WHITEWATER, Wis. – In the third straight game against a Top 15 team, the No. 8 University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team (5-2, 2-2) fell 29-19 to No. 9 UW-Whitewater (6-1, 3-1) at Perkins Stadium on a rainy Saturday afternoon. 

With the Miner's Axe Trophy on the line, the annual matchup between the Pioneers and Warhawks is named in honor of the late UW-Platteville football coach. George Chryst coached Pioneers from 1979 until his sudden passing in 1992. Today's game marked the 32^nd installment of the George Chryst Memorial Bowl. 

Trailing 14-3 at halftime, a safety between a pair of touchdowns in the final five minutes of the third quarter shifted momentum to the Pioneers and they led 19-14 going into the final 15 minutes. A touchdown and two-point conversion early in the fourth quarter gave the Warhawks a 22-19 lead and one more score sealed the fate of the day. 

The Pioneers totaled 320 yards of offense, sending 245 through the air while rushing for another 75. The Warhawks rushed for 139 yards and passed for another 264 for a total of 403 yards of offense. 

Sophomore Nathan Uselding completed 24-of-38 attempts for 245 yards and two touchdowns. Uselding was intercepted three times, with two picks falling in the final minutes of the game as the Pioneers looked to get within scoring position while the clock ticked away.  Once again, senior Trevor Syse was Uselding's favorite target with nine catches for 109 yards and a touchdown. 

Freshman Blake Bangston paced the Pioneers with 54 yards rushing on 20 carries.

The Warhawks Justin Klinkner completed 18-of-29 attempts for 264 yards and three touchdowns. Klinkner was also intercepted three times. Even with the six interceptions in the game, there were zero points scored off turnovers by either team.

Sophomore Donovan Nedelcoff registered the first pick of the day as he intercepted Klinkner on the Warhawks' first drive. Nedelcoff returned the pick three yards following the one-handed catch after the ball bounced off of the intended receiver. 

UW-Whitewater went up 7-0 on their next possession, but a 44-yard field goal by freshman Brady Mobley cut the Warhawks lead to 7-3 at the end of the first quarter. 

The Pioneers forced a turnover on downs and then forced another punt, but on their third try of the quarter, the Warhawks added another score on a 72-yard, seven play drive.

UW-Platteville had a rocky start to the second half with Uselding being intercepted on the first drive, but the Pioneers bounced back on their next possession as a 27-yard pass from Uselding to junior Kristian Gavric on fourth and six closed the gap to 14-10 with 5:45 left in the third quarter.

A bad snap over the punter's head four plays later went out the back of the endzone and suddenly the Pioneers, who now prepared to receive the kickoff, only trailed 14-12 with 4:58 on the clock. 

A 25-yard return by freshman Brayden Knoll put UW-Platteville on their own 45-yard line to start the next drive. Seven snaps later, Uselding hit Syse, who caught the ball while falling backwards onto the defender, for a 14-yard completion and touchdown. The Pioneers led 19-14 at the quarter break. 

UW-Platteville carried that momentum into the fourth quarter as junior Harrison Meyer intercepted Klinkner on the first play of the fourth, but a 36-yard pass and two-point conversion returned the lead back to the Warhawks, 22-19, with 12:14 to go. 

The Pioneers were forced to punt, and UW-Whitewater went 72 yards in five plays to extend that lead to 29-19 at the 7:41 mark. The final three drives of the game ended in an interception with sophomore Rodney Gavins Jr. being the third Pioneer to pick off Klinkner. 

Junior Elijah Krantz paced the Pioneers with 13 tackles, including five solo. Junior Logan Drone added nine tackles and Nedelcoff finished with seven tackles plus the interception. 

On special teams, junior punter Benjamin Younker averaged 42.4 yards on five punts and put one inside the 20 with a 50 yard long. Sophomore Trevor Burnett totaled 59 yards on three returns, including a 27-yard return. 

After the game, players of the game were announced for offense and defense from both teams. Donovan Nedelcoff earned the defensive honor while Trevor Syse picked up the honor for the offense. For the Warhawks, Justin Klinkner was named offensive player of the game while Ethan Gallagher was named from the defense. George Chryst's grandson, Jackson Chryst, was in attendance for the post-game ceremony. 

Up next, the Pioneers will look to bounce back when they return home to Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium for a 1 p.m. game against No. 18 UW-Oshkosh.