The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team heads to Waverly, Iowa to take on the Wartburg College Knights in NCAA Quarterfinal action this Saturday (December 2). Kickoff at Walston-Hoover Stadium is scheduled for 12 p.m.
UW-Whitewater Game Notes (PDF)
TICKET/PARKING INFORMATION
Tickets will be sold on site on Saturday. Prices are $10 for adults and $7 for senior citizens, students and youth. There is no charge for parking at Wartburg. A designated area in Lot D will be for UW-Whitewater fans to tailgate.
UWW’S PLAYOFF PATH
The Warhawks claimed one of four at-large bids into the 2023 NCAA Division III Playoffs – a 16th appearance in the postseason since 2005. With one of the toughest strengths of schedule in Division III, UWW will face a ranked (includes a team receiving votes) opponent for the eighth time this season on Saturday. UW-Whitewater, a six-time Stagg Bowl winner, is 60-12 in the playoffs in program history.
In last week’s second round matchup against Wheaton, the Warhawks came back from a 14-point deficit to defeat the Thunder 49-42. The Warhawks scored 21 consecutive points to reclaim the lead 35-28 before adding two scores just 21 seconds apart in the fourth to widen the gap to 49-35. In that burst of scores, Tamir Thomas (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls) hauled in a six-yard touchdown. Egon Hein (St. Charles, Ill./North) intercepted a pass on Wheaton’s first play and Thomas followed with a 20-yard run on the very next snap for the quick 14-point swing.
Alec Ogden (Marshall, Wis./Monona Grove) was 15-25 for 239 yards and four touchdown passes. He added 73 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Tommy Coates (Chicago, Ill./De La Salle Institute) had a phenomenal outing with 169 yards on eight receptions including a pair of scores while Thomas registered 224 yards on 28 carries with two rushing TDs.
Defensively, Joey Antonietti (La Grange, Ill./Lyons Township) posted 11 tackles while Ethan Gallagher (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport Township) added nine with three passes broken up and a QB hurry.
HOW WARTBURG GOT HERE
The Knights rolled through the American Rivers Conference (8-0) to claim the league’s automatic bid into the NCAA Playoffs. Wartburg is making its 16th, and second consecutive, appearance in the postseason.
Last week, Wartburg scored 35 consecutive points to build a 42-6 lead over Whitworth heading into the fourth quarter. Quarterback Nile McLaughlin was 25-31 for 352 yards and four passing touchdowns in the win. Drake George was his favorite target with 124 yards on nine catches including a pair of TDs. On the ground, Hunter Clasen posted 82 yards on 18 carries.
Defensively, Owen Grover had eight tackles and two quarterback hurries while Preston Rochford hauled in an interception and added a pass break up.
ON THE AIR
Saturday’s game will air live online on Wartburg’s Knight Vision. The contest can be heard on 105.9 FM The Hog in the Whitewater area, or online at www.1059thehog.com.
SERIES
This is the third meeting between the Warhawks and Knights and the first host by Wartburg College. UWW is 3-0 in the series that features only postseason matchups.
