With Whitewater winning its homecoming against Stevens Point, and La Crosse shocking the WIAC world and winning at Oshkosh, the Warhawks are guaranteed an automatic playoff bid and at least a share of the WIAC crown. This gives Whitewater seven straight WIAC titles - a conference record for consecutive championships. Also, Levell Coppage became the WIAC's all-time leading rusher as he ran for 245 yards and three touchdowns as the 'Hawks beat Stevens Point, 31-16. In Oshkosh, La Crosse put a crude end to the Titans' playoff hopes, as the Eagles pulled off the upset of the year in the WIAC, stunning Oshkosh, 30-24. Despite owning the stat sheet, River Falls came up short in earning its first win of the season. Stout continues to improve its defense as they beat the Falcons, 16-10 in River Falls. Behind a healthy Nick Anderson, Platteville beat a strong Eau Claire team, 31-21. Anderson threw for four touchdowns and 235 yards.
Game of the Week
Stout Blue Devils (5-3, 3-2) Platteville Pioneers (5-3, 3-2)
VS
Stout
Over their first six games of the season the Blue Devils' defense was surrendering over 27 points per game. Which isn't exactly what coach Clayt Birmingham is used to seeing from his defense. During that time they went 3-3 (1-2 in conference). Then something must have clicked, and became sick of offensives running (and passing) them up and down the field on a regular basis. Because over the next two weeks Stout has only given up 10 total points, including a shutout-win at home verse La Crosse. Granted the two teams they beat weren't the best offensive teams in the conference (La Crosse and River Falls). But still, Birgmingham's defensive unit is gaining some much-needed confidence heading into Saturday's game against a strong offensive Platteville team. This will be Stout's last home game of the season (Senior Day), and the seniors will like nothing more than to put forth another strong defensive game, one last time in front of the Menomonie crowd. The strongest aspect of the Blue Devil's defense has been their bend-but-don't-break mentality. When the pressure is on in the red zone, the Devils allow their opponents to score (TD or FG) only 66 percent of the time (best in the WIAC). Other than their red zone defense, Stout has been excelling in stopping the other team's drives and getting its offense back on the field. They are allowing opposing offensives to convert just 33.6 percent of it third downs, which is second best in the WIAC. Birmingham's boys has the second most sacks in the conference with 20 this 
season. Which should make for a very interesting matchup considering the Pioneers have only given up nine sacks on the year (also second best in the WIAC). Its linebacker, Ryan Pearcy, has been an absolute beast in the middle of the field for the Blue Devils. The senior, who leads the conference in tackles, has been averaging 11 per game (88 total, 39 solo). Not to be outdone, defensive back Aaron Kobes seems to spend just as much time in the opponent's back field than he does down field defending the pass. The senior has 2.5 sacks, and 8.5 tackles for loss (second in the WIAC).....which is very impressive given that he plays in the secondary. Offensively is where the Blue Devils have had their struggles this year. They rank juuuuust ahead of River Falls at the bottom of the conference scoring 16.0 points per game (UWRF has been averaging 15.9). Stout's problems don't stem from them not being able to move the ball. But, infact, they have been averaging over 325 yards per game, which ranks them in the middle of the WIAC pack. What keeps them out of the endzone has been their inability to protect the ball. They are the only WIAC program to have a negative turnover margin (-2). Stout leads the conference in interceptions thrown with 13. Senior QB Ross Carey has accounted for nine of those, while only throwing for five touchdowns on the year. The lack of an offense is going to no doubt put A LOT of pressure on the defense to slow down a Platteville team that's put up some big numbers the past couple of weeks.
season. Which should make for a very interesting matchup considering the Pioneers have only given up nine sacks on the year (also second best in the WIAC). Its linebacker, Ryan Pearcy, has been an absolute beast in the middle of the field for the Blue Devils. The senior, who leads the conference in tackles, has been averaging 11 per game (88 total, 39 solo). Not to be outdone, defensive back Aaron Kobes seems to spend just as much time in the opponent's back field than he does down field defending the pass. The senior has 2.5 sacks, and 8.5 tackles for loss (second in the WIAC).....which is very impressive given that he plays in the secondary. Offensively is where the Blue Devils have had their struggles this year. They rank juuuuust ahead of River Falls at the bottom of the conference scoring 16.0 points per game (UWRF has been averaging 15.9). Stout's problems don't stem from them not being able to move the ball. But, infact, they have been averaging over 325 yards per game, which ranks them in the middle of the WIAC pack. What keeps them out of the endzone has been their inability to protect the ball. They are the only WIAC program to have a negative turnover margin (-2). Stout leads the conference in interceptions thrown with 13. Senior QB Ross Carey has accounted for nine of those, while only throwing for five touchdowns on the year. The lack of an offense is going to no doubt put A LOT of pressure on the defense to slow down a Platteville team that's put up some big numbers the past couple of weeks.Platteville
I try to avoid selecting the same team in consecutive Game of the Weeks. However, a healthy Platteville offense (that's starting to hit it's stride), makes for an interesting matchup against a Stout team that has lately been playing some great defense. Since getting embarrassed 3-24 on its homecoming against Oshkosh, the Pioneers have now won two straight. With quarterback Nick Anderson getting healthy, they averaged over 32 points per game in the two wins. A victory this Saturday will guarantee Mike Emendorfer's team an over .500 record this season, which is something they've accomplished only once since 1992 (when they finished 6-4 in 2004). The Pioneers' offensive success has come mainly through the air this year. Platteville has been averaging over 210 passing yards per game, good enough for third in the WIAC. They are also tied with Whitewater for the most TDs thrown this year with 15. Anderson has been the third most efficient QB in the conference, as the junior has QB rating of 135.0, with nine touchdowns and only four interceptions. He has a pair of great targets at wideout, that are both having great seasons for Emendorfer. Aaron Loferski is second in the WIAC averaging 67.0 yards receiving per game, and over 20 yards per catch. Anderson's other sure handed option is Darin Blaser. The sophomore is averaging close to five receptions per game (third best in conference). One area of concern for the Pioneers has been making good on third downs, as they are only converting 33.6 percent of them (second to last in the WIAC). This is something to keep in mind, considering how
