Box Score Box Score

STEVENS POINT – Ryan Graboski (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury) (Woodbury, Minn.) converted a 32 yard field goal with 2:29 remaining in the fourth quarter as the Pointers defeated the UW-Platteville Pioneers 3-0 in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) football action at Community Stadium Saturday afternoon.

It was the 18th straight victory for the Pointers over Platteville and first shutout UW-Platteville has suffered since a 2001 loss to Augustana.

After a Bryan Blum (Baraboo/Baraboo) (Baraboo) interception gave the Pointers the ball near midfield, UWSP drove down the field, and capped a nine play, 38 yard drive with the Graboski kick to give the Pointers the victory.

All day, neither team was able to string together a drive longer than nine plays, as both defenses put the clamps on the running and passing games of their opponent.

A week after the Pointers gave up 610 total yards to River Falls, the team rebounded, allowing the Pioneers to gain just 47 yards on 34 carries and held the visitors to 137 yards through the air. Tyler Florczak (Chetek/Chetek) (Chetek) led the Pointers on the day with 11 total tackles, while Charlie Dercks (Little Chute/Little Chute) (Little Chute) tallied seven tackles, including two for a loss of 14 yards, a sack and two quarterback hurries. John Jones (Oregon/Oregon) (Oregon) also added nine tackles in the win.

Offensively, the Pointers gained 305 yards on 67 plays, 192 of those yards through the air. Jared Beckwith (Baraboo/Baraboo) (Baraboo) completed 22 of 31 passes and was sacked only once, but also threw three interceptions. Jared Jenkins (Milwaukee/Rufus King) (Milwaukee) tallied six catches for 51 yards while Brad Kalsow (Huntley, Ill./Huntley) (Huntley, Ill.) recorded five catches for 56 yards. Mike Ferron (Racine/Horlick) (Racine) finished as the leading rusher for the Pointers, gaining 58 yards on 12 carries, including a long of 28, for a 4.8 per carry average.

This was the second time in eight days a UW-Stevens Point team coached by a member of the Miech family has shutout Platteville, as the women's soccer team collected a 6-0 victory over the Pioneers on Oct. 4.

The Pointers (4-1, 1-1 WIAC) hit the road next weekend when they travel to Menomonie, Wis. to face the Blue Devils of UW-Stout (3-2, 1-1 WIAC) in a 1 p.m. matchup.