Photograph by Anthony Bauer
The UW-Platteville football team powered through their season opener to defeat the Buena Vista Beavers 15-10. Here, sophomore running back Travis Nelson rushed past Buena Vista’s defense.

UW-Platteville’s football team is taking this season one game at a time.

“We need to focus on the now and take care of the little things today to achieve big things tomorrow,” head coach Mike Emendorfer said.

Emendorfer starts his 10th year as UW-P’s head football coach with a talented team and strong leaders in his senior class.

Emendorfer said his players are here as students first while being football players second. The team’s goals are to be good students in the classroom and players on the football field.

“First, we need to provide a positive impact on the campus and community, in the classrooms and then on the football field,” Emendorfer said.

Some of this season’s key players include seniors Quincy Hudson, Aunton Terry, Tim Stephenson, Tom Bruins and freshman Nick Anderson.

“The whole senior class has shown great leadership and are key players for this team,” Emendorfer said. “We have the talent to win lots of games; talent is just the first of it. You got to have the talent to play in one of the toughest conferences in Division III.”

The Pioneers bring in a talented freshmen class that Emendorfer looks forward to teaching.

“The freshmen class is very talented,” Emendorfer said. “I don’t anticipate many to play. They are still learning the system.”

Anderson will be the Pioneers’ quarterback. He graduated high school in 2008 and tried out for the team last year.

According to the UW-Platteville Sports Information Web site, Anderson didn’t make the team last year and will be eligible to play four more years for UW-P.

The Pioneers played a non-conference game against Buena Vista on Sept. 5.

UW-P beat the Beavers 15-10, as the Pioneers rallied back in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.

Senior Tony Smidl made 43- 22- and 25-yard field goals that helped keep the Pioneers alive throughout the first three quarters of the game.

According to the UW-Platteville Sports Information Web site, Terry and junior Paul Pridemore left the game with injuries, leaving the younger players to take care of business on the receiving end.

Junior Joe Burkeland, who put in time at the quarterback position last year, was moved to receiver and led the Pioneers with six catches for 89 yards.

Senior linebacker Tom Bruins led the UW-P defense with 11 tackles.

In the fourth quarter, sophomore running back Travis Nelson ran in for a 2-yard touchdown with 3:14 left to give the Pioneers a 15-10 lead.

UW-P travels to Dubuque, Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 12 to take on the Spartans at 7 p.m.