Linebacker Jace Rindahl and the rest of the Whitewater defense hope to end the Johnnies season for the third time in four years (Photo by Jeff Seisser, Warhawkfootball.com)
For the third time in four years, the Johnnies will make the 380 mile trip southwest to the University of Wisconsin Whitewater to take on the Warhawks in the NCAA playoffs. The 2007 national champion Warhawks have one blemish on their record this season—a 17-16 loss to the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. Gone are Justin Beaver and Danny Jones, but the Warhawks have still averaged 35 points per game. The road to the Stagg Bowl runs through Whitewater, and the Johnnies are set to tackle their first road block on Saturday.
Junior quarterback Jeff Donovan (6-4, 200) has been a little banged up this season but played last week. He’s expected to make the start versus the Johnnies. He’s completed 135 of 212 passes for 1712 yards with eight interceptions. He’s kept the ball 59 times for 134 yards, as well. Should Donovan not be able to play, sophomore Bruce Langer (6-1, 195) will fill in. Langer has completed 16 of 34 passes for 268 yards with one interception. Sophomore Aaron Rusch (5-10, 176) is their leading receiver. He’s caught 66 passes for 884 yards. Junior Jordan Wells (6-0, 187), sophomore Adam Brandes (6-3, 194), and senior tight end Nick Slupski (6-2, 245) also figure into the receiving mix. Wells has caught 32 passes for 381 yards, Brandes has 10 receptions for 78 yards, and Slupski has 15 catches for 129 yards. The ground game is the Warhawks’ bread and butter, though. Freshman tailback Levell Coppage (5-8, 180) handles the bulk of the carries. He’s gained 1276 yards on 254 carries. Spelling Coppage is sophomore Antwan Anderson (5-10, 190) who has 62 carries for 408 yards. Leading the way for Coppage is junior fullback Max Wasikowski (5-11, 237). He rarely touches the ball. Composing the offensive front are senior tackles Mike Sherman (6-0, 280) and Rob Gilbreath (6-2, 280), freshman guards Matt Weber (6-3, 285) and Robbie Ustruck (6-2, 306), and junior center Garth Coats (6-2, 280).
Defensively, the Warhawks are giving up just 11 points per game. Their stout run defense has only surrendered 75 rushing yards a game. Senior linebacker Jace Rindahl (6-2, 236) heads the way for Whitewaters, recording 66 tackles, three interceptions, and five and a half tackles for loss this season. Joining him at the linebacker positions are junior Kyle Supianoski (6-0, 225) and sophomore Max Ford (6-1, 230). Anchoring the defensive line is junior end Anthony White (5-11, 224). White has made 34 tackles including four and a half sacks this season. Senior Mike Dufrane (6-4, 300), junior Justin Ankley (6-4, 285), and sophomore John Baldwin (6-3, 262) fill the remaining spots on the line. The defensive backfield is composed of all juniors—cornerbacks Troney Shumpert (5-8, 162) and Jeremy Diebert (5-7, 168) along with safeties Zach Christopherson (5-10, 200) and Paul Wick (5-9, 186). Deibert has three interceptions, Wick and Christopherson each have two interceptions, and Shumpert has one.
Junior kicker Jeff Schebler (5-11, 184) averages 59 yards per kickoff. He has made 14 of 16 field goals and 40 of 45 extra points. Sophomore Kris Rosholt (6-3, 229) averages 37 yards per punt. Handling punt returns is Rusch. He’s returned 20 punts for 158 yards. Shrumpert and freshman Aaron Samplawski (5-8, 180) both return kicks. Shrumpert has returned 11 kicks for 199 yards and Samplawski has returned 11 kicks for 334 yards.
Perkins Stadium received many upgrades in the offseason, including a new scoreboard, video replay screen, and artificial turf. Fans and players alike are in for a real treat. Again this week, the game will come down to how the Johnnie offense will perform. Their defense has proven reliable throughout the course of 2008 and should be able to keep the Warhawk offense under control, but it remains to be seen which Johnnie offense will take the field.
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