Beaver reaches historic milestone in Homecoming victory

Paced by running back Justin Beaver's 179 yards and sophomore placekicker Jeff Schebler's four field goals, the Warhawk football team moved one step closer to a third consecutive Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship with a 26-14 win over the UW-Oshkosh Titans Saturday.

The victory kept the 'Hawks undefeated in conference play this season, but also set up a huge showdown Saturday with UW-Stevens Point. The Pointers, fresh off a 26-23 win over UW-Stout, are undefeated both overall and in the WIAC. The winner of Saturday's matchup would control its own destiny with regards to the conference title as well as a trip to the postseason.

"You can't let down in this conference," defensive end Ryan Ogrizovich said. "As soon as you let down, that's when it comes back to bite you."

However, the Titans fully intended to hand UW-Whitewater its first conference loss in three years on Saturday to prevent the unbeaten showdown from ever taking place. The Titans boasted the conference's second-leading running back in Andy Moriarty, at 144.2 yards per game, and top-rated quarterback in Joe Patek, who was averaging 246.8 passing yards per game.

But the Warhawk defense refused to simply give in to UW-Oshkosh, limiting Moriarty to just 64 yards on 14 carries. Additionally, the 'Hawks were just as effective in pass defense, forcing incomplete passes and holding Patek to 177 yards and a lone touchdown through the air.

"I was very nervous going into this game … When [Moriarty] gets on a roll running the ball, he's a big back who does a lot of good things," Head Coach Lance Leipold said.

"Coach challenged us to lock it down, and we came out and got it done," Ogrizovich said.

Meanwhile, Beaver once again turned in another All-American performance, carrying the ball 35 times to top 100 yards rushing for the sixth straight game. Furthermore, Beaver also eclipsed the 5,000-yard mark with a nine-yard run early in the first quarter, becoming the first running back in the history of the WIAC to reach the milestone.

But Beaver wasn't the only Warhawk to approach a record on the afternoon. Schebler tied his own conference record with a 52-yard field goal late in the first quarter that gave the 'Hawks a 3-0 lead over the Titans. The sophomore from Davenport, Iowa, would also connect on field goals of 23, 34, and 46 yards in the game.

"I just tell [Schebler] and Nick Croak, 'Give me the yard lines where you feel it'" Leipold said. "I have confidence in what he tells me … I trust him immensely on what he thinks he can get done."

The 'Hawks would add to its lead late in the second quarter, as freshman Josh Mishleau broke through for a 1-yard touchdown run that staked UW-Whitewater to a 10-0 halftime lead.

But just as soon as the momentum had been shifted to the 'Hawks, the Titans would grab it right back. UW-Oshkosh running back Jeremy Roach took the opening kickoff of the second half and returned it 86 yards for the Titans' first score of the day, closing the gap to 10-7.

"We still have to do a good job in our coverage lanes," Leipold said. "You've got to give [UW-Oshkosh] credit, because there was a huge momentum shift."

UW-Oshkosh made the score 19-14 halfway through the fourth quarter, and forced the 'Hawks to punt with more than six minutes remaining. But senior punter Nick Croak pinned the Titans against its own end zone, booting a kick that was downed at the 1-yard line by cornerback Troney Shumpert.

Five plays later, safety Ben Farley intercepted Patek, and returned the ball to the Titans 7-yard line, setting up Danny Jones' 2-yard touchdown pass to John Novak that sealed the game for UW-Whitewater.

"[Farley] might have the knack to be around the ball as much as anybody I've ever seen," Leipold said. "He seems to be there when you need a play."