UW-Whitewater's quest for a fifth straight Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl berth will begin at home Saturday at noon when the Warhawks open the NCAA Division III football playoffs with a home game game against Lakeland College of Sheboygan at Perkