UWW Football

December: The Greatest Football Month


One of the most compelling aspects of college football is the significance of every single game.  In the UW-Whitewater football program, the players begin working out together in January. Weight room and speed drill work continues until spring practice.  During spring drills the coaches begin putting the pieces together and working with the players who are part of the program.  After spring drills, the players continue to work the weight, agility, and speed programs until they report for training camp in August.  They are joined by incoming freshmen and an occasional transfer student.


The first weekend of September, the pre-conference games begin.  The first weekend of October, the seven week battle for the WIAC championship kicks off.  For the sixth consecutive season, the Warhawks won at least a share of the conference championship and earned a bid to the Division 3 National Championship Playoffs.  The playoff field is comprised on 32 teams with one goal: to win a National Championship.  For the sixth consecutive season, UW-Whitewater has won it's first two playoff games and remains one of eight teams standing for the ultimate prize.


After months of hard work, it all comes down to the month of December. Championship Month.  Only eight teams have earned the right to play in December.  The weather turns cold in most sites.  The snow often flies.  The wind picks up.  The competition becomes tougher.   And the prize is in sight.  December.  It's the month that Champions step up and take matters in their own hands.


 Over the past 5 years, only the University of Mount Union can rival the Warhawks' performance in December.  Here is the road UW-W has traveled to Salem over the past five years:


2005
December 3, 2005
The Warhawks travel to #1 seeded Linfield, the defending National Champion.  In one of the most exciting games on record, the Warhawks upset the Wildcats 44-41 when Justin Beaver scored on a one yard run with 42 seconds left in the game to seal the win.  In this classic battle, the Wildcats and Warhawks gained over 1,000 yards in total offense and the lead changed hands 11 times.


December 10, 2005
The Warhawks hosted the Wesley College Wolverines.  The Hawks served notice that this would be a long day when Rob Widuch tackled Rob Nelson in the end zone for a safety 11 seconds into the game.  UW-W went on to outgain the Wolverines by over 300 yards and captured 4 takeaways in a 58-6 romp and their first Stagg Bowl date with Mount Union.


2006
December 2, 2006
The Warhawks hosted the 12th ranked St. John's Johnnies.  This was a fierce defensive battle.  Neither team gained 300 yards of offense.  Justin Beaver scored with 3:39 left in the third quarter  to extend the UW-W lead to 17-7.  The Johnnies scored with 9:01 left in the game to pull within 17-14. However, that became the final when the Johnnies were unable to advance past their own 39 after that point.


December 9, 2006
The 3rd ranked Wesley Wolverines visited Whitewater in the semi-finals for the second consecutive year, determined to avenge the embarrassing loss in 2005.  The Warhawks proved way too much for Wesley as they broke out to a 38-0 halftime lead.  Justin Jacobs threw 5 TD passes on the afternoon.  Wesley scored with 2:19 left in the game to avoid the shutout.  The 44-7 win propelled UW-W to a second consecutive Stagg Bowl appearance.


2007
December 1, 2007
The 12th ranked Wabash Little Giants invaded Perkins Stadium for this quarterfinal matchup.  UW-W imposed their will early as they jumped to a 35-0 halftime lead. Danny Jones threw 3 TD passes in the victory and freshman Aaron Rusch caught a 57 yard 3rd quarter TD pass to complete the scoring in the 47-7 win.


December 8, 2007
The  4th ranked University of Mary Hardin Baylor Crusaders made their second trip of the season to Whitewater after losing on October 27, 41-14.  The Warhawks held the powerful Cru rushing attack to 105 yards on 50 attempts in a hard fought 16-7 victory and earned a trip to Salem for the third consecutive season.


2008
December 6, 2008
The 5th ranked Warhawks hosted the unranked Wartburg Knights.  The Warhawks held a slim 20-17 lead heading into the fourth quarter.  At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Kyle Supianoski blocked a game tying field goal attempt at the beginning of the 4th quarter.  The Warhawks took over at midfield. Antwan Anderson promptly broke a 38 run.  Two plays later, Jeff Donovan hit Jordan Wells on a 13 yard TD to increase the Warhawk margin to 10.  Jace Rindahl sealed the win with a 45 yard interception return with 3:49 left in the game.


December 13, 2008 
UW-W travels to Belton, Texas to take on #4 UMHB.  This game, featuring some of the strongest wind in memory saw the Warhawks score a safety within the first 17 seconds of the game for the second time in the past 3 Decembers.  The game also featured a wind blown kickoff of (-6) yards by the Cru to open the second half.  UW-W dominated to second half, turning a 12-10 halftime lead into a 39-13 victory and  a fourth consecutive Stagg Bowl appearance.


2009
December 5, 2009
The Wittenberg Tigers brought a highly touted defense into Perkins Stadium for this quarterfinal.  UW-W led merely 14-13 with a minute left in the third quarter when Jeff Donovan hit Adam Brandes for a 28 yard TD to extend the lead.  Whitewater dominated the fourth quarter to secure a 31-13 victory.


December 12, 2009
The Warhawks hosted the Linfield Wildcats in a rematch of the 2005 classic.  QB Aaron Boehme passed for one TD and rushed for another as the Wildcats held a 17-13 lead with 8 minutes left in the game.  The play of the game occurred next as Jeff Donovan hit Jordan Wells with a 68 yard pass to the Linfield 1.  Antwan Anderson scored on the next play and UW-W led 20-17.  Jeremy Delbert intercepted Boehme on a 4th and ten with a minute and a half left to secure the win.  Levell Coppage scored from 40 yards out two plays later to secure the 27-17 victory.  UW-W was on it's way to Salem for a fifth consecutive year.

The month of December has seen UW-Whitewater go 10-0 on the road to Salem over the past five years.
Many games have been close. Some not so close.  But not one single team, not one single time, has been able to impose their will on the Warhawks in either the quarter-final or the semi-final round.


The Warhawks have been working hard since January.  They have earned themselves an opportunity to play in December.  December has finally arrived. The snow is flying. The temperatures are colder. The wind is stronger. And the victories are sweeter.