Platteville Pioneers (4-1, 1-1) Oshkosh Titans (5-0, 4-0)
Pioneers
For most offenses, when you're forced to turn to your third-string quarterback and ask him to lead the offense...you're usually packing it in for the season and hope next year goes better. That's not the case at all for Platteville. Bryce Corrigan has been filling in after John Kelly broke his collarbone two weeks ago against Whitewater. And, as most of you already know, Kelly took over after Nick Anderson broke his collarbone earlier in the year. After coming in for Kelly in the Whitewater game, it only took Corrigan one week to get affiliated with the first-team offense. That's because the very next week, against a solid La Crosse defense, the sophomore lit up the Eagles for 412 yards and three touchdowns. What's even more incredible is that he didn't throw a single pick the entire game, while completing 36 of 43 passes.....on the road! That's an 86 percent 
completion percentage for someone who was probably running the practice squad four weeks ago!!!! Up until that game the Eagles had surrendered a WIAC low two passing touchdowns through their first four games. For the duration of that game it has been abundantly clear who Corrigan's favorite target has been. The sophomore completed 18 passes to Paul Reit over the weekend. No, that's not a typo. The 6'5" junior hauled in 18 passes for 167 yards and a pair of TDs. That's more receptions than anyone on La Crosse had. Combined! The Pioneers now have three of the top top six receivers in the WIAC, when looking at receptions per game. Ryley Bailey 7.4, Trevor Whitehead 5.4 and Reit 5.0. Platteville remains at the top of the conference in averaging over 359 passing yards per game. That's almost 160 more yards a game than the program that has the second most (Stevens Point). It's easy to get caught up in Platteville's gaudy offensive numbers, but the game will come down to how well their defense slows down Oshkosh's offense. Given the success of the Pioneers' prolific offense, their defense hasn't really been called upon to keep them in games. Platteville has been in the middle of the pack in most defensive categories. So far their mediocre defense has been just getting by given the rate their offense has been putting points on the board. That'll probably need to change come this Saturday in Oshkosh. Having already lost to Whitewater, this game - and the rest of their games - become a must win. Mike Emendorfer's squad will want to avoid the dreaded second DIII football loss, which would almost guarantee themselves a spot at home watching the playoffs.
completion percentage for someone who was probably running the practice squad four weeks ago!!!! Up until that game the Eagles had surrendered a WIAC low two passing touchdowns through their first four games. For the duration of that game it has been abundantly clear who Corrigan's favorite target has been. The sophomore completed 18 passes to Paul Reit over the weekend. No, that's not a typo. The 6'5" junior hauled in 18 passes for 167 yards and a pair of TDs. That's more receptions than anyone on La Crosse had. Combined! The Pioneers now have three of the top top six receivers in the WIAC, when looking at receptions per game. Ryley Bailey 7.4, Trevor Whitehead 5.4 and Reit 5.0. Platteville remains at the top of the conference in averaging over 359 passing yards per game. That's almost 160 more yards a game than the program that has the second most (Stevens Point). It's easy to get caught up in Platteville's gaudy offensive numbers, but the game will come down to how well their defense slows down Oshkosh's offense. Given the success of the Pioneers' prolific offense, their defense hasn't really been called upon to keep them in games. Platteville has been in the middle of the pack in most defensive categories. So far their mediocre defense has been just getting by given the rate their offense has been putting points on the board. That'll probably need to change come this Saturday in Oshkosh. Having already lost to Whitewater, this game - and the rest of their games - become a must win. Mike Emendorfer's squad will want to avoid the dreaded second DIII football loss, which would almost guarantee themselves a spot at home watching the playoffs.Titans
Pat Cerroni finds himself with a golden opportunity here. In consecutive weeks, Oshkosh has the chance to dwindle a three-team conference race down to a clear cut favorite to win the WIAC. However, before they look too far ahead they'll have to take care of a very good Platteville team at home this Saturday. Winning their first five games of the season, the Titans are off to their best start since 1968. The team is lead by preseason All American quarterback Nate Wara. The senior is averaging over 308 yards of offense per game, that's tops in the WIAC. He's been remarkably efficient, throwing seven touchdowns and only one interception along with a conference leading 1075 total passing yards on the year. Cerroni, and assistant coach John O'Grady, has this option read offense molded perfectly to
play off Wara's strengths. O'Grady was River Falls' head coach for 22 seasons before coming over to Oshkosh. At UWRF O'Grady built his offense around the triple option. So I'm sure Cerroni welcomed O'Grady's vast knowledge of the option with open arms upon his arrival at Oshkosh. If you want proof of their success, just look at the rushing leaders of the WIAC. Running back Cole Myhra and Wara sit three and four among the conference's leading rushers. Myhra averages over 94 yards per game, while Wara pitches in with 93. Both are averaging well over five yards per carry. Oshkosh and Platteville offer up the two best offenses that the WIAC has to offer, but I think this game will come down to whose defense will slow its opposition the most. Even though both offenses are great, the Titans' offense has something that Pioneers don't. And that is balance. Going into this game UWO's defense knows exactly what the Pioneers are going to do. That's throw, throw, and throw some more. With that being said I think Oshkosh has a clear advantage this game. Cerroni's team leads the WIAC in total defense giving up only 225.6 yards per game, while yielding just under 13 points per game (second best in the WIAC). It'll be interesting to see if the Titans can slow down this UWP offense, given that UWO only gives up 143.8 passing yards per game (best in conference). Don't count on Oshkosh holding the Pioneers that low, but then again I don't think UWP will be hitting their offensive average output either this game. This is Oshkosh's game to win not only because they are balanced on offense, but because they are well balanced on both sides of the ball.
