A trend of the UW-Whitewater football team this season has been getting off to slow starts in the first quarter.

Friday night was no different, as UW-Stout came into Whitewater and slowed things down for a while before the Warhawks took control, defeating the Blue Devils 42-21.

With the victory, the ’Hawks kept alive their NCAA-best win-streak (36). They have also won the past 24 games played at Perkins Stadium, the past 20 WIAC contests, and ten straight against the Blue Devils. They will travel to face UW-Oshkosh at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

After one quarter of play, the Blue Devils had control. They only allowed the Warhawks to have one full possession offensively and went into the second quarter tied 7-7. The Blue Devils  had possession for about 10 minutes of the clock in the first quarter, including a 7:03 scoring drive.

“In the first quarter, there was a three-and-out, then we went down and scored,” Head Coach Lance Leipold said. “But then they really controlled the ball and scored. That probably took up the entire quarter; it essentially did. We finally got a chance to get some possessions but we were able to get big plays and get those scores in a hurry.”

On their second possession of the game, the Warhawks capped off a four-play, 53-yard scoring drive that set up a four-yard touchdown run from Levell Coppage.

After several more defensive stops, the ’Hawks put up a few more scores after a Tyler Huber 31-yard touchdown catch and a 23-yard touchdown run by Coppage.

The Warhawks put up over 220 yards of total offense in the second quarter with 103 yards coming from wideout Luke Menzel and 51 yards from Coppage.

“We really worked our play-actions really well,” senior Matt Blanchard said, who passed for 171 yards in the second quarter. “We were methodical and efficient with what we were trying to do. In the first quarter, I think we had two drives or something like that. We didn’t have many chances. We said starting out in the second quarter that we need to make a statement.”

Trailing 28-7 at halftime, the Blue Devils didn’t back down.

The Blue Devils took advantage of those chances and scored on drives of 72 and 83 yards. Blue Devils quarterback Ross Carey connected with wideout Trevor Morning twice on scoring plays of 39 and 45 yards.

“We had a nice kick return, then we had a penalty … then a pass interference on a third down and then they hit a slant and scored,” Leipold said. “That third quarter just wasn’t that good.”

Heading into the fourth quarter with a 28-21 lead, Coppage made a play scoring on a 26-yard run, giving him his third touchdown of the day.

Coppage led all rushers with 139 yards on 22 carries. He is now only 185 yards behind former Warhawk Justin Beaver for the all-time UW-Whitewater and WIAC rushing record.

The ’Hawks then made plays when they needed to late in the game after intercepting two passes to secure the win.

Leiold was happy with teh way they played, but thought the big plays in the game went unrecognized.

“I think there were a lot of good things that were done in this game and unfortunately they were clouded by some sloppy things, allowing them to hang around,” Leipold said. “No turnovers, a nice balanced performance and we made plays in the fourth quarter on defense when we needed to.”

The game was also the team’s first Friday night game and its first under new field lights that were put up this season after one of them came down last season during a blizzard.

In a different setting, Menzel said he thought it was pretty cool.

“Most of us have not played under the lights since high school so it brought back some good memories,” Menzel said. “The atmosphere was great.”