successful Stout has been stopping offenses on third down this year (as discussed above). After reviewing this week's WIAC's weekly football release, I was shocked to notice that Platteville is tied with Stevens Point in the fewest points allowed this year with 19.1 per game. That's very impressive considering this program has already played the top offensive powers in the conference, they should get some much deserved credit. Last week's WIAC Defensive Athlete of the Week was Platteville's own Nick Snyder. This young linebacker had himself an afternoon finishing with a game high 11 tackles, and a pass break up last weekend. Snyder's teammate Bronzun Kyles has been doing some work on the defensive line this season. Only a sophomore, the defensive lineman has 8.5 tackles for loss - tied for second in the WIAC. The Pioneers defense has only been giving up 204 yards per game rushing, good enough for second in the conference. This is a great matchup for Emendorfer as Stout brings the third worst rushing offense to the table this weekend. Considering this game is a matchup between a good Stout defense and a good Platteville offense, the Pionners' defense could be the deciding "X" factor if they can score on Stout's defense. Whitewater Warhawks (8-0, 5-0) @ Eau Claire Blugolds (4-4, 2-3)
If the Blugolds can manage to get inside the Warhawks 20-yard line, this season has showed us that they have a great chance of scoring. I know that might sound weird considering Whitewater is at the top of just about every category in the WIAC. However, against Whitewater, teams have had a 100% success rate of scoring when getting inside the red zone (WIAC's worst red zone defense). This stat is a little obscured considering teams have only entered the red zone seven times this season against the 'Hawks. The next closest team to have fewer opponents in its red zone is - oddly enough - Eau Claire with 19. Early in the season the Blugolds had high hopes starting off 3-0 against DIII schools, including a blow-out win at St John's. However, Todd Glaser's team has taken a turn for the worst as they now find themselves with a 4-4 record (2-3 in the WIAC). However, they still have the conference's best passing attack, averaging 240 yards per game. Led by junior quarterback Austin Neu who has 13 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Although, this might play right into the Warhawks hands (literally), as the top three interception leaders in the conference all play for Whitewater: Ryan Wenkman (4), Noah Timm (3) and Ryan Cortez (3). Regardless, the Blugolds are at home and it's Senior Day. This can be Glaser's one win that makes all the other losses easier to swallow. How many other coaches can say they beat St. John's and Whitewater in the same season?
Oshkosh Titans (5-3, 3-2) @ Stevens Point Pointers (4-4, 2-3)
If anyone claims to have foreseen La Crosse sticking it to Oshkosh, ripping a part their playoff dreams, then you my friend would be a liar. Hard to believe that a team who lead against Whitewater for the majority of the game would be outplayed (at home) by a two and five team. That's just crazy talk. I still consider the Titans one of the better 25 teams in the country, despite its recent downfalls. They still have the second highest scoring offense in the conference, averaging just over 29 ppg. However, the defense has fallen to sixth in the WIAC giving up over 344 yards per game. That's due to the fact that, outside of River Falls, the Titans give up the most rushing yards in the conference (170.6 ypg). However, as long as they have Nate Wara at quarterback, they will always have a chance to win. It's Senior Day for the Pointers, and they are just two wins away from placing head coach John Miech third on the WIAC coaches football all-time wins list. With just two games left, coach Miech will have to win out to tie Whitewater's Bob Berezowitz for third all time with 158 wins. We'll see if the Pointers' try to take advantage of the Titans' passive run defense, even if the Stevens Point ranks dead last in rushing in the WIAC. I'll be shocked if the Titans lose three straight, even with this game being at Stevens Point.
River Falls Falcons (0-8, 0-5) @ La Crosse Eagles (3-5, 2-3)
A few weeks ago I was looking at this game as golden opportunity for River Falls' Matt Walker to earn his first victory as head coach of the Falcons. However, given the fact how well the Eagles played last week in Oshkosh it's looking that coach Walker might very well be 0-9. The Eagles are slowly creeping up the leader board in rushing offense, as UWL ranks third in the WIAC with 156.5 ypg. This is not a good matchup at all for River Falls' last-ranked rushing defense in the conference, as UWL's Ben Hertrampf is fresh off his 182 yard game (and three TDs) at Oshkosh. The only chance the Falcons might have is to just keep feeding the ball to Taylor Edwards, who just needs 124 yards to hit the 1000 yard rushing mark on the season. If Walker can get Edwards going, and eat up the time of possession, the Falcons just might have a chance at stealing this game. If somehow the Falcons can do what they did against Whitewater and stop the run, the Eagles have been very susceptible to the quarterback sack this year if forced to throw. La Crosse have given up 30 sacks on the year, far away the most given up among WIAC teams. I would look for River Falls to put 8-9 guys in the box, preventing Hertrampf to get going and force La Crosse to beat them through the air....which is not the Eagles strong suite. If they can hold Levell Coppage to a season low 74 yards, the Falcons are capable of shutting down Hertrampf.
Here's to another great week of WIAC football, and hope everyone remains healthy....Cheers!
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