The UW-Whitewater football team kicked-off the 2010 season with a 35-0 victory over Adrian College (Mich) Saturday afternoon at Perkins Stadium.
Despite a slow feeling out process first quarter, in my opinion played a pretty solid week-one game both offensively and defensively.
One of the big questions heading into the season was replacing 2009 WIAC PLayer of the Year, Jeff Donovan at quarterback. Matt Blanchard did his best to answer the question.
Blanchard, in his first start at quarterback since high school was impressive, completing 19 of 25 passes for 289 yards, two touchdowns passing, one rushing, and no interceptions.
Whitewater rushed for a respectable 183 yards in week-one. For the 6014 fans inside Perkins Stadium in the season opener, it was almost an optical illusion. Instead of Levell Coppage or Antwan Anderson carrying the ball 20-plus times for big yardage, Steve Dinkle's offense used a rushing game by committee approach vs. the Bulldogs.
Levell Coppage led the way with 56 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown. Blanchard was second UWW’s rushing list with five carries for 46 yards. That is 9.2 yards per carry. Antwan Anderson finished with 44 yards on the ground. And in his first game as a Warhawk, Booker Stanley gained 35 yards and scored the Hawks' final touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Aaron Rusch led all receivers with five catches for 78 yards and a touchdown. Fellow Amigo, Adam Brandes, made a couple sensational catches finishing with four for 131 yards and two TDs.
Brian Borland’s Warhawk defense limited Adrian to 162 yards total yards in the game. The Bulldogs were held to just 74 yards on the ground on 41 rushing attempts
Senior’s Matt McCulloch and Lane Olson topped the Warhawk defenders with 9 tackles each, with seven of McCullouch's coming on solo stops. McCulloch, the lone starter returning from last year's secondary also picked up the first interception of the year for the Warhawks.
The highlight of special teams play was Stephan Jonsson's blocked punt early in the fourth quarter set up a UW-W score.
You had to feel bad for Steve Guelff who won the training camp battle to replace NCAA record holder Jeff Schebler as the Hawks field goal kicker. The freshman from Lake Placid, Florida missed three consecutive extra points before being replaced by another freshman - Eric Kindler from Germantown.
Guelff is a quality kicker and now has to erase Saturday's performance from his mind. Hopefully he'll get the chance to get some confidence vs. Dakota State next Saturday.
What is the old saying? A football team often makes its biggest improvement from game-one to game-two? That is what I'll be looking for in next Saturdsy afternoon vs. Dakota State at the Perk.
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