play off Wara's strengths. O'Grady was River Falls' head coach for 22 seasons before coming over to Oshkosh. At UWRF O'Grady built his offense around the triple option. So I'm sure Cerroni welcomed O'Grady's vast knowledge of the option with open arms upon his arrival at Oshkosh. If you want proof of their success, just look at the rushing leaders of the WIAC. Running back Cole Myhra and Wara sit three and four among the conference's leading rushers. Myhra averages over 94 yards per game, while Wara pitches in with 93. Both are averaging well over five yards per carry. Oshkosh and Platteville offer up the two best offenses that the WIAC has to offer, but I think this game will come down to whose defense will slow its opposition the most. Even though both offenses are great, the Titans' offense has something that Pioneers don't. And that is balance. Going into this game UWO's defense knows exactly what the Pioneers are going to do. That's throw, throw, and throw some more. With that being said I think Oshkosh has a clear advantage this game. Cerroni's team leads the WIAC in total defense giving up only 225.6 yards per game, while yielding just under 13 points per game (second best in the WIAC). It'll be interesting to see if the Titans can slow down this UWP offense, given that UWO only gives up 143.8 passing yards per game (best in conference). Don't count on Oshkosh holding the Pioneers that low, but then again I don't think UWP will be hitting their offensive average output either this game. This is Oshkosh's game to win not only because they are balanced on offense, but because they are well balanced on both sides of the ball. This is a great game featuring a pair of teams that rely heavily on their defense to keep them in games. On offense, however, both teams have struggled to move the ball at times this season. It wouldn't surprise me if this was the WIAC's lowest scoring game of the weekend. The Warhawks and Blue Devils are tied with each other for 5th in the WIAC in total offense, averaging 335 yards per game. UWW does however bring the conference's leading rusher, Desmin Ward, to the game. The senior has been averaging over 101 yards per game, and over five yards per carry. I would expect Stout to stack the line, forcing Whitewater to throw the ball...which they have been dreadful at this season. The Warhawks rank last in the WIAC, averaging 138.8 yards passing per game. This matches up well with the Blue Devils as they own the conference's third best passing defense. This game will be won by which team's defense will force the most turnovers. In turn, giving their offense a (much needed) short field to work with. Based on that, Whitewater leads the WIAC with a plus 12 turnover margin, while Stout comes it at minus five (second worst in conference).
La Crosse Eagles (2-3, 1-1) @ Eau Claire Blugolds (1-4, 1-1)
With All-Conference running back Ben Hertrampf out with a season ending injury, La Crosse has really been struggling to formulate any type of offense. The Eagles are averaging a WIAC low 226.6 yards per game (3.6 per play). However, a trip to Eau Claire just might jump start this stagnate offense. The Blugolds are relinquishing a WIAC leading 452 yards per game. For the sake of quarterback Andy Sires, UWL's offensive line must do a better job protecting their quarterback. They've allowed a horrendous 23 sacks in just five games!! Forget about the conference ranks in sacks given up, that mark puts them at 232 (out of 239 teams) in the country!! For Eau Claire, this might finally be the game that Blugold fans have been waiting for as La Crosse gives up a conference leading 262.8 passing yards per game. I know UWEC fans have been salivating for quarterback Austin Neu to return to his old form, where he averaged a WIAC best 248 yards per game a season ago. That's a far cry from his 173.8 ypg this season (6th in the WIAC).
Stevens Point Pointers (1-4, 0-2) @ River Falls Falcons (0-4, 0-2)
I have to admit, even though River Falls has yet to win a game, they've managed to be very pesky on defense in conference play. The Falcons held the mighty Oshkosh offense to just 19 points two weeks ago. Then the following week, on the road, they held Whitewater to just 233 total yards (94 passing). Unfortunately, their offense only conjured up a total of seven points in those two games combined. The Falcons are the only WIAC team to average under 10 points per game on the season (9.4). Like the Falcons, Stevens Point will be looking for their first win in the WIAC this year. The Pointer's Mitch Beau is leading the conference by averaging over 245 passing yards per game. Although his consistency remains an issue. The junior is throwing under 60 percent on the year with six interceptions and only five touchdowns. Beau's number one receiver has been Theo Maglio who leads the WIAC averaging over 106 yards per game.
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