STEVENS POINT, Wis. – Sophomore Matt Cuadra (Oshkosh, WI/West) blocked UW-Whitewater's game-tying field goal attempt with just over one minute remaining in regulation as the UW-Stevens Point football team stunned the No. 15 Warhawks 17-14 at Goerke Field Saturday.

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The Pointers defense pressured quarterback Matt Behrendt into three consecutive incompletions in the Warhawks' final drive, forcing a 47-yard field goal attempt to tie the game. Cuadra and the UWSP special teams unit blocked the kick.

Defensive back Zach Vallafskey (Greenville, WI/Hortonville) broke a scoreless tie and put UWSP (2-6, 1-4 WIAC) on top 7-0 in the second quarter when he returned a Behrendt interception 22 yards for the touchdown.

Later in the quarter Pointers quarterback Mitch Beau (Fond du Lac, WI/St. Mary Springs) connected with Theo Maglio (Wautoma, WI/Wautoma) for an 84-yard touchdown strike in front of the Warhawks' sideline and UWSP went into halftime with a 14-0 lead.

The Warhawks (5-3, 3-2 WIAC) tacked on a pair of field goals in the third quarter, but Pointers kicker Jesse Vervelde (Oostburg, WI/Oostburg) connected on a 23-yard goal and UWSP took a 17-6 lead into the fourth quarter.

UWW running back Nick Patterson punched in a one-yard rushing touchdown midway through the fourth quarter, and a successful two-point conversion made the score 17-14 in favor of UWSP.  

Maglio finished with a game-high 142 receiving yards on four catches, and Marc Young (Detroit, MI/Soutfield-Lathrup) led the Pointers with seven receptions.

Beau finished 16-for-31 for 211 passing yards and a touchdown.

Aaron Karlen (Edgar, WI/Edgar) led the UWSP defense with 16 tackles (eight unassisted, eight assisted). James Sladek (Merrill, WI/Merrill) and Vallafskey added 13 and 10 tackles, respectively.

UWW came up with 14-minute advantage in time-of-possession, but the Warhawks committed 12 penalties while the Pointers committed just eight.

The Pointers travel to No. 6 UW-Oshkosh Saturday, November 3 for a clash with the Titans. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.