(Editor's Note: The following story written by Josh Smith appears in the Monday, September 12 edition of the Daily Jefferson County Union)
FRANKLIN, Ind. - It took the UW-Whitewater football team a little while to get going Saturday. But once the Warhawks did, they were tough to stop.
Behind a 28-point second quarter, the nationally ranked No. 1 Warhawks dismantled No. 21 Franklin College, 45-0, in a rematch of last season's first-round playoff matchup in Franklin, Ind.
"I was very pleased with the overall outing," UW-W head coach Lance Leipold said. "Offensively we were finishing those drives. We made some turnovers happen in a short period of time, and really capitalized on it.
"It was outstanding what we were doing there."
UW-W, which extended the program's winning streak to 32 games - the longest active streak in the country across all levels of college football, showed the strength of its rushing attack in the second quarter as running backs Levell Coppage and Desmin Ward scored a pair of touchdowns each.
Ward scored on a 2-yard run just four seconds into the second quarter.
Coppage ended the Warhawks' next two drives with touchdowns, scoring from 15 yards out on the first scoring run and from 5 yards the second time.
Ward scored his second touchdown - a 1-yard run - with 4:44 to play in the first half.
The Warhawk defense played a role in two of the second-quarter touchdown drives by forcing turnovers.
After the Warhawks (2-0 overall) took a 7-0 lead on a 25-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback to Steve Morris, the 21st-ranked Grizzlies returned the kickoff to the 28-yard line.
On the first play from scrimmage, Reece Craig rushed for 2 yards when Jesse Hamilton jarred the ball loose and Ryan Wenkman recovered for the Warhawks.
The turnover led to Ward's first TD.
On Franklin's next drive, quarterback Jonny West dropped back to pass on 3rd-and-10 at the Grizzlies' 28. His pass landed in the hands of UW-W defensive back Ryan Cortez, who returned the ball to the Franklin 15.
One play later, Coppage was in the end zone.
"It kind of snowballed on them," Leipold said. "But they're the type of offense, in their ability to run as many plays as they do, it wasn't over by far until we had a chance to score in the third quarter to make sure."
On the day, the Warhawk defense intercepted two passes and recovered two fumbles. Jared Kiesow forced UW-Whitewater's other fumble that was recovered by Hamilton. Andrew Keister recorded an interception.
Hamilton had a big day with six tackles, including one for a loss, to go with his forced fumble and recovery. Sam Overton, Wenkman and Fort Atkinson High School alumnus Jake Keeser finished with five tackles each. Keeser had two tackles for a loss, including a sack.
"I think we played extremely physical, and I think that eventually played a factor in the game," Leipold said.
Coppage, who is quickly approaching the school record for most career rushing yards, cracked the century mark for the second straight week. The senior tailback, who only played the first half, gained 119 Saturday on 18 carries.
Ward got 17 touches and picked up 71 yards.
"Levell only played the first half. Once the score got to what it was, we decided we'd go with Des for the third quarter," Leipold said. "Des is continuing to take steps. He's not where he wants to be or where we think he can be. But he's a hard worker, and he can fill that role that we were getting from Antwan Anderson and Booker Stanley last year."
Blanchard was 13-of-18 for 128 yards. In addition to his first quarter TD pass, he connected with full back Bernie Tamsett for a 2-yard TD pass in the third quarter.
Junior back-up quarterback Lee Brekke also saw time on the field, completing 4-of-7 passes for 38 yards.
Tyler Huber picked up 55 yards receiving on five catches to pace the receiving corps. Seven different Warhawks caught a pass in the victory.
Place kicker Eric Kinder, who was named the WIAC's Special Teams Player of the Week last week, was 6-for-6 on point-after tries and connected on a 31-yard field goal. Kindler also came up just short on a 50-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter.
After throwing for 448 yards in a come-from-behind win over Valparaiso a week earlier, West completed just 18-of-36 passes. The sophomore QB gained 158 yards through the air versus the Warhawk defense.
"I think our secondary played really well," Leipold said. "I think (West) had a chance to hit on some things that didn't go their way. I thought our pass coverage was very good."
Craig was Franklin's leader with a mere 21 yards rushing. UW-W out-gained Franklin 307-40 on the ground and had 473 yards of total offense to the Grizzlies' 198.
"It was definitely a big step for us from Game 1 to Game 2," Leipold said of the shutout victory. "I definitely think it's helping our confidence. We got to play a lot of guys. That helps confidence and morale. It keeps you healthy.
"Defensively, we're rotating a lot of guys. A lot of good things come out of this," he added.
The UW-Whitewater football team will play its home-opener this Saturday. Whitewater will host Campbellsville (Ky.) at Perkins Stadium. The Warhawks won last year's meeting in Kentucky, 37-7.
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