Box Score: UW-Stout 46, UW-Platteville 31
PLATTEVILLE - UW-Stout put up a season-high 46 points against UW-Platteville and went on to get a 46-31 victory in both teams' conference opener, Saturday, at Pioneer Stadium.
Platteville drew blood first when Pioneer running back Mike Genslinger scored the game's opening touchdown with eight minutes remaining in the first quarter.
On the Blue Devils' ensuing possession, which ended in a punt, Kyle Martin (Jr, Hubertus) pinned the Pioneers on their own four yard line, forcing a three-and-out from Platteville. Stout could not do anything with their advantageous field position, however, and Martin punted the ball back, this time placing the Pioneers on their six yard line. After a Scott Riha (Sr, Green Bay) sack and two incomplete passes, Platteville lined up for another punt, but a dropped snap ended in a safety, putting the Blue Devils on the board.
Stout's offensive struggles continued on their next drive, as they were forced into their second straight three-and-out. They promptly returned the favor to Platteville, by forcing another three-and-out, the Pioneers' third straight, and the fifth straight overall. The punt attempt failed again, this time due to a block by Nick Bocik (Jr, Appleton), which was picked up by Carlos Concepcion (So, Milwaukee) and ran 24 yards the other way, giving the Blue Devils their first lead of the game.
Platteville drove 40 yards on their next possession, ending with a 33-yard Tony Smidl field goal, giving the Pioneers a slim 10-9 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, freshman running back Craig Warminski (Fr, Stanley) returned the ball 71 to the Pioneers' 18-yard line, hoping to spark an offensive score. All those hopes were lost when the Blue Devils were forced into their third consecutive three-and-out, and had to settle for a Martin field goal, giving them a 12-10 lead, one they would not relinquish.
Stout's defense forced a three-and-out from Platteville, and started their drive off with a 27-yard run by Trevor Fiege (Fr, Menomonie) into Pioneer territory. Shortly thereafter, Warminski exploded for a 34-yard run, setting up first-and-goal from the 10. After two rush attempts, Kyle Provos (Jr, Brooklyn Park, Minn.) hit tight end Patrick Mengelkoch (So, Champlin, Minn.) in the end zone for the Blue Devils' first offensive touchdown of the game.
Platteville's Paul Pridemore returned Martin's kick 38 yards, setting up a short field for the Pioneers. After converting on a fourth-and-one, Platteville surged the remaining 41 yards, capped off with a four yard Joe Burkeland touchdown run.
With a two-point lead and 56 second remaining in the half, Stout went to work on offense. Two key completions went to Antawan Walker (Jr, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) for 11 and 17 yards, helping the Blue Devils get down to the Pioneers' 23-yard line, which set up a 40-yard Martin field goal. Martin, however, could not convert on the kick, missing it wide right, and sending both teams to the locker rooms.
Platteville received the ball first in the third quarter, a quarter which would be dominated by the Blue Devils. Their drive was quickly ended when Kendall Wade (Jr, Milwaukee) intercepted a Mitch Shadley, and returned it 16 yards to the Platteville 23-yard line. An offensive drive of one yard set up a successful Martin field goal of 39 yards, putting Stout up, 22-17.
After forcing another Pioneer three-and-out, the Blue Devils took over on their own 40-yard line. After a first down caused by defensive offsides, Provos connected with Eric Cieslak (Sr, Rochester, Minn.) for a 49-yard touchdown pass, increasing Stout's lead to 12 points.
The Blue Devils then forced another turnover out of Platteville when Kyle Seiler (Sr, Rockford, Minn.) picked off Shadley, returning it to the Pioneers' 36-yard line. A Warminski run and a Nate Schoenecker (Fr, Watkins, Minn.) reception set up a 27-yard Martin field goal, giving Stout a 32-17 lead.
Another defensive stop gave the Blue Devils the ball on their own 35-yard line. Stout's offense found a groove, and drove into the red zone with a Concepcion 13-yard run, followed by receptions by Mengelkoch and Walker of 16 and 12 yards, respectively. On the second play of the fourth and final quarter, Concepcion found the end zone for the second time, on a three-yard touchdown run, giving Stout a commanding 22-point lead with less that a quarter remaining.
Platteville then answered back with an 11-play, 75-yard drive capped off with a John Akim pass to Nick Grosso touchdown pass.
Then the Blue Devils' seemingly unstoppable offense took the field and drove 70 yards on eight plays, ending in an 11-yard Warminski run. Stout never faced a third down on the drive, which essentially put the dagger in Platteville, as they were now down three scores with eight minutes to play.
After Platteville put their final points on the board with a Pridemore touchdown grab, Stout was able to milk the clock down to one minute, giving the Pioneers virtually no chance at a comeback.
Andrew Jeske's (Jr, Glenwood City) interception on the first play of Platteville's drive sealed the deal for the Blue Devils, giving them a win in their conference opener.
Warminski was the game's only 100-yard rusher, as he traveled 107 yards on 11 carries. Provos ended the game with 231 yards on 20 for 32 passing without a turnover.
Stout's 46 points are their most scored since the first game in 2005, a 49-14 win over Upper Iowa under head coach Todd Strop.
Stout will return home next Saturday, Oct. 11, to face UW-Oshkosh at 1 p.m. at Don and Nona Williams Stadium.
