Free hot dogs and pop (soda) at the Coulthart Family Pavilion, starting at 10 am. Saturday. Food is available while supplies last.
After 3 pm on Monday the 14th, free student tickets are available at two locations: DLK Enterprises: 144 Tratt Street, and Residence Life: Goodhue 1st Floor. Tickets are reserved for students who reside in DLK Enterprises or Residence Halls and can be picked up during normal business hours. Photo ID is required. Tickets are available while supplies last.
The UW-W ticket office, in the Connor University Center on the main campus mall, will be handling tickets, which will also be sold at the stadium on game day beginning at 10:00. Tickets are $11 for adults, $5 for students and senior citizens. Call 262-472-2222 for ticket information.
UW-Whitewater postseason website
Saturday's Game
Although UW-Whitewater has never faced Albion College the Warhawks have encountered teams from the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. UW-Whitewater defeated Tri-State University (now Trine) 38-0 September 27, 2003. In 2010, the Warhawks met two MIAA teams, defeating Adrian College 35-0 on September 4, and topping Trine 45-31 on November 27 in the second round of the NCAA playoffs.
Past NCAA Appearances
This is the Briton's first postseason appearance since 2005, but this isn't their first go 'round. Albion's program returns to the NCAA playoffs for the ninth time with an overall record of 5-7. The Briton's won the Division III title under head coach Pete Schmidt in 1994, defeating Washington and Jefferson 38-15.
UW-Whitewater returns to the postseason for the tenth time in program history, and seventh consecutive year, with an overall record of 28-6. UW-W is the defending two-time Division III champion. Three of Whitewater's playoff losses came in the championship game with the Warhawks finishing as the runners-up in 2005 and 2006 under head coach Bob Berezowitz and in 2008 under
Lance Leipold. The Warhawks won the title under Leipold in 2007, 2009 and 2010.
In the Polls
UW-W is ranked number one in both the AFCA III poll and by D3football.com. Albion College is not ranked.
Purple Streak
The Warhawks have the longest active winning streak in college football, 40 games. The Warhawks have also built streaks of 18 in a row on the road, 22 in a row at Perkins Stadium, 19 consecutive non-conference games, 24 WIAC games, and 10 in a row in the NCAA III playoffs. The 40 game streak ties for the fifth longest in NCAA history, tying the University of Washington (1908-1914).
The Coaches
Whitewater's
Lance Leipold has compiled a record of 67-3, including 29-1 in the WIAC, in his fifth year as head coach. Leipold has earned national Division III coach of the year honors three out of the four years and was named WIAC Coach of the Year the last three. Albion coach, Craig Rundle is in his15th season at Albion and his 26th season as head coach at the collegiate level. His overall collegiate record is143-109-1. Rundle has led Albion to four Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships and three NCAA playoffs, in 1998, 2005 and this season.
Albion College Notes (6-4 overall, 6-0 MIAA)
Albion defeated Trine 41-14 at home last week. The Briton's forced two fumbles that led to ten points, and junior running back Clinton Orr carried the ball 28 times for 200 yards. Albion also scored a touchdown after linebacker John Lesinski's interception, so the defense was directly involved in outscoring Trine 17-14.
Albion went undefeated in conference play this season (6-0) but has not defeated a non-conference opponent (0-4). Among those losses was a 14-3 loss to UW-Stevens Point for AC's Homecoming.
Orr recently became the school's career leading rusher with 3,163 yards. He is averaging 111.1 yards per game and 5.2 yards per carry this season. Orr is the 2011 MIAA Offensive Player of the Year. Orr isn't the only option for junior QB Spencer Krause. The Albion offense as a unit is averaging 364.5 yards and 25.3 points per game, with Orr complimenting the Briton's passing attack. The team is averaging 226.3 passing yards per game. Their top three receivers, Brian Spencer (12.9 yards/catch), J. C. Cruse (14.8) and Zach Brewer (13.8) all have more than 500 receiving yards this season .
The Briton's defense enters play on Saturday allowing just 101 rushing yards per game and a mere 2.9 yards per rush. Senior DB Chris Greenwood was named the 2011 MIAA Defensive Player of the Year. Junior cornerback Lorenzo Reese leads the team with five interceptions.
