When the Warhawks need a big play, Chris Nelson finds Marcus Hudson down the field. Photo by Steve Frommell, d3photography.com

By Josh Smith
D3sports.com

UW-Whitewater broke a 10-10 tie with WIAC rival UW-Oshkosh just 67 seconds into the third quarter when Chris Nelson connected with Marcus Hudson for a 48-yard touchdown.

Hudson caught a 5-yard touchdown on the team’s next possession, helping the fifth-ranked Warhawks build a lead and ultimately defeat No. 3 Oshkosh, 31-29.

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“We knew that we needed to take some shots on these guys. If we were going to be able to run the ball and really utilize the play-action game and stuff like that, we knew we needed to throw the ball down field, which we didn’t do in the first half,” Nelson said during the postgame news conference.

“I just felt like we really stayed to our game plan. And our line picked it up,” Hudson added, referring to the outstanding pass protection provided throughout the game. “It gave us some time.”

The emergence of Hudson and UW-W’s passing game in the second half of Saturday’s quarterfinal at Titan Stadium was a microcosm of the season. With Nelson assuming the duties as starting quarterback and Hudson stepping up at receiver, the two juniors have helped the Warhawks develop a bona fide complement to their traditionally strong rushing attack.

Hudson is closing in on 1,000 yards receiving this season, having caught 54 balls for 942 yards and nine touchdowns. However, through the Warhawks’ first four games, he had just five receptions for 65 yards.

He began to emerge during UW-W’s regular season loss at UW-Oshkosh, catching six passes for 58 yards. He followed that with 108 yards on six catches against UW-La Crosse, and then proceeded to haul in nine touchdowns over the next seven games.

He caught six of Nelson’s 14 completions Saturday, gaining a game-high 106 receiving yards in the process.

“Marcus, as we’ve all seen – especially in these two Oshkosh games – he’s caught some really crazy footballs with people hanging on him and doing those types of things. That’s part of him being a big, strong wide receiver,” UW-W head coach Kevin Bullis said. “Obviously, he makes a nice target for Chris to throw to.”

UW-Whitewater’s first year head coach was optimistic about the talent he saw out of Hudson – a player who played defensive back until his senior year of high school.

“Coming into the season, we were very excited about Marcus. And then suddenly during fall camp and the beginning of the season, he really started showing us something that made us even that much more excited,” Bullis said.

The coach said Nelson’s confidence under center improved as well. And the more confident Nelson became at quarterback, the more Hudson benefited downfield.

“With that confidence level, I think Marcus is on the receiving end of something very positive,” Bullis explained.

While Hudson and Nelson are roommates and friends away from the field, the wideout believes the entire group of receivers has had more opportunities the longer Nelson has been the quarterback. 

“Not just me – I feel like the timing with everyone that Chris has with our receivers has been (improving) pretty well. We work on it every day in practice just repping balls,” Hudson said. “It’s been paying off every game.”

UW-Whitewater will need a balanced offense when the team travels to face top-ranked Mount Union in a NCAA semifinal contest in Alliance, Ohio, this week. The Purple Raiders own the No. 1 defense, allowing a mere 183.3 yards per game and just 7.6 points per game.

Plus Mount Union will have the luxury of playing in front of their home crowd. With the exception of a home-and-home series in 2002 and 2003 (which Mount Union swept), UW-Whitewater has most recently faced the Purple Raiders on a neutral field during the Stagg Bowl.

“We’re going to their house and playing at their place. I’m really kind of embracing that idea to be honest with you. I think that’s very exciting,” Bullis said. “If you talk to any of our seniors, our juniors, guys that have an opportunity to play against Mount Union, that sounds like a lot of fun.

“It sounds like a great opportunity and we’re really looking forward to being there next Saturday.”