Spring Break
Going 'Stagg' for third straight season
Jones, stout defense carry 'Hawks back to national title game
Matt Cullen
Issue date: 12/12/07 Section: Sports
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Now those seniors have their wish, as UW-Whitewater advanced to its third straight Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl with a 16-7 win over the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders. The 'Hawks will play the two-time defending national champion Mount Union College Purple Raiders, who dominated the upstart Bethel College Royals, 62-14, to advance to its 11th national title game.
"We're going to go there and compete. We're not just going there to show up and have a few days in Virginia," Head Coach Lance Leipold said. "This is nice, but the goal of this team has been to finish, and we're going to do everything we possibly can to go out there and win a football game.
But to earn the walnut and bronze championship trophy, the 'Hawks will have to defeat the Purple Raiders in Salem, Va., a place that hasn't held many fond memories for UW-Whitewater. Mount Union has defeated the Warhawks each of the past two years in the Stagg Bowl, winning 35-28 in 2005 and by a 35-16 margin last season.
"This is what we want. We wanted Mount Union, we got them now, so we're going to give it everything we got," cornerback Matt Blaziewske said.
UW-Whitewater's task won't get any easier this year, as the Purple Raider juggernaut has rolled through every opponent, averaging 54.1 points per game, while surrendering a miniscule 5.2 to opponents. Additionally, the Purple Raiders have posted seven shutouts on the season, and haven't allowed more than 18 points all season.
However, to set up a third consecutive showdown with Mount Union, the 'Hawks first had to get past the formidable University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders. While UW-Whitewater defeated the Crusaders 41-14 on Oct. 27, last Saturday's game was anything but the earlier blowout this season.
The 'Hawks second drive saw Jones hook up with receivers Neil Mrkvicka and Aaron Rusch for completions of 25 and 18 yards, respectively. But the drive stalled at the Crusader 29-yard line, with the team facing a fourth-and-ten.
However, Jones kept the drive alive, avoiding a blitz by Mary Hardin-Baylor to pick up 14 yards and a first down. Two plays later, Jones snuck in the end zone from a yard out, but kicker Jeff Schebler's extra point was blocked, giving UW-Whitewater an early 6-0 lead.
"We were running '90 Laker', and [Offensive Coordinator Jim Zebrowski] said if there was a guy coming off the edge on the right side, he's unaccounted for, we can't block him," Jones said. "I tried to keep my eyes downfield, didn't really see too much, so I just tried to get as much as I could, and luckily I was able to pick up the first down."
The Crusaders would respond five minutes later, as quarterback Josh Welch plowed in for a 1-yard touchdown to take a 7-6 advantage. But the 'Hawks came right back with its own scoring drive, as Jones found Mrkvicka for a 24-yard score to regain a 13-7 lead.
While the offense made the big plays in the first half, it was the Warhawk defense that shined in the second, holding the Crusader offense in check. But on the its second possession of the third quarter, Mary Hardin-Baylor finally appeared to be headed for a score, having a first-and goal at the UW-Whitewater 2-yard line.
But the 'Hawks defense held firm, sacking Welch and blocking kicker Joel Munoz's 26-yard field goal attempt to prevent a score.
"At halftime, we told each other, 'They don't score, they don't win', and that's the mentality we played with that whole second half," Blaziewske said.
Jones would help provide the final victory insurance with a 62-yard run that moved the Warhawks inside the Crusader 30-yard line. Schebler hit from 39 yards out, increasing the lead to 16-7 with 2:31 to play.
Saturday's national championship game will be televised nationally on ESPN. Kickoff from Salem Stadium is scheduled for 3:04 p.m. Central Standard Time.
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