Sophomore defensive end Louissant Minett couldn’t have said it better: “Good players make big plays.”

Unlike the last six seasons, defense proved to be the theme of the game this season as the Warhawks won their third consecutive Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl and their fourth in the last five years- all against Mount Union. The Warhawks stopped the Purple Raiders with just two minutes left in the game to secure a 13-10 victory, which increased the ’Hawks NCAA-best win streak to 45 games.

The Warhawks defeated Salisbury University 34-14 Saturday and will host St. Thomas University (Minn.) Saturday with times to be announced.

After the football team won its first national championship in 2007, it was handed the task of replacing 15 starters and 24 seniors its next season.

The national championship game is still more than three weeks away, and the Warhawks have not punched their ticket into that game quite yet. But can this team return to Salem, Va., the site of the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl and play in its fifth straight title game? Three UW-Whitewater Hall of Famers, who have either graced the football sidelines or have been associated with the program for many decades, believe so.