UW-Whitewater will host Lakeland in first round of playoffs Saturday
By Daniel Schoettler
Correspondent
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team secured the outright conference title on Saturday with a 34-16 win on the road over UW-Stout. With the win, the Warhawks secured the automatic bid and their 35th conference title.
The Warhawks got on the board midway through the first quarter as freshman running back Cam Maly took a 29-yard run into the end zone to give them the early 7-0 lead. UW-Stout cut into the lead on a Drew Pearson 37-yard field goal to make it 7-3 with 5:20 left in the first quarter.
Kicker Will Meyer added to the Warhawks lead with a 35-yard field goal of his own to make it 10-3 after the first quarter. The Blue Devils tied things up on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Jay Alston to Brian Sandifer.
UW-Stout added on two 29-yard field goals from kicker Drew Pearson to take a 16-10 lead into the locker room.
Midway through the third quarter, Maly got on the board again on a two-yard touchdown run to give the Warhawks a 17-16 lead. Maly scored his third touchdown of the day from 26 yards out to make it a one possession game at 24-16.
Meyer added on again for the Warhawks with a 32-yard field goal to make it 27-16. Running back Ronny Ponick capped the scoring off with a five-yard touchdown run to make it 34-16.
Cole Wilber led the Warhawks in passing going 10-for-19 for 146 yards and two interceptions. Senior quarterback Chris Nelson was 8-for-11 on the day for 52 yards.
Cam Maly was the leading rusher for the Warhawks with 36 carries for 165 yards and three touchdowns. Ronny Ponick had four carries for 14 yards and a touchdown.
Canton Larson led the way for the Warhawks in receiving with four catches for 56 yards. Tight end Tony Gumina also had four receptions for 54 yards.
UW-Stout quarterback Jay Alston went 8-for-29 for 101 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions in the loss. Alston also ran the ball for 40 yards on nine carries.
Adolfo Pacheco led the Blue Devils in rushing with 11 carries for 58 yards. Wide receiver Brian Sandifer led the Blue Devils in receiving with eight catches for 101 yards and one touchdown.
The Warhawks end the regular season 10-0, and win the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference outright with the win. They will host Lakeland College at Perkins Stadium for the first round of the NCAA Division 3 playoffs for a noon kickoff.
