The UW-Eau Claire football team lost against No. 6 UW-Whitewater Saturday at Perkins Stadium.

The Warhawks, six-time NCAA Division III national champions since 2007, crushed the Blugolds 63-0 while only possessing the ball for 21:04.

Whitewater earned 582 yards of total offense, 423 yards more than Eau Claire’s total of 159 yards. And while the Blugolds held the conference’s leading rusher to only 81 yards, the Warhawk passing game cooked the Blugolds.

Whitewater’s starting quarterback Chris Nelson completed 11 of 14 passes for 291 yards and four touchdowns before he was pulled out midway through the third quarter.

His replacements combined for 135 yards, one touchdown and completed four of five passes.

Freshman quarterback JT DenHartog completed nine of 20 passes for 39 yards and an interception.

Eau Claire’s leading receiver and the WIAC’s all-purpose yards leader Matthew Knapp was held to four catches for 10 yards and 62 punt return yards. He tied for the Blugolds’ receiving leader in this game with freshman wide receiver Lewis Balom.

While up 42-0, Whitewater linebacker Jordan Strasburg recovered a fumble and returned it 24 yards for the score.

Eau Claire has its last home game of the season at 1 p.m. Saturday against No. 14 UW-Platteville and its conference-best offense.

— The Spectator Staff