeb, Wis./Mt. Horeb) registered 183 yards and four touchdowns through the air and added 34 yards on the ground. Senior running back Jarrod Ware (Bradley, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) posted 20 carries for 110 yards, and junior running back Alex Peete (Ringwood, Ill./Johnsburg) rushed 16 times for 80 yards and one touchdown. Junior wide receiver Ryan Wisniewski (Sparta, Wis./Sparta) collected six receptions for 67 yards and two scores.

Senior linebacker Matt Anderson (Rockford, Ill./Lutheran) led the defense with seven tackles. Senior defensive lineman Jordan Brand (Chicago, Ill./St. Rita) recorded four tackles, including two sacks, and senior defensive back Nate Tranel (Lancaster, Wis./Lancaster) made five stops, including one for a loss.

UW-Whitewater got on the board first, taking advantage of field position at the Monmouth 44-yard line. Meylor hit Wisniewski on a 13-yard pass with 2:40 left in the first quarter.

After the Fighting Scots fumbled the ensuing kickoff, Meylor hit Peete on a 26-yard screen pass to double the advantage to 14-0 with 2:24 on the clock.

Meylor completed his third touchdown of the day two minutes into the second quarter, hitting junior wide receiver Derek Kumerow (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) with an 11-yard strike to complete a seven-play, 66-yard drive.

Following a Monmouth punt, the Warhawks drove 72 yards in 13 plays to make it 28-0 with 8:21 remaining. Peete completed the set with a 3-yard touchdown run.

The Fighting Scots got on the board early in the second half on a touchdown with 12:02 left in the third quarter.

On the first play of the next drive, Meylor found Wisniewski for a 52-yard touchdown to make it 35-7 with 11:41 to go in the quarter.

Monmouth completed the scoring on a field goal five minutes into the fourth quarter. UW-Whitewater held the ball for more than 10 minutes in the period to run the clock down.

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team will compete in the NCAA Division III Championship for the 13th time in the last 15 years and 16th time in program history starting this Saturday, Nov. 23, as it hosts Monmouth (Ill.) in the first round at Perkins Stadium.
 
Saturday’s game will kick off at 12 p.m.
 
The Warhawks (9-1 overall) earned one of five Pool C, or at-large, spots in the 32-team national tournament. The team claimed a share of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship, the program’s league-leading 37th conference title.
 
UW-Whitewater was ranked first in the NCAA West Region and third in the nation by both D3football.com and the American Football Coaches Association last week.
 
Monmouth (7-2) was named a Pool A, or automatic, qualifier after winning the Midwest Conference championship with a 10-7 victory over St. Norbert on Saturday. The Fighting Scots are making their third appearance in the NCAA Playoffs in the last five years.

The No. 3 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team suffered its only loss of the regular season Saturday night, suffering a 27-20 defeat at UW-Oshkosh in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest at Titan Stadium in Oshkosh.

The Warhawks (9-1 overall, 6-1 WIAC), who now share the WIAC championship with the Titans, seek a Pool C, or at-large, bid to the NCAA Playoffs during Sunday’s Selection Show, which airs at 4:30 p.m. on NCAA.com. UW-W was ranked first in the NCAA West Regional rankings entering Saturday’s game. The NCAA Playoffs begin next Saturday. (UPDATE: The Warhawks will host Monmouth (IL) (7-2) on Sat., 11/23 at noon.

UW-Whitewater out-gained UW-Oshkosh (8-2, 6-1) 328-236 in total yards, held a 19-12 advantage on first downs and possessed the ball for more than 33 minutes, but committed five turnovers, the most by a Warhawk team since Oct. 21, 2006, in a win against UW-Platteville.

Junior running back Alex Peete rushed 20 times for 80 yards and one touchdown, and senior running back Jarrod Ware posted 11 carries for 72 yards. Junior wide receiver JT Parish caught five passes for 64 yards to lead the receiving corps.

Senior linebacker Jacob Erbs totaled a game-high 13 tackles to lead the defense. Senior linebacker Matt Anderson was one of four UW-W players who registered four stops, including one sack.

After turning the Titans over on downs to start the game, the Warhawks posted a 13-play, 61-yard drive capped by a 28-yard field goal by junior kicker Wojciech Gasienica to take a 3-0 lead with 6:25 left in the first quarter.

After a 15-play, 71-yard drive that ended with a UW-Oshkosh touchdown, UW-Whitewater responded with a four-play, 62-yard touchdown drive. Junior quarterback Zach Oles hit Parish for 29 yards, and Ware carried on the next play for 34 yards. Two plays later, Oles hit junior tight end Michael Berentes for a 3-yard score to make it 10-7 with 13:23 to play in the second quarter.

Later in the quarter, the Titans capitalized on a Warhawk turnover, driving 75 yards in eight plays for a 14-10 advantage at the 6:00 mark of the period.

UW-Whitewater forced another turnover on downs later in the quarter, and turned good field position into three more points as Gasienica nailed a 29-yard field goal to bring the Warhawks within 14-13 just before the half.

UW-Whitewater held the ball for more than 12 minutes in the third quarter, taking a 20-14 lead with 38 seconds left in the frame on Peete’s 3-yard touchdown run, his 11th of the season.

The Warhawks forced a three-and-out early in the fourth quarter, but a 67-yard punt by the Titans flipped the field, and the momentum turned to UW-O’s favor.

The Titans took the lead for good at the 9:14 mark of the fourth on a touchdown on fourth down. They added two more field goals and ended each of UW-Whitewater’s last four drives with turnovers.

Final Stats: https://uwwsports.com/documents/2019/11/16/UWOUWW.pdf

Contact:
Chris Lindeke
Assistant Athletic Director, Strategic Communications and Branding
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
262-472-1147
uwwsports.com