From the Sideline to the End Zone

With less than two minutes to play in the first half of the 2010 Stagg Bowl, UW-W lined up on Mount Union's 31 yard line. The Purple Raiders led 21-17 and the Warhawks had driven 46 yards in 6 plays. Both teams were fighting to go into the lead at half time.  Lee Brekke dropped back and threw deep down the left seam, a Warhawk receiver went high into the air and made a twisting, athletic catch over the defender and tumbled into the end zone, allowing Whitewater to play from the lead the rest of the game.  It had to be Adam Brandes, who made a name for himself at UW-W making catches no one had ever seen before. Or was it all time reception leader Aaron Rusch? Turns out, it was neither. As #2 got up after the catch, many in Salem Stadium were undoubtedly scurrying through their game program. Tyler Huber, 6'2" sophomore out of Mukwanago High School.  Other than those close to the UW-W program, few knew of Huber.  After all, heading into the Stagg Bowl, he had only four catches for 53 yards all year long.  With senior standouts Brandes and Rusch getting most of the wide out targets, there are only so many passes to go around.  And yet when called upon in the biggest game of the year, Huber made the play.  From the sideline to the end zone.
     In many ways, Huber and his story provide a prototypical example of the level to which UW-W football has elevated.   Entering the 2011 season, UW-W had only 11 starters returning from last year's National Championship team.  Many could read vulnerability into that statistic. It's a given that every year is a new year and each team must establish it's own identity. Nothing is assured. However, it's also a mistake to look at a statistic like "11 Starters Returning"and assume that means the 2011 brand of the team will be less than the 2010 version.  More to prove? Yes. More questions?  Absolutely.  A lesser team? Not necessarily.
      Fast forward to September 17, 2011. Huber, playing against Campbellsville University, who possesses one of the fastest secondaries UW-W will face all year, caught 3 passes for 122 yards, including TD catches of 54 and 64 yards.  On both TD receptions, he pulled away from the speedy Tiger secondary.  For the season, Huber has caught 9 passes for 201 yards (22.3 ypc) and 3 touchdowns.
      Simply because Huber toiled in the shadows of Brandes and Rusch, he was unknown to the casual observer.  But unknown does not equal untalented.  The fact is that Huber is a superior athlete who has been working hard since arriving on the UW-W campus.  From the bleachers, fans saw #2 on the back of his jersey and if they noticed him at all, they noticed he spent more time on the sideline than on the field.  However, if fans were to see him without a number, working in the weight room or undergoing physical testing, they would have an entirely different perspective.   Huber's workout numbers are off the charts for a D3 athlete.  The 6'2" wide receiver put up 26 reps on the bench press, timed at 4.1 in the pro agility, leapt 10.75 in the standing broad jump (next best on the team was 10.41), and his vertical leap was measured at 39 inches.
      And Huber is not alone in trying to replace the departed wide receivers.  Sophomore Luke Menzel leads the team in receptions with 12.  Senior Cory Robinson has caught 6 passes for 101 yards and a TD. Junior Shane Covington has caught 3 passes for 51 yards, and sophomore Steve Morris has caught 3 passes for 47 yards and a touchdown.  Robinson is back after not playing football last year.  Covington is getting assimilated after being a defensive back last year, and the gifted Morris (A Wisconsin Coaches Association All State quarterback and WIAA Player of the Year as a senior at Racine Park High School) continues to learn and grow into the wide receiver position.
     The offensive line is another position with high turnover since last season.  UW-W returns only one starter from 2010.  Logan Allemand, starter at right guard last year, has been moved to left tackle.  Joining him on the left side is junior guard Jimmy Norris, who did step in and start at times last year.  The starting center this year is junior Grant Poenitsch.  The whole new right side of the offensive line is comprised of junior guard Joe Hansen and senior tackle Ryan Olson, who did share snaps with Grant Murray last year.
     The O-Line has a tough act to follow as last year's group included First Team All-American Matt Weber, along with Robbie Ustruck and Matt Gawronski who both earned All-West Region recognition. While a new offensive line always takes time to develop, the early results are encouraging.  The top two running backs, Levell Coppage and Desmin Ward (who have the lion's share of carries while the starting line is in the game) are averaging 6.4 and 5.8 yards per carry respectfully.  The duo has also scored 9 combined rushing touchdowns over the first three games.  The offensive line has given up only two sacks in three games, both of which came in the second half of lopsided games.
     On defense, the Warhawks must replace five players in the front seven, all of whom received All-Conference recognition.  On the defensive line, senior Casey Casper is the only starter from the 2010 Stagg Bowl.  However, the front of Casper, senior Jake Keeser,  junior  Jake Hohlstein,  and sophomore Louis Minett are off to a great start and seem to form a formidable front. Juniors Johan Lorenzo and Anthony Dowery, along with senior Zach Cook will help form a deep rotation.
     Senior Greg Arnold is the only returning linebacker.  However Saturday's starting combination of Arnold, junior Jaren Borland, and sophomore Kyle Wismer are rotated with a deep group of athletic backers including sophomores Cole Klotz, Ryan Cortez, and Bryan Spakowcz.  Talented junior Josh Williams is recovering from an injury and has not played this year.
     In the three preseason games, the front seven has anchored down to the tune of allowing only 193 yards rushing and 2.2 yards per carry.  The Warhawks also have seven sacks in three games.
     In the defensive backfield, starters Ryan Wenkman (jr) and Jarod Kiesow (sr) return.  For most of the fall, starting with them has been Jesse Hamilton (sr) and Noah Timm (jr).  The Warhawks have been very strong against the pass, allowing a completion percentage of just 39.5% and a total of 126 yards per game.  The Warhawks have yielded two TD passes and intercepted four passes.
      By most any measure, the preseason has been very successful.  UW-W has outscored it's three opponents 125-21.  Probably more importantly, the coaches have given a high priority to rotating players and developing valuable depth.  For example, All-American running back Levell Coppage has only 42.5% of the running backs' 127 carries. There seemed to be a continual flow of players coming into the games throughout the preseason.  Most importantly of all, the Warhawks are 3-0 and seem to be heading into WIAC play on October 1st  reasonably healthy.
     As is the case every season, there are players being given their first real opportunity to make an impact on game day.  And as the season unfolds, the 2011 Warhawks will be forming their own identity. While established players like Blanchard, Coppage, and Arnold will be counted on to carry the load, the performance of those new to the stage will go a long way toward determining how far this team goes.  And maybe, just maybe,  one of the numbers that fans are used to seeing on the sideline,  will turn up in the end zone.