Photo by Andy McNeill
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| Tom Bruins leads UWP in tackles. Photo by Andy McNeill |
Posted Sept. 17, 2009
UW-Platteville and Augustana will renew its football rivalry that has seen its fair share of close contests and last-second game-changers.
The teams meet for the 13th time Saturday at 6 p.m. at Ericson Field in Rock Island, Ill.
"It's a game where the fans have to stay for all 60 minutes," Pioneer Coach Mike Emendorfer said. "It seems like it always comes down to the last few minutes."
The Vikings lead the all-time series 8-4, but the teams have split the last six contests with the home team winning each time. Five of the 12 meetings have been decided by a touchdown or less, including last year's 13-9 Pioneer victory.
The Pioneers have come out on top of two close encounters already, beating Iowa Conference schools Buena Vista 15-10 Sept. 5 and the University of Dubuque 28-20 last Saturday.
UWP is 2-0 for the first time since the 2004 season, while Augustana brings in a 1-1 mark. The Vikings lost 9-7 at Coe in the opener, then rebounded to drill Greenville 42-20.
The Pioneer defense has yielded 454 yards, including just 62 on the ground, and 10 rushing first downs in the first two games. Linebacker Tom Bruins has 20 tackles, including four for losses, while fellow linebacker Jon Ebert has 11 tackles. Cornerback Quincy Hudson is coming off his third career multi-interception game at Dubuque, while end Tim Stephenson has a team-high four QB sacks.
Freshman quarterback Nick Anderson completed 11 of 14 passes for 120 yards, including an 18-yard scoring strike to Aunton Terry, while adding 94 rushing yards in Dubuque Saturday. Brandon Hertrampf rushed for 87 yards and a score, and fullback Patrick O'Brien scored on two one-yard rushes.
"Nick really matured as the game progressed," Emendorfer said. "While we didn't need to throw as often, he made the throws when he needed to. We had a lot of backups playing, but he still completed his passes."
The Pioneers held a huge time of possession advantage, controlling the ball for 38:46 to the Spartans' 21:14.
"I was really impressed with that," Emendorfer said.
The Pioneers hope to get back at least some of their injured players for the final non-conference game. Receivers Joe Burkeland, Joey Martin, Paul Pridemore, and Darin Blaser, and tackle Michael Tharp were all missing from the offensive sets Saturday.
"There were times offensively when we had five or six freshmen in there," Emendorfer said. "To do the things we did against Dubuque, who played a lot of upperclassmen, was good for our young players, and we were still able to get a victory."
Of the four players who have scored touchdowns this season, only Terry had done so prior to this season, and four Pioneers have made their first career receptions in the first two contests.
Emendorfer praised his team's ability to be ready to fill in at a moment's notice, and pointed out how things can change week to week. Steven Lequia has worked as hard as anyone over the last three seasons, but did not ever see the playing field. When Tharp was injured against Buena Vista, Lequia stepped in at guard and threw a key block to spring Travis Nelson for the game-winning score with 3:09 remaining. Lequia then made his first career start at Dubuque but was hurt on the first offensive play and is out indefinitely.
Whoever makes it back into the lineup will be facing a Viking squad that rolled up 449 yards and 42 points against Greenville. The Viking spread offensive attack put up 367 yards and 28 points in the first half alone. Sophomore QB David Lee completed 16 of 25 passes for 161 yards and two scores while running for another 73-yard touchdown. Robert Wood added 105 yards on the ground, and Jake Parke has run for 102 yards and caught nine passes for 48 yards in the first two games. Defensively, the Vikings have allowed just an average of 94 rushing yards and 2.6 yards per carry in two games.
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