PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The fourth-ranked University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team (5-0, 2-0 WIAC) posted a 38-0 shutout win over UW-Eau Claire (4-1, 1-1 WIAC) on Saturday afternoon inside Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.
Quarterback
Nathan Uselding steered the Pioneers offense, completing 30-of-33 attempts and passing for a season-best 312 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing in another score. The junior has completed 91-of-114 ( 79.8%) attempts on the year, with one interception, and sits top-three nationally in completion percentage.
Defensively, the Pioneers kept UW-Eau Claire scoreless while holding the Blugolds' Paxton Rothmeier, who entered the game leading the WIAC and ranking 8
th nationally in total rushing yards, to just 30 net yards. Junior
Dominic Ohlinger had a career-day, forcing two fumbles while racking up three sacks and four tackles for a loss of 17 yards. The defense forced and recovered three fumbles, held UW-Eau Claire to just 10 first downs, and kept the Blugolds offense on the sideline for all but 18:16.
Offensively, the Pioneers moved the ball efficiently, totaling 338 yards through the air and 120 yards on the ground while eating away at the clock and holding the ball for 41:44. The Pioneers were an impressive 71.4% (10-of-14) on third-down, against a defense that entered the game holding opponents to just 18.9% conversion.
Senior
Jaxson Garbisch hauled in a career-high 12 receptions and 189 yards for two touchdowns. Senior
Kristian Gavric also caught two touchdowns and totaled 66 yards on seven catches.
Senior
Zackary Bothun and junior
Jack Egan both rushed for a game-high 50 yards, Bothun on 11 carries and Egan on 10.
Sophomore
Brady Mobley was a perfect 5-of-5 on extra point tries and added a 37-yard field goal to start the second quarter. In the return game, sophomore
Brayden Knoll had three returns for 35 yards.
The opening drive saw Uselding complete 5-of-6 pass attempts while the Pioneers moved 75 yards on 11 plays. UW-Platteville went ahead 7-0 after the quarterback rushed in for a touchdown seven minutes into the game.
The teams exchanged punts and the next Blugolds drive ended when a strip-sack by Ohlinger and a fumble recovery by senior
Harrison Meyer returned possession to the Pioneers.
Mobley's 37-yard field goal put the Pioneers up 10-0 and after a quick three-and-out, Uselding found Gavric for a four-yard touchdown with 3:01 remaining in the first half.
The Pioneers defense came away with its second turnover on a another strip-sack and recovery by Olinger just before halftime.
The Blugolds got the ball to start the second half, but a quick three-and-out brought Uselding and the offense back on to the field. Five plays and five pass completions later, Uselding found Garbisch for a 22-yard catch and touchdown.
Leading 24-0 less than three minutes into the half, a fumble on the kickoff return and recovery by sophomore
LaDainian Mielke returned possession back to UW-Platteville at the Eau Claire 28-yard line.
Uselding picked up right where he left off and completed his next four passes where he found Garbisch for a 12-yard completion and the duo's second touchdown within a two-minute window.
It was another three-and-out for the Blugolds and UW-Platteville took over at their own 42-yard line with 9:05 left in the third quarter and a 31-0 advantage. The Pioneers marched 58 yards in nine plays for their last touchdown of the day, with Uselding finding Gavric for a three-yard completion and touchdown.
Saturday's shutout is the second-consecutive homecoming shutout for the Pioneers, having defeated UW-Stevens Point 52-0 last season. The Pioneers are now 52-43-3 all time on Homecoming.
Next up, UW-Platteville will stay home and welcome sixth-ranked UW-River Falls on Saturday, Oct. 17 for a 1 p.m. start.
