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LA CROSSE, Wis. -- Bryce Corrigan connected with Trevor Whitehead for a 46-yard game-winning touchdown in the waning seconds, as 17th-ranked University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team squeaked past UW-La Crosse, 24-17 on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
The Pioneers have won six straight over the Eagles, and remain in the hunt for a at-large berth in the NCAA Division III Playoffs at 7-2 (4-1 WIAC).
With several Pioneer defensive starters out with injuries, the Eagles opened the game with a 10-play 73-yard touchdown drive, which was capped off by a one-yard touchdown run by Andrew Thompson.
The Pioneer offense was able to get deep into Eagle territory on their first three possessions, but came up empty on all three.
UW-Platteville came up with a goal line stand at the end of the first half to keep its deficit at seven points, 7-0, at halftime.
Andy Puccini finally got the Pioneers on the board midway through the third quarter as he scampered into the end zone from nine yards out to tie the game up at 7-7. Puccini went on to finish his day with 176 rushing yards on 32 carries, and became the sixth Pioneer to surpass 1,000 yards in a single season. He ranks third all-time in school history with 1105 yards and is 128 yards away from setting a new program record.
The Eagles answered with a 32-yard field goal, reclaiming the lead 10-7.
On the Pioneers' ensuing possession, UW-Platteville converted three third-downs to take its first lead of the game when Corrigan found Mitch Munda for a nine-yard touchdown pass, 14-10.
Once again UWL answered with a score, but this time a four-yard touchdown run by Ben Hertrampf, 17-14.
Corrigan conducted a 17 play drive to put the Pioneers in field goal range, and with 2:49 left to play freshman Pat Frio drilled 33-yard field goal to tie the game, 17-17.
The Pioneer defense forced the Eagles to punt and put the ball in the hands of their senior quarterback at their own 35-yard line with 39 seconds left to play and no timeouts.
After 10 yard run by Puccini to put the Pioneers on UWL's 46-yard line, Corrigan spiked the ball to stop the clock. On the next play, Corrigan found an open Whitehead for a 46-yard game-winning touchdown pass with eight seconds remaining.
With no last second heroics by the Eagles, the Pioneers held on to win 24-17.
Corrigan completed 30-43 for 257 yards and two touchdowns. Whitehead was Corrigan's top target with 12 catches for 123 yards, and surpassed 2,500 career receiving yards milestone.
With a defense plagued with injuries, junior Andrew Robinson came up big for the Pioneers with four sacks and a game-high 12 tackles with six of them being for a loss. Colin Griffin and Rob Austin each tallied 11 tackles apiece.
UW-Platteville closes out the regular season next Saturday, Nov. 15 against UW-Oshkosh at 2 p.m. at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium. The affair marks Senior Day and Military Appreciation Day.