By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
The recent loss by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team demands historical perspective.
The last time the Warhawks lost a football game President Barack Obama was yet to be inaugurated and most of the players on the current roster were likely still in high school.
That’s how lofty the heights are for this program.
The Warhawks lost Saturday in their home opener, 7-6, to Buffalo State College at Perkins Stadium in Whitewater. Buffalo State College is located in Buffalo, N.Y.
Saturday’s loss is the Warhawks first in 46 games, and also snaps a 30-game home winning streak. In that time the Warhawks are winners of three consecutive Division 3 national titles. They’ve played in the D-3 title game every season since 2005. They also won the national title in 2007.
Before Saturday Whitewater (1-1) last lost on Dec. 20, 2008 to Mount Union, 31-26 in the Division 3 title game in Salem, Va. The game is also known as the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. Mount Union is located in Alliance, Ohio.
The last time the Warhawks lost at home dates to Oct. 25, 2008, when UW-Stevens Point downed the Warhawks 17-16 in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup.
Against Buffalo State, and according to information provided by UW-Whitewater, the Warhawks scored first with 2:58 remaining in the first quarter on a 21-yard field goal from Eric Kindler. Kindler widened the lead to 6-0 on a 29-yard field goal with 1:35 left in the fourth quarter.
Buffalo’s Casey Kacz threw a 10-yard touchdown to Ryan Carney with three seconds on the clock for the winning score, after Nate Benoit scored on the extra point.
Whitewater’s Ryan Givens rushed for 72 yards on 14 carries and quarterback. Lee Brekke finished 14-of-22 for 188 yards. Tyler Huber caught five passes for 84 yards.
Whitewater opens WIAC play Saturday at home against UW-Stevens Point. It is Back to the 60s Day, and in conjunction with the game the student athletic complex will be dedicated the Bob Berezowitz Student Athletic Complex. Berezowitz coached Warhawks football from 1985-2006.
The game begins at 1 p.m.
