FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[emma17]

Non football post here.  I had the pleasure of watching the UWW women's volleyball team play a first round playoff game vs. Thomas Moore at Elmhurst College.  The UWW women showed great skill and heart as they took game five in overtime.  The level of intensity and excitement was sky high as both teams played very well.  UWW has some big hitters- very fun to watch.  They play again Saturday evening.
I also heard the UWW women's soccer team won their playoff game Friday afternoon- congrats to them too.  They play Wheaton Saturday afternoon. 

Go Hawks.

Johnston and Ruchti are some of the better Middle Blockers I've seen. Johnston's ability to control the net largely be herself is fun to watch.

I have to use numbers.  #8 can flat out crush the ball on her hits-#20 came up big with some big hits as well.  The tall lefty had some big serves.  #17 was very good at the net as was #11.  I don't want to short any of them as they all played well.  I can't overstate the level of intensity in that gymnasium- it was great.   

[voice]

We're here in La Crosse - WW leads UWL 7-0

Today's halftime ceremony was as moving a ceremony that I have EVER witnessed.

US Army 2nd Lieutenant Jason Church, a former UWL player, lost both legs in a IED explosion while serving our country in Afghanistan.  Lieutenant Church was awarded the Purple Heart in today's halftime ceremony. No matter what happens in today's second half - nothing will come close to stirring the emotions of us in the stands.

Thank you Lieutenant Church for your service to our country.

[retagent]

And it's the Marine Corp birthday today.

[bleedpurple]

And it's the Marine Corp birthday today.

Thank you Lieutenant Church for defending our freedom. Happy birthday to the Marine Corps! And thank you to all who have defended our country, regardless of branch. I would salute you, but frankly don't feel I have the right to even do that, not having served myself.  But I can say THANK YOU.  You are all a big part of why I am proud to be an American!

[bulk19]

Agreed - a nice moving tribute at halftime at UWL. Hard not to choke up or get teary-eyed while watching... Had I been the head coach for either team, I would have made my players stay out for that ceremony before heading into the locker room. The awarding of a Purple Heart is something most of us will never get to see, and is a great reminder of what our military men and women do for us.... Thanks to both of the Lynchs, and all, who have served our country... We can't thank you enough....

As for the second billing of the day, the Eagles hung around for the first half, but then... 

[bleedpurple]

Congrats to the Warhawks on their season-ending shutout victory.  What a fitting way for this defense to go out!  While I didn't see the game, just looking at the numbers a few things jumped out at me. In no particular order:

Defensive pressure: 5 sacks, 3 interceptions, and 1 fumble recovery.
Run the ball/stop the run: UW-W out-gains UW-L on the ground 217 to 52.
Great punting: Joe Gardener 8 punts, 47.4 Ave, long of 69 yds, no Touchbacks.
Not much of a passing attack: 90 yards passing and 7 completions.
Excellent on 3rd down on both sides of the ball: UW-W 8 of 16.  UW-L 2 of 12.

[voice]

From Warhawkfootball....
UW-Whitewater freshman punter Joe Gardener put on a show worthy of an international audience Saturday afternoon. The native of Australia had the best day of his young career by averaging 47.4 yards on each of his eight punts in Whitewater's 24-0 shutout at UW-La Crosse.

Of the Aussie's 8 punts only one was less than 40 yards. That was a 20 yard punt on a short field. He started his day with a 55 yarder. His final two punts – 56 yards, then ending his day with a booming 69 yarder – a career high and longest UW-Whitewater punt of the season.

Gardener, a 6'3" freshman from Brisbane, Australia is just learning the game of American football after arriving this year at Whitewater as an accomplished international rugby player who was a goal kicking full back last year in Portugal.

Gardener ended his initial year of American football averaging 42.8 yards on each of his 26 punts. He came to Whitewater with the reputation of having a "big leg." The reputation talk was right on as 8 of the Aussie's punts were 50 yards or more.

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie...Oi, Oi, Oi!!!!

[WarhawkDad]

Congrats to the Warhawks on their season-ending shutout victory.  What a fitting way for this defense to go out!  While I didn't see the game, just looking at the numbers a few things jumped out at me. In no particular order:

Defensive pressure: 5 sacks, 3 interceptions, and 1 fumble recovery.
Run the ball/stop the run: UW-W out-gains UW-L on the ground 217 to 52.
Great punting: Joe Gardener 8 punts, 47.4 Ave, long of 69 yds, no Touchbacks.
Not much of a passing attack: 90 yards passing and 7 completions.
Excellent on 3rd down on both sides of the ball: UW-W 8 of 16.  UW-L 2 of 12.

Another aspect of the game was the wind.  Whichever team was moving north to south had a disadvantage due to the wind.  So UWW was fairly conservative into the wind and chose instead to pound the rock.  Time of possession was 35 minutes to 25 in favor of UWW.   Behrendt's stats were hampered after the first drive by UWW trying initially to throw into the wind.  He was 1-9 after the first drive. 

The UWW line wore down then Eagles to create some large holes for Ward and Patterson.  Emma we actually had a crossing route to Howard.   So it ends.  For me a fitting way for these seniors to close out their careers.  A decisive win where both sides of the ball lived up to the strengths of Warhawk Football.

WarhawkDad

[emma17]

Congrats to the Warhawks on their season-ending shutout victory.  What a fitting way for this defense to go out!  While I didn't see the game, just looking at the numbers a few things jumped out at me. In no particular order:

Defensive pressure: 5 sacks, 3 interceptions, and 1 fumble recovery.
Run the ball/stop the run: UW-W out-gains UW-L on the ground 217 to 52.
Great punting: Joe Gardener 8 punts, 47.4 Ave, long of 69 yds, no Touchbacks.
Not much of a passing attack: 90 yards passing and 7 completions.
Excellent on 3rd down on both sides of the ball: UW-W 8 of 16.  UW-L 2 of 12.

Another aspect of the game was the wind.  Whichever team was moving north to south had a disadvantage due to the wind.  So UWW was fairly conservative into the wind and chose instead to pound the rock.  Time of possession was 35 minutes to 25 in favor of UWW.   Behrendt's stats were hampered after the first drive by UWW trying initially to throw into the wind.  He was 1-9 after the first drive. 

The UWW line wore down then Eagles to create some large holes for Ward and Patterson.  Emma we actually had a crossing route to Howard.   So it ends.  For me a fitting way for these seniors to close out their careers.  A decisive win where both sides of the ball lived up to the strengths of Warhawk Football.

WarhawkDad

I'm so glad the seniors went out with this win. I'm glad too that Brekke got some playing time.

[02 Warhawk]

Semi glad to hear that the wind was a big factor in the throwing game. I have to admit, I cringed a little when I saw Behrendt's stats.

[oshfb]

UWP needs some magic this weekend:
- Huntingdon to lose to Adrian. Huntington Loses 16-7
- Cal Lutheran to beat Chapman Cal Lutheran won 38-28
- Pacific Lutheran to lose to Menlo
- Ohio Wesleyan or Wittenberg to lose
- Bridgewater to lose to Mass Maritime
- Wheaton to lose to North Park
- Elmhurst to lose to Ill Wesleyan
- Baldwin-Wallace to beat Heidelberg
- Widener to beat Delware Valley Widener won 42-23
- Bethel to lose to St. Johns
- Concordia-Moorhead to lose to Gustavus Adolphus
- Carroll to beat Illinois College Carroll won 49-13
- And, of course, don't let Point win Point lost

Did enough happen to get UWP into the playoffs?

[oshfb]

Oshkosh QB Nate Wara needs 120 total yards to reach 10,000 yards for his career. Just 3 players have done that in WIAC history.

Anyone happen to know who the other three are?

I think he'd be the third:

14,847--Kirk Baumgartner (STP), 1986-89
10,107--Reed Giordana (STP), 1974-77

Here's hoping he runs/throws for 228yds to get into 2nd place all-time in the WIAC!

Nate Wara is now 2nd place all-time in the WIAC with 10,138 yards in his career. He got there after throwing for 213yds and rushing for 45yds against Stout yesterday.

Congrats!

[02 Warhawk]

UWP needs some magic this weekend:
- Huntingdon to lose to Adrian. Huntington Loses 16-7
- Cal Lutheran to beat Chapman Cal Lutheran won 38-28
- Pacific Lutheran to lose to Menlo
- Ohio Wesleyan or Wittenberg to lose
- Bridgewater to lose to Mass Maritime
- Wheaton to lose to North Park
- Elmhurst to lose to Ill Wesleyan
- Baldwin-Wallace to beat Heidelberg
- Widener to beat Delware Valley Widener won 42-23
- Bethel to lose to St. Johns
- Concordia-Moorhead to lose to Gustavus Adolphus
- Carroll to beat Illinois College Carroll won 49-13
- And, of course, don't let Point win Point lost

Did enough happen to get UWP into the playoffs?

Probably not

[cubs]

Another impressive statistic for Wara.....

Nate Wara has not thrown an interception in his last 190 pass attempts (18 TD during that span.)

[cubs]

I'm going to predict that St. Norbert makes the trek down to Oshkosh for the opening round....