Stout falls to defending national champion Warhawks
WHITEWATER (October 14, 2011) - UW-Stout fell behind early, pulled to within a touchdown, but ultimately fell to two-time defending national champion UW-Whitewater, 42-21, Friday night at Warhawk Stadium.
Playing a rare Friday night game, Stout spotted the Warhawks (6-0, 3-0) a 7-0 lead six minutes into the game when quarterback Matt Blanchard tossed his first of three touchdown passes.
But Stout (3-3, 1-2) answered back with a couple of minutes left in the first quarter when quarterback Ross Carey (Sr, Little Suamico) scored from four yards out to tie the game.
The Warhawks did their own answering back by scoring three times in the second quarter, first on a four-yard run by back Levell Coppage, followed by Blanchard's second TD pass, this one a 31-yard strike to Tyler Huber. Coppage added another score with about 90 seconds left in the half on a 31-yard jaunt into the end zone.
The Blue Devils were not detered as Carey connect twice with Trevor Morning (So, Bloomer) on long touchdown passes in the third quarter to pull to within 28-21. Morning hauled in a 39-yard score at the seven minute mark, and topped that with a 45 yard play just before the end of the quarter.
Two scores by Whitewater, and two interceptions of Carey passes, helped the Warhawks to pull away. Coppage added his third score of the game minutes into the fourth, this time on a 26 yard scamper and Blanchard put the game out of reach with five minutes left on a nine-yard pass to Bernie Tamsett.
Carey was 18-of-32 for 213 yards with two TDs and two interceptions. Morning had the two catches for 84 yards, while Adam Smith (So, Dasell, Minn) and Josh Peterson (Jr, Cedar Grove) each caught five passes, Smith for 36 yards, Peterson for 47.
For Whitewater, Blanchard was 20-of-28 for 294 yards, three TDs and no interceptions. Luke Menzel caught seven passes for 153 yards, while Huber had six grabs for 76 yards. Coppage carried the ball 22 times for 139 yards. Blanchard rolled up 64 yards on eight scrambles.
The Warhawks rolled up 539 yards of total offense, 294 in the air, 245 on the ground, while Stout tallied 300 yards, 213 by pass, 87 on the ground.
Stout returns to Don and Nona Williams Stadium, Saturday, Oct. 22 when they host UW-La Crosse at 6 p.m. in the Blue Devils' third night game of the season.
