DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque football team fought one of the top teams in the country on Saturday evening under the lights of Chalmers Field in the Battle of the Bridge Trophy game. UD would finish the contest scoring 27 points against #11 ranked UW-Platteville Pioneers in a 56-27 final score. The large crowd on hand witnessed a picturesque view in pre-game as a hot air floated south of Chalmers Field as starters were announced.
The two quarterbacks would combine for 783 yards of offense through the air. UD finished with 345 passing yards while the guest Pioneers led with 438 yards. The Spartans
Joey Rhomberg compiled 345 passing yards on 27-47 attempts and a trio of touchdowns.
Kali Freeman led UD by being targeted for 16 passes and he caught nine for 140 yards and a touchdown.
Dereck-Earl Saint-Hilaire reeled in four catches for 93 yards and two touchdowns. UD rushed 15 times and gained just one yard.
Brady Buchmann punted six times for 253 yards for an average of 42.2 yards, including one for over 50 yards.
Etwood Williams returned five kickoffs for 82 yards with his longest return being for 20 yards.
Ryan Caprez kicked off four times for 216 yards for an average of 54.0 yards and had one touchback.
Ben Egan and
Tristen Villanueva both compiled 10 tackles. Egan forced a fumble and recovered a fumble recovery and had a pair of pass break-ups.
Jacob Garlick grabbed nine tackles amd a pass break-up.
The Spartans possession time was 24:57 while the Pioneers had the ball for 35:03. UD trailed in third down conversions 3-14 while the guests converted 10-14 attempts. UD converted on all three red zone chances.
Next week the Spartans (0-2 overall) stay home to open American Rivers Conference play in the Key City Clash against the Loras College Duhawks ( 0-2 overall). Loras lost on the road 20-13 to Benedictine University. It also will be Senior Day for the Spartans on Chalmers Field.
