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Warhawks aim to begin new streak

WHITEWATER — It's time to start a new streak.

That is what the UW-Whitewater football team has to do this week.

With the majority of the Warhawks having never suffered a collegiate loss, last Saturday's 7-6 nonconference defeat at Perkins Stadium to Buffalo State was shocking at several levels.

The defeat snapped a 46-game Warhawk winning streak and a 30-game winning streak at Perkins Stadium.

The Warhawks dropped from No. 1 to No. 4 in this week's D3football.com poll.

The first game back will be Saturday at Perkins Stadium against WIAC foe UW-Stevens Point. The game won't count in the WIAC standings. Last year the conference began scheduling two games against one WIAC opponent for each team to help fill out schedules. Whitewater plays at Stevens Point on Oct. 27 in the conference game.

Warhawk coach Lance Leipold suffered only his fourth loss in his six-year reign, against 73 victories.

Whitewater's defense—even with the season-ending injury to preseason All-America cornerback Noah Timm—has met all expectations, allowing just the game-winning touchdown to Buffalo State—in the final 3.2 seconds—in two games. Buffalo State used a two-lateral pass play on fourth-and-19 to gain 39 yards in the game-winning drive.

Delavan-Darien High graduate Marcus McLin has stepped in for Timm and has two interceptions.

The offense has not come together as planned. The season-ending ankle injury to preseason All-America wide receiver Tyler Huber has set the offense back, along with a running game that has not produced on the high level Whitewater has received in the past eight seasons with Justin Beaver and LeVell Coppage.

Desmin Ward has averaged 4.7 yards a carry, and Ryan Givens has averaged 4.1 yards.

Quarterback Lee Brekke has completed 27 of 47 passes for 329 yards and one touchdown, with two interceptions.

Stevens Point is 1-1 with a 39-31 season-opening loss at the University of Saint Francis, and a 55-14 victory last week at the University of Dubuque.

Quarterback Mitch Beau threw for four touchdowns and ran for two more against Dubuque.

Janesville Parker graduate and Stevens Point freshman Adam Vesterfelt has rushed five times for 22 yards for the Pointers.

Brodhead High graduate and Pointer sophomore wide receiver Alex Wallace has three receptions for 40 yards.

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on WKCH, 106.5 FM.