If Saturday is windy you may see Albion lining up from scrimmage instead of a field goal, since the Britons are just 12-18 on field goal attempts with the longest from 38 yards out.
UW-Whitewater Notes (10-0 overall, 7-0 WIAC)
Whitewater finished the regular season last week with a 17-3 home win over UW-La Crosse to top off the Warhawks' record-setting seventh consecutive Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship. The Warhawk defense limited La Crosse to 182 yards, including 69 yards rushing on 29 attempts. With the La Crosse defense keying on
Levell Coppage (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park),
Matt Blanchard (Lake Zurich, IL/Lake Zurich) completed 26-34 (both season highs) for 269 yards, ten of those to wideout
Tyler Huber (North Prairie/Mukwonago).
Saturday's game will be Blanchard's first ever postseason game since he was a backup in 2008 and an injury forced him to miss all of the playoffs in 2010. Blanchard heads into the matchup averaging 213.3 passing yards per game and has thrown 19 touchdowns with just three interceptions. He earned First Team All-WIAC honors for the second time, and is ranked among the top five in NCAA III statistics for passing efficiency. Tailback
Levell Coppage (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park), the WIAC Player of the Year for the second time, is averaging 140.5 yards a game and 5.86 yards per carry. Coppage has amassed 7,080 yards, the third highest total in the history of Division III football.
Coppage, Blanchard and Huber were joined by offensive lineman
Logan Allemand (Kenosha/Tremper) and placekicker
Eric Kindler (Germantown/Germantown) on the all-conference first team. On the defensive side, first team selections included lineman
Casey Casper (Dousman/Kettle Moraine), linebacker
Greg Arnold (Big Bend/Mukwonago), and safety
Noah Timm (Two Rivers/Two Rivers).
Follow the Leaders
UW-Whitewater
Passing:
Matt Blanchard 163-238, .684, 213.30/game, 19 TD, 3 INT
Rushing:
Levell Coppage 1,472, 140.5/game, 5.9/att, 17 TD
Receiving:
Tyler Huber 54-903, 90.3/game, 16.7/att,, 8 TD
Field Goals:
Eric Kindler 13-18, long of 47
Punting:
Kris Rosholt 40-1462, 36.5 avg, long of 65
Defense: Linebacker
Greg Arnold (Big Bend/Mukwonago) 45 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss; linebacker
Kyle Wismer 43 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 5 passes broken up.
Albion College
Passing: Spencer Krauss 140-234, .598, 213.5/game, 12 TD, 7 INT
Rushing: Clinton Orr 1,074, 111.1/game, 5.2/att, 6 TD
Receiving: Brian Spencer 58/748, 74.9/game, 12.9/att, 6TD
Field Goals: Nick Pendell 10-16, long of 38
Punting: Sage Alward 36-1225, 34.0, long of 51
Defense: Linebacker John Lesinski, 74 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, 2 interceptions, 3 passes borken up; linebacker Brett McCarty 61.5 tackles, 5 tackles for a loss, 1 interception
By Numbers
UW-Whitewater
Offensive Line (5 players) Averages: 291.6 pounds
Defensive Line (4 players) Averages: 252.5 pounds
Offense, Class Breakdown: 6 seniors, 5 juniors
Defense, Class Breakdown: 5 seniors, 3 juniors, 3 sophomores
Albion
Offensive Line (5 players) Averages: 260.8 pounds
Defensive Line (4 players) Averages: 243.75 pounds
Offense, Class Breakdown: 1 senior, 6 juniors, 2 sophomores, 2 freshmen
Defense, Class Breakdown: 5 seniors, 5 juniors, 1 sophomore
What's Coming Up
The winner of today's game will advance to the second round of the NCAA DIII playoffs to play either Franklin University or Tomas More College November 26. The location will be announced Sunday November 20 and a kickoff of 12:00 is recommended by the NCAA. As teams advance, the third round (quarterfinals) will be played Saturday December 3, the fourth round (semifinals) will be played Saturday December 10, and the
Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl will be held in Salem, Virginia on Friday December 16.
