PLATTEVILLE, Wis.- The University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team defeated the University of Wisconsin-Stout 33-27 on a rainy Homecoming game in Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium. Saturday's Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory brings UW-Platteville's all-time Homecoming record to 47-39-4.
The Pioneers (5-1 overall, 2-1 WIAC) pulled away from the Blue Devils (1-5 overall, 0-3 WIAC) with 17 unanswered points in the first half and paired a 28-yard field goal with a three-play, 83 yards drive in the fourth quarter to hold off the Blue Devils comeback attempt.
UW-Platteville took an early 7-0 lead in the first three minutes with a 31-yard pass and touchdown from junior Colin Schuetz to senior Tyler Knigge.
The Blue Devils evened the score four minutes later off a 23-yard pass from Sean Borgerding to Tyler Seymour.
The Pioneers then went on their 17 unanswered point run starting with a 36-yard field goal by freshman Andrew Schweigert. Freshman Mitchell McNutt scored his first career touchdown off a 10-yard rush with 8:12 left in the half. The Pioneers closed out the first half with a five-play, 57-yard drive that ended with Schuetz finding sophomore David Urke for a 31-yard reception and touchdown to give the Pioneers a 24-7 lead going into the half.
The Blue Devils claimed the third quarter with a 61-yard pass for a touchdown from Borgerding to Levy Hamer and another completion to Seymour for his second touchdown of the day. UW-Stout trailed just 24-20 going into the fourth quarter.
A successful 28-yard field goal by Schweigert extended the Pioneers' lead to 27-20 before senior Wyatt Thompson broke through for a 21-yard run and touchdown to put UW-Platteville ahead 33-20 with 7:45 remaining in the game after a failed two-point conversion attempt. Borgerding threw for one more touchdown, this time a 15-yard pass to Kevion McDonald, but the Pioneers took over with 1:11 remaining and Schuetz took a knee twice to finalize the score 33-27.
Thompson had a season high 125 yards and a touchdown off 21 carries while Schuetz passed for 348 yards and two touchdowns. Knigge totaled 97 yards and a touchdown off eight catches while junior Donald Allender followed closely behind with seven receptions for 94 yards.
UW-Platteville tallied 527 yards total offense with 348 yards in the air. UW-Stout finished with 382 yards total offense while the Pioneers held the Blue Devils to just three yards rushing off 19 attempts.
Senior Antonio-Jose Ramos had a team high six tackles while senior Jordan Zilbar claimed five tackles with a sack for a loss of six yards.
The Pioneers are ranked No. 18 nationally in the D3football.com Top 25 Poll and No. 20 in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) poll. No. 3 UW-Whitewater is the only other WIAC school ranked in both polls.
The Pioneers will continue WIAC play when they hit the road next weekend on Oct. 26 for UW-Eau Claire and Carson Park with kickoff set for 1:10 p.m. on Saturday.
