By Angela Kelm
Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
Platteville, Wis. — The No. 19 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team fell to No. 8 UW-Platteville 17-10 in the annual George Chryst Memorial Bowl in Platteville Saturday afternoon.
The Pioneers scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to claim the lead and secure the win. The Warhawks are now 25-4 in the George Chryst Memorial Bowl. Per tradition, offensive and defensive Players of the Game are selected from both teams after the game. UW-Whitewater was represented by running back Noah Battle and linebacker Ethan Gallagher. The Pioneers claimed possession of the Miner’s Axe for the fourth time in the 29-game bowl series.
After a scoreless first, UW-Whitewater got on the board early in the second quarter. The drive started with 6:18 left in the first from UWW’s own seven. The Warhawks marched 99-yards with Jackson Fox splitting the uprights from 25-yards out for the 3-0 lead on the first play of the second quarter.
UW-Platteville responded on the next drive. Following a 16-yard kick return, the Pioneers started their drive at the 20. Two 40-yard pass plays bolstered the four-play drive to give the host school the 7-3 advantage.
Late in the second, the Warhawks would reclaim the lead – this time on an 89-yard scoring drive. Tamir Thomas burst through the line for a 16-yard gain early in the drive. Jackson Chryst found Nick Wind for 19-yards down to the UWP 43 later in the series. After a nine-yard gain, Chryst found Brian Wilterdink in the end zone from 34-yards out for the touchdown strike. Fox hit the point after for a 10-7 UWW lead.
That score held until midway through the fourth quarter. The Warhawks had an opportunity on their second drive of the quarter, marching down to the UWP eight but the drive stalled and UWW turned the ball over on downs.
The Pioneers capitalized on the ensuing drive. Faced with third-and-ten from their own eight, Michael Priami found Brandt Stare on a pass hauled in at the Warhawks’ 45. He sprinted up the sideline for the 92-yard score. The point after gave the Pioneers a 14-10 lead.
On UW-Whitewater’s next drive, Chryst was hit as he threw causing an underthrown ball that was picked off by UWP. The turnover led to a field goal and the final score, 17-10.
Still, UWW had a chance … a late Hail Mary on the final play of the game. Chryst eluded one tackler and heaved the ball downfield, but the jump ball fell incomplete.
Chryst was 18-39 for 254 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Battle paced the Warhawk ground game with 80 yards on 11 carries. Wilterdink was the top target through the air with 75 yards on five receptions. Tyler Vasey also hauled in five catches for 71 yards.
Defensively, Gallagher led the Warhawks with 11 tackles including five solo.
With three games left in the regular season, UW-Platteville, UW-Oshkosh and UW-Stout are all tied for the league-lead with a 3-1 mark in conference play. UW-Whitewater, UW-River Falls and UW-La Crosse are all 2-2 while UW-Eau Claire holds a 1-3 record and UW-Stevens Point is 0-4.
