Pound the Rock!

When the Warhawks host the Wittenberg Tigers in an NCAA D3 Quarterfinal matchup on Saturday, all eyes will be on Levell Coppage, Jeff Donavon, or a host of UWW receivers that can make big catches and huge plays. And rightfully so. UWW sports some of the most talented and athletic skilled position players in the nation. And when the high profile stars cross the goal line, Mike "The Cannon Guy" does his thing and the blast is heard throughout the Perk. But it's in the trenches where games are won and lost. When the big men up front are winning their battles and operating in synch, the skilled players are given the space to dazzle the crowd. Big plays, touchdowns, cannon fire, and roaring crowds have all been commonplace at the Perk over the past several years. And it all starts up front.

The UWW offensive line has done more than their share to propel the success of the 2009 Warhawks. Led by First Team All WIAC selections LT Robbie Ustruck (6'2" 306 lb Jr from West Allis, WI), LG Matt Weber (6'3" 285 lb Jr from Oregon, WI), and C Garth Coats (6'2" 280 lb Sr from Evansville, WI) the O-Line has been operating at a high level all season long. RG Mark Gawronski (6'0" 275 lb Jr from New Berlin, WI) and RT Grant Murray (6'2" 275 lb Jr from Waukesha, WI) round out the starters for one of the strongest offensive lines in the nation.

Jeff Donovan, the nations 3rd leading passer in efficiency rating, has been given incredible protection as he has completed pass after pass ( 73.5% completion percentage, 25 TD's, just 4 interceptions). The offensive line has given up only 4 sacks all season. Something will have to give on Saturday, as the Warhawks welcome the nation's #1 rated defense to Perkins Stadium. Wittenberg, led by All-America candidate DE Eddie Vallery (15.5 sacks), has sacked the QB 34 times this season.

Wittenberg's defense also presents a challenge against the run. The Tigers rank 6th in the nation giving up just over 67 yards per game on the ground. Five players in the front 7 of the Tigers defense (including all 3 linebackers) earned 1st team all-conference honors in the North Coast Athletic Conference.

But the UWW mantra of "Pound the Rock" applies to both the hard work ethic of the UWW offensive line as well as the determination to run the football successfully against each and every opponent the Warhawks face. While Wittenberg brings in gaudy defensive numbers into Perkins Stadium on Saturday, you can be sure that the UWW offensive line will bring their lunch pails and put in a hard day's work. And most likely, that means Mike "the Cannon Guy" will be pretty busy again Saturday afternoon.