2008 Woodie Awards
Steady ground game, stifling defense lead 'Hawks to third
Matt Cullen
Issue date: 11/7/07 Section: Sports
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"First step in this whole process is to win a conference championship and to receive an automatic bid [into the playoffs]," Leipold said. "Probably not our best day offensively in some ways … [but] an excellent defensive performance by us."
But while the pressure of securing the WIAC title and a berth in the upcoming Division III playoffs has subsided, it doesn't mean Saturday's matchup with UW-Platteville is any less important. UW-Whitewater's final position in the playoffs has not been finalized, and a loss to the Pioneers could cost the 'Hawks home-field advantage.
"We have to try to keep ourselves where we can play at Perkins Stadium and at home as much as we can," Leipold said. "Though a bid is locked up, we still want to be a one week at a time football team."
Coming into the 2007 season, so much uncertainty surrounded the Warhawk football program. After the departure of longtime Head Coach Bob Berezowitz, as well as the nucleus of back-to-back Stagg Bowl teams, it was difficult to imagine exactly how UW-Whitewater and first-year Head Coach Lance Leipold would fare in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
But while players and coaches have changed, UW-Whitewater has maintained its dominance over the WIAC. From 2005 until now, the Warhawks are 36-3 overall, including a remarkable 20-0 record against conference opponents.
After being kept under control by the Mary Hardin-Baylor defense two weeks ago, running back Justin Beaver broke loose for another one of his great games, racking up 194 yards rushing and a touchdown on 44 carries. The score, a 63-yard scamper, was the 36th of Beaver's career as a Warhawk, and moved the senior to within one of former UW-Whitewater standout Chad Wurth for first all-time in school history in rushing touchdowns.
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