Football

UW-Platteville Upends Augustana In Culver’s Isthmus Bowl

SUN PRAIRIE, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Platteville posted a 36-10 victory over Augustana College (Ill.) in the third annual Culver’s Isthmus Bowl at Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium on Nov. 18. The Isthmus Bowl matches the top remaining team in both the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin that did not make the NCAA Division III Championship.
 
The Pioneers (7-4) scored 20 unanswered points in the first quarter alone, while not allowing a Viking (8-3) first down until the final minute of the opening quarter.
 
UW-Platteville's dominate defense forced a quick three and out on the opening drive of the game. The Pioneers then moved 62 yards in seven plays, but their opening series was spoiled with a fumble at the goal line which was recovered by the Vikings. Two plays later, Sam Smith forced a fumble at Augustana's 21-yard line and Nicholas Allen recovered it to return possession to UW-Platteville. On the following play, Carl Richardson hit Ryan Doherty for a touchdown with 9:26 left in the first quarter.  
 
On the ensuing possession, Zackary Bothun bounced off a tackle and outran the rest of the defense for a 48-yard touchdown, giving the Pioneers a 14-0 lead with 3:31 left in the quarter.
 
The Vikings went three and out for the third time in the quarter and this time their punt attempt was blocked and recovered by the Pioneers at the Augustana 29-yard line. Richardson found Brandt Stare on the very next play for a 29-yard touchdown. A blocked point after gave the Pioneers their 20-0 lead with just a minute left in the first. 
 
Augustana intercepted Richardson with 42 seconds remaining in the first half and it looked like the Vikings could gain momentum going into halftime. Samuel Tausz intercepted an Augustana pass on the following play and returned it 24 yards to the Vikings 16-yard line. Richardson hit Brandt Stare again to give the Pioneers a 27-0 lead going into the half.
 
The Vikings scored on a 12-yard pass in their opening drive of the second half.
 
UW-Platteville used 7:27 minutes and 16 plays on its next possession to move 88 yards. The drive finished with Richardson finding Brandt Stare for a three-yard touchdown. 
 
UW-Platteville’s Luke German sacked the Viking quarterback in the endzone for a safety with 6:28 remaining for a 36-10 lead.
 
UW-Platteville totaled 394 yards of offense, sending 240 yards through the air. The Vikings totaled 242 yards with 155 passing yards. 
 
Richardson completed 21-of-30 attempts for 225 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Richardson's favorite target was the game's Most Valuable Player, Brandt Stare who caught eight passes for 95 yards and three touchdowns. 
 
Bothun rushed for a game-high 166 yards on 22 carries and scored one touchdown. 
 
Smith led the Pioneers defense with 16 total tackles, including 10 solo. He forced two fumbles and added one sack and TFL. 
 
It was the third consecutive victory by the WIAC's representing team, after UW-River Falls posted wins in the first two events.
 
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