The UW-Whitewater Warhawks opened up their 2010 WIAC football season with a resounding 49-17 victory over the UW-Platteville Pioneers. As you might expect with a 32 point margin of victory, it was an impressive performance in a number of ways for the Warhawks. However, the Hawks also showed some sloppiness in execution that will surely be the focus of the coaching staff as UW-W prepares for October 9th, when the Warhawks host UW-Stout. (The following aspects of the game will be rated Spectacular, Solid, or Needs Work)
The Running Game
The Warhawks gained 295 yards on the ground, helping them control the ball for 40:26 and wear down the Pioneer defensive front. UW-W ran an astounding 87 offensive plays as compared to Platteville's 41. The Hawks averaged 5.6 yards per carry and scored 4 rushing touchdowns. The running back trifecta of Levell Coppage, Booker Stanley, and Antwan Anderson combined for 289 yards rushing and 3 TD's.
Rating: Spectacular
The Passing Game
In his WIAC debut, Matt Blanchard completed 24 of 30 passes for 337 yards and 3 TD's. He was sacked once for a 10 yard loss and scrambled twice for 23 yards in in 33 drop backs. Aaron Rusch caught 9 balls for 123 yards. Adam Brandes caught 5 for 104 yards and 2 TD's. Tight End John Novak had his most productive day of the season catching the ball with 4 catches for 38 yards and a TD. Sophomore Tyler Huber of Mukwonago had his first catch as a Warhawk for 27 yards.
Rating: Spectacular
Defending the Run
Throwing out the 25 yards lost in sacks, the Pioneers gained only 13 yards in 18 rushing attempts. The Pioners rushed for only one first down and didn't sniff the end zone running the ball. Perhaps most impressively, the Pioneers longest running play of the night was 3 yards.
Rating: Spectacular
Defending the Pass
UW-P quarterback Nick Anderson threw for 144 yards including completions of 57, 23, 18, 21, and 20 yards. And all of this was in the FIRST QUARTER. In all, Anderson was 6-8 for 144 yards and a TD in the first quarter. Over the final 3 quarters, Anderson went 4 for 15 for 40 yards and an interception. In addition, UW-W had 5 sacks for the game, totaling 25 yards in losses.
Rating: Solid
Special Teams
UW-W turned in their worst special teams performance in recent memory. Two more missed field goals puts Freshman Eric Kindler at 1-7 for the season. His kickoffs averaged a season low 57.8 yards. Not only did UW-P block one of Kindler's FG attempts, they also blocked a punt resulting in the final Pioneer TD. UW-W also had a failed fake field goal try. Kickoff returns averaged a pedestrian 17.2 yards. The punt return and kickoff coverage units were solid. UW-W averaged 10.2 yards on 5 returns and the kickoff coverage unit was excellent allowing only 14.9 yards per return on 8 returns.
Rating: Needs Improvement.
Efficiency
The Warhawks fumbled once, but did not have a turnover. The Hawks averaged 7.3 yards per play. UW-W scored 7 TD's in 13 possessions. The killer in this category is the penalties. The Warhawks had 11 penalties for 106 yards compared to Platteville's 2 penalties for 11 yards. The Penalties broke down this way:
Kickoff return unit: 3 (2 holding, 1 block in the back)
Offense: 5 (3 holding, 1 false start, 1 illegal shift)
Defense: 3 (1 pass interference, 1 roughing the passer, 1 offsides)
The coaching staff will have plenty to work with in terms of getting the team's attention this week. There is much to clean up.
Rating: Needs Improvement
Overall
With a yardage difference of 637 to 172, it would be hard not to call this a dominating performance. The Warhawk defense held the Pioneers to 43 total yards in the final three quarters and the offense scored TD's on their first first 4 possessions of the 2nd half. However, it's impossible to rate this win as spectacular with 2 blocked kicks and 11 penalties. The coaches will be the first to tell you these are unacceptable numbers for a team with aspirations of a WIAC title and beyond.
Rating: Needs Improvement
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