Box Score
The Falcons football team dropped to 0-5 at the hands of the three-time defending National Champions, No. 5 ranked UW-Whitewater, 35-0.
The Warhawks defense is one of the best in the nation and did what they do best on Saturday – taking the ball away. The Warhawks created seven turnovers on four interceptions and picking up three fumbles.
Three turnovers led to 21 Warhawk points. While a failed fourth-down conversion at the UWRF 25, led to another Warhawk score.
Despite the 35 points on the board, the Falcons defense had their best performance of the season holding the three-time National Champions to just 223 yards of offense. This was the lowest output for the Warhawks since the 2011 National Championship game.
The Falcon defense recovered three fumbles but had nothing to show for it with the offense only able to muster 132 total yards. It was the lowest offensive output for the Falcons in the last 12 years – the seven turnovers is also the most this century by River Falls.
The only score in the first quarter was on a 27-yard fumble returned for a touchdown to put the Warhawks ahead 7-0.
The teams exchanged turnovers on the next two plays. The first Warhawk interception of the day was returned to the UWRF two yard line setting Whitewater up in scoring position. On the next play, Falcon nose tackle
Trevor Semann fell on a loose ball keeping the Warhawks offense out of the end zone.
The Falcons defense forced Whitewater to punt a season-high seven times while holding them to a season-low 12 first downs. Defensively, the Falcons were led by
Nate Smits with 12.5 tackles, a sack, and 3.5 stops behind the line.
Caleb Mandoza had the other sack for the Falcons, while
David Scaro and
Alex Adams recovered a fumble for the defense.
Of the five Whitewater touchdowns, two drives started at the UWRF seven-yard-line following turnovers, another at the UWRF 23, and one defensive score.
Matt Woller caught a career-high eight passes for 48 yards and
Nathan Brandt hauled in six passes for 59 yards.
The 35-0 loss is the first time the Falcons have been shutout since 2008 when they lost to Platteville 7-0.
Up next the Falcons host Stevens Point on Saturday at Ramer Field. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.
Box Score
