Jones' three touchdowns puts 'Hawks in second round

Team will face North Central on Saturday at noon

Issue date: 11/20/07 Section: Sports

Quarterback Danny Jones scrambles from defenders in Saturday's 34-14 win.

In many ways, Saturday's game against the Capital University Crusaders was a first for the Warhawk football team. It was the opening round of the 2007 postseason, the first time the 'Hawks and Crusaders had ever faced each other, as well as Head Coach Lance Leipold's inaugural playoff game at the helm of UW-Whitewater.

However, the end result of the game was strikingly familiar, as the 'Hawks (10-1) got a three touchdown performance from quarterback Danny Jones to roll to a 34-14 victory over the Capital Crusaders (8-3) in the first round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III playoffs.

"[Capital's] a good football team," Leipold said. "Looking at the [pairings], we knew we had drawn an excellent football team … It was a battle."

"At halftime we felt pretty good … We [just] didn't get anything established in the second half like we wanted to," said Capital University Head Coach Jim Collins.

The win was the 'Hawks ninth postseason victory in the past three seasons, and allowed the team to advance on to a second-round matchup with North Central College (Ill.). The Cardinals got a 19-yard touchdown catch from freshman wide receiver Steve Hlavac as time expired to squeak past Franklin College (Ind.), 44-42.

"Obviously, if you win a playoff game, you're a good football team." Leipold said. "I'm sure they're going to come here ready to go."

While North Central barely advanced, the 'Hawks guaranteed another week of football in Perkins Stadium long before the final gun. Jones, in the first Division III playoff appearance of his career, was the difference-maker for UW-Whitewater, rushing for two touchdowns on quarterback draws. Jones also hooked up with fellow senior Neil Mrkvicka for a 50-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, which proved to be the final blow to the Crusaders.

But earning the 20-point win seemed unrealistic based on the game's opening quarter. Both the 'Hawks and the Crusaders could not sustain any consistency on offense, with neither team scoring or driving beyond the opposition's 43-yard line.

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