PLATTEVILLE, Wisconsin – Wabash raced out to a 14-0 lead at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Saturday afternoon in the Little Giants' final non-conference game of the 2024 football season. A Wabash miscue on the opening kickoff of the second half started an avalanche of scoring by the host Pioneers in a 42-21 loss.
 
Junior defensive back Mike Holsclaw notched two interceptions for Wabash (2-1, 1-0 NCAC). In addition, the defender recorded seven tackles. Jordan Cree added seven tackles, two tackles for losses, and one sack, and Samuel Ringer tacked on five tackles, two tackles for losses, and one sack. Gavin Ruppert paced the Wabash defense with nine tackles for the day.

Brand Campbell led Wabash's passing attack with 185 yards through the air, tossing two touchdowns without throwing an interception. The sophomore signal caller also added one touchdown on the ground.

Xavier Tyler totaled 124 yards to lead the Little Giants' ground attack in the game, picking up 5.4 yards per carry. Cole Dickerson also tacked on 58 yards on the ground, picking up 9.7 yards per carry.

Carson Chadd reeled in two catches for 70 yards and one score. Connor Thompson caught four passes for 35 yards and one TD.

The Little Giants won the turnover battle in Saturday's game, forcing two turnovers while coughing the ball up once, with Wabash turning those two takeaways into seven points.
 
How It Happened
Wabash got on the scoreboard first with 9:47 left in the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead on Campbell's 52-yard scoring strike to Chadd for the sophomore tight end's first career touchdown. The Little Giants expanded the lead to 14-0 on Campbell's five-yard scoring run around the right end with 1:40 left in the opening period after Holsclaw's first interception of the game.

Wabash blocked a UW-Platteville (3-0, 0-0 WIAC) field goal on the Pioneers' next possession but could not capitalize with any points.

Platteville took advantage of two short-field opportunities on its next two possessions, finishing off drives of 40 and 35 yards to even the score at 14-14 at halftime.
 
The Pioneers kicked off to Wabash to start the second half, but the Little Giants mishandled the kick, giving the ball back to the hosts near the goalline. UW-Platteville took its first lead of the game three plays later on a Zackary Bothun eight-yard run. Bothun finished the day with 157 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns for the Pioneers.
 
Wabash responded on its next drive, marching 75 yards in seven plays to score on a pin-point pass from Campbell to Thompson at the one-yard line. The senior wideout stretched the ball across the goal line for his first touchdown catch of the season, tying the game at 21-21.
 
The Pioneers scored twice more in the third quarter and added a final score in the final four minutes of the game to claim the 21-point victory.
 
Game Notes
» Wisconsin-Platteville outgained Wabash 393-360 in the contest.
» Wabash won the turnover battle 2-1 after picking off two passes.
» Wabash converted 7 of 19 third downs while Wisconsin-Platteville was successful on 4 of 13.
» » Wabash won the time of possession battle 33:41 to 26:19.
» Wabash got off to a hot start in the contest, putting 14 unanswered points on the board before Wisconsin-Platteville could respond.
» Wabash travels to the College of Wooster on October 5^th for a North Coast Athletic Conference game.
 » Michael Priami led the Pioneers passing attack, completing 18 of his 29 attempts for 222 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.
» Zackary Bothun led the Wisconsin-Platteville rushing attack with 158 yards and four touchdowns.

Parts of this story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.