The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (7-0, 4-0) celebrated homecoming with a dominating win over UW-Stevens Point (2-5, 0-4) 63-0 on Homecoming Saturday. UWW found the end zone in all four quarters, including a combined 42 points in the second and third. The Warhawk defense held UWSP scoreless through the game, with a fourth-down stop as time was expiring to complete the shut out. UWW threw for 371 yards and five touchdowns and ran for 261 yards and four touchdowns in the win.
The Warhawks’ win improved the homecoming record to 77-24-1 all time and 11-7 against UW-Stevens Point, dating back to 1930.
UWW’s offense moved the chains throughout the game, generating 32 first downs while finishing 7 of 10 on third down. The passing game accounted for 371 yards and five touchdowns, while the rushing attack added 261 yards and four scores. UWW also converted five of its six red-zone trips into scores, with all five of those possessions ending in touchdowns.
Justin Klinkner (Two Rivers, Wis./Two Rivers) completed 22 of 27 passes for 309 yards and four touchdowns and also rushed for two scores, while Darrick Hill (Stoughton, Wis./Stoughton) finished with 131 rushing yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. Defensively, UWW limited the Pointers to 238 yards of total offense, including 70 rushing yards, and did not allow a red-zone trip. UWW also recorded three sacks, seven tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery, with Jayden Daniel (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) posting two sacks and Efrein Ramirez (Minooka, Ill./Minooka) finishing with 11 tackles.
The Warhawks struck first when Hill broke a 90-yard touchdown run from the Warhawks own 10 late in the first quarter. Grant Urban’s (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) extra point made it 7-0. UWW also generated 117 rushing yards in the quarter, while its defense held UWSP scoreless and got two sacks from Daniel. The quarter ended with UWW ahead 7-0.
UWW turned each of its three second-quarter possessions into touchdowns, with Klinkner running in a 3-yard score and throwing touchdown passes to Luke Roeder (Collierville, Tenn./Collierville) and Tyler Vasey (Crystal Lake, Ill/Prairie Ridge). Klinkner completed 10 of 12 passes for 169 yards in the quarter, and UWW converted both of its red-zone trips. The defense kept the Pointers off the board, including a turnover on downs in the final minute before Klinkner’s 23-yard touchdown pass to Vasey helped send UWW to halftime ahead 28-0.
UWW opened the third quarter with a 77-yard touchdown drive capped by Klinkner’s 2-yard run, then added Klinkner touchdown passes of 26 yards to Tommy Novotny (Milwaukee, Wis./Marquette) and 4 yards to Conor Johnson (Fond du Lac, Wis./Fond du Lac). The offense scored on all three red-zone trips and went 8-for-8 passing for 111 yards, while the defense held UWSP scoreless with a sack and a late fumble recovery by Brett Boram (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls). UWW closed the quarter ahead 49-0.
UWW added touchdowns on its first two fourth-quarter possessions, with Tommy Lutz (Grafton, Wis./Grafton) scoring on a 7-yard run at 13:05 before Drew VanVleet (Richmond, Ind./Bishop Chatard) connected with Max Timpel (Marshall, Wis./Marshall) for a 28-yard touchdown at 6:01. The defense kept the Pointers off the board with a three-and-out and fourth-down stops at the UWW 30 and 26. UWW closed out a 63-0 win.
Klinkner completed 22 of 27 passes for 309 yards and four touchdowns and added two rushing touchdowns. Hill rushed 10 times for 131 yards and a touchdown and added an 18-yard reception. Vasey caught eight passes for 99 yards and a touchdown and added 99 yards on three punt returns. Ramirez recorded 11 tackles with half a sack.
The Warhawks return to Perkins Stadium on October 31st to face UW-Oshkosh. Kick-off is set for 7 PM under the Saturday night lights.
Editor’s note: This report is from the UW-W Athletics website.
