Sunday, September 4, 2011

WIAC goes 5 & 1 on 2011's opening weekend

Top-ranked UW-Whitewater opened its latest title defense with a 26-7 victory over host UW-La Crosse on Saturday.

Even though the game featured two Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference foes, it was played as a non-conference game. With the schools having trouble filling their schedules, the teams will face each other twice with the next game counting in the conference standings.

The Warhawks have won 31 consecutive games, including the last two national championships. Whitewater is the six-time defending WIAC champion and has advanced to the Division III title game for six consecutive seasons.

Against the Eagles, Warhawks running back Levell Coppage ran for 108 yards in 21 carries and a touchdown. Matt Blanchard had a solid game at quarterback for Whitewater, completing 18 of 30 passes for 248 yards.

The Warhawks had 421 yards on offense but were sloppy with nine penalties for 85 yards.

Quarterback Mike Butterfield scored the Eagles' only touchdown on a 7-yard run in the fourth quarter.

UW-Stevens Point 8, Willamette (Ore.) 6: The Pointers claimed the victory against the Bearcats after a failed two-point conversion with 24 seconds left.

Stevens Point had been clinging to an eight-point lead after a safety and two field goals by Jered Fohrman.

But Willamette got on the board in the final minute after Jamiere Abney's two-yard touchdown run capped a 13-play drive. Jake Knecht caught the pass on the two-point conversion, but referees ruled that he stepped out of bounds.

UW-Platteville 38, Buena Vista (Iowa) 3: The host Pioneers racked up 234 yards on the ground in an easy victory over the Beavers.

Nick Anderson had 72 of those rushing yards and also passed for 185 more and three touchdowns.

UW-Stout 19, Black Hills State 7: The Blue Devils scored 12 unanswered points to pull away from the Yellow Jackets in Menomonie.

Eric Brown led Stout in rushing with 76 yards in 16 carries. He scored the Blue Devils' first touchdown on a 5-yard run.

UW-Oshkosh 31, Central (Iowa) 28: Nate Wara threw for 241 yards and three touchdowns as the host Titans held on to beat the Dutch.

Zach Wettengel sealed the victory by intercepting a pass with 1:35 remaining.

Bethel (Tenn) 26, UW-Eau Claire 21: Bethel University (Tenn.) handed the UW-Eau Claire football team a 26-21 loss after scoring a touchdown with 13 seconds left to play in the Blugolds' season opener at Wildcat Stadium in McKenzie, Tenn.

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