12-6 Book to Upload - UW-Whitewater Athletics

UW-Whitewater continues to be ranked number one in both the D3football.com and American Football
Coaches Association polls this week. UW-River Falls is not ranked.
The Coaches
Whitewater’s Lance Leipold has compiled a four year record of 61-3, with a record of 23-1 in the WIAC.
In his first head coaching opportunity, Leipold has earned national Division III coach of the year honors
three out of the four years and was named WIAC Football Coach of the Year the last two. Matt Walker is
in his first season at UW-RF. So far this season he is 0-4 overall and a 0-2 record in the WIAC. Walker
was the head coach at DePauw University 2006-2009, where he went 22-8. He spent the 2010 season
as an assistant coach at Butler University.
UW-River Falls Notes
The Falcons are 0-4 overall and 0-2 in the WIAC after losing last week at UW-Oshkosh 42-7. The team is
currently third in the WIAC in rushing averaging 176.5 yards a game, and running back Taylor Edwards is
second in the conference with 119.5 yards a game and 5.0 yards per carry. The Falcons also have two
receivers, Nathan Brandt and John Wahlstrom, tied for second in the WIAC for receptions with 18.
Brandt is also fourth in the conference in receiving with 70.8 yards per game with three touchdowns. The
early schedule hasn’t been kind to a team getting used to a new coach, with losses to the University of
Saint Thomas (ranked third), Trine University (others receiving votes and a UW-W playoff opponent last
year), UW-Eau Claire (others receiving votes) and UW-Oshkosh (3-1). Edwards compiled his 13 th career
100+ game last week, going 24-117. UW-RF trailed the Titans just 14-7, but Oshkosh scored the final 28
points in the game. They lead the league in punt returns (averaging 23.5 yards on four returns), and the
Falcon defense is third in first downs allowed and fourth in opponents’ third down conversion and fourth
down conversion. Matt Ainsworth is among a group of players tied for the WIAC lead with two
interceptions, and Jeff Mills and Brad Beeskow are both among the top ten in kickoff returns. Junior
placekicker Chad Blair is 4-4 on field goal tries. Linebacker Lincoln Bjorklund, the leading tackler the last
two games, is also number one on the season for UW-RF.
UW-Whitewater Notes
The Warhawks are 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the WIAC after a 34-14 win at home over UW-Platteville. The
team is first in the conference in both scoring offense and scoring defense averaging 39.8 and 8.8 points
per game respectively. Whitewater is also averaging 475.2 yards of total offense per game, while only
allowing 222.8 yards per game on defense, both totals are first in the WIAC. The Warhawks also lead the
WIAC in rushing offense, rushing defense, turnover margin, pass efficiency defense, opponent first
downs, opponent third down conversion, sacks allowed, fewest penalties and time of possession.
Running back Levell Coppage (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park) leads the conference in rushing with 512 total
yards, 6.1 yards per carry, and seven touchdowns. Backfield mate Desmin Ward (Milwaukee/Hamilton) is
averaging 5.5 yards per carry with five TD’s. Coppage became just the second back in WIAC history to
rush for over 6,000 yards after gaining 168 on 30 carries against Platteville for a career total of 6,019
yards. He needs 565 yards to break the current team and conference record, set by former Warhawk
Justin Beaver, at 6,584 yards. Quarterback Matt Blanchard (Lake Zurich, IL/Lake Zurich) is now third in
the WIAC in passing efficiency with 829 yards, a 69.5 completion percentage as well as six touchdowns
with only one interception. The Warhawks also have the top three scorers in the WIAC with kicker Eric
Kindler (Germantown/Germantown) at 45 points, and running backs Coppage and Ward at 42 and 30
points respectively. Kindler is 9-11 on field goals, with his only misses coming from 49 and 50 yards.
Linebacker Greg Arnold (Big Bend/Mukwonago) led UW-W with 12 tackles (6 solo) in the win over
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