Warhawks are 7-0 in NCAA III semifinal appearances

Friday, December 13, 2013                                                           
By Jeff Seisser, Union sports editor Daily Jefferson County Union    
                              

On Saturday when the No. 5 ranked UW-Whitewater football team faces No. 3 Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas, it will mark the third NCAA Division III semifinal between the perennial powerhouse programs since 2006. The Warhawks (13-0) won both previous meetings, and are 7-0 all time in semifinal games.

The following is a recap of those games played from 2005-2011, four of which led to national championships for UW-Whitewater.

 

Dec. 10, 2005

At Perkins Stadium

UW-Whitewater 58,

Wesley College (Del.) 6

In their first-ever NCAA semifinal game the Warhawks didn’t let temperatures in the teens and a 10-20 mph wind, nor Wesley College stand in their way to a trip to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.
A safety just 11 seconds into the game set the early tone, and the duo of Derek Stanley and Justin Beaver had their way with the Wolverines, running ramped on the ice-covered Perkins Stadium field.
Stanley caught just three passes — all going for touchdowns — as the future St. Louis Ram finished with 135 yards. Beaver added two scores and 185 yards on the ground as UW-W racked up 537 yards of offense.

 

Dec. 9, 2006

At Perkins Stadium

UW-Whitewater 44,

Wesley College (Del.) 7

Deja vu.
For the second year in a row UW-Whitewater dominated Wesley College on both sides of the football, punching their ticket to a second straight Stagg Bowl appearance.
Once again Derek Stanley and quarterback Justin Jacobs had their way with Wesley, hooking up for touchdowns of 20, 14 and 29 yards, Stanley’s only three catches on the day.
Special teams also played a role in the victory as freshman kicker Jeff Schebler kicked a 49-yard field goal, helping the Warhawks take a 38-0 halftime lead.
The UW-W defense held Wesley to 161 yards of offense.

 

Dec. 8, 2007

At Perkins Stadium

UW-Whitewater 16,

Mary Hardin-Baylor (TX) 7

In a defensive battle Whitewater held off Mary Hardin-Baylor in their first semifinal meeting.
With temperatures in the low teens, the Texas-based team didn’t flinch, holding the Warhawk to just 13 first-half points, but trailed 13-7.
Senior quarterback Danny Jones, a transfer from Cal Lutheran, threw for one touchdown and rushed for another to lead Whitewater to its third consecutive Stagg Bowl. His 62-yard run set up Jeff Schebler’s 39-yard field goal with 3:03 left, accounting for the only points of the second half.
Jones finished with 164 yards passing and 87 yards rushing, both team-highs.
Whitewater earned its first national title a week later defeating Mount Union, 31-21.

 

Dec. 13, 2008

At Tiger Field,

Belton, Texas

UW-Whitewater 39

Mary Hardin-Baylor (TX) 13

With winds in the 20-30 mph range, the Warhawks blew by UMHB for a second year in a row to again earn a trip to Salem, Va.
Leading just 12-10 at the half, but scored 24 unanswered points to turn a close game into a route.
Jeff Donovan threw two second-half touchdown passes, one each to tight end Nick Slupski and seldom-used wide receiver Danny Benson, while Levell Coppage and Antwan Anderson rushed for TDs.
The game featured one of the strangest plays ever seen in football. As UMHB kicked off to start the second half, a gust of wind blew the ball 6 yards backward. After a discussion by the referees, Whitewater was awarded the ball and on the very next play Donovan hit Benson for a 24-yard score.

 

Dec. 12, 2009

At Perkins Stadium

UW-Whitewater 27

Linfield College (Ore.) 17

A year after playing their first semifinal on the road the Warhawks returned to Perkins Stadium, and true to form remained unbeaten in home semis following a 27-17 victory.
Two big Level Coppage runs, of 55 and 40 yards, helped pave the Warhawks’ way to 466 yards of total offense.
Coppage’s second TD was the game-clincher. After clinging to a 20-17 advantage, the All-American tailback broke loose for 40 yards with 1:05 left to give UW-W some breathing room.
Jeff Donovan completed 17-of-26 passes for 276 yards, while Jeff Schebler kicked field goals of 34 and 26 yards.
Whitewater would go on to defeat Mount Union, 38-28, to win its second national championship.

 

Dec. 11, 2010

At Scott D. Miller Stadium

Dover, Del.

UW-Whitewater 27

Wesley College (Del.) 7

In their third semifinal meeting in six years, Whitewater again kept Wesley College from reaching its first Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.
The No. 1 ranked Warhawks were clinging to a 10-7 halftime advantage, but Levell Coppage scored two touchdowns in a 24-second span late in the third quarter to give UW-W some breathing room.
All-American linebacker Greg Arnold’s 63-yard interception return set up Coppage’s second TD. The Warhawks intercepted Wesley five times, including two by Jared Kiesow.
Whitewater repeated as national champion beating Mount Union, 31-21.

Dec. 10, 2011

At Perkins Stadium

UW-Whitewater 20

St. Thomas (Minn.) 0

The Warhawks flexed their defensive muscles by shutting out St. Thomas University at Perkins Stadium.
Whitewater held the Tommies to only 64 yards through the air, and just 214 yards of total offense.
Bernie Tamsett’s 3-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter was all the scoring the Warhawks would need, while future NFL quarterback Matt Blanchard added a 5-yard TD run.
Eric Kindler kicked field goals of 32 and 30 yards.
The Warhawks went on to win their third consecutive national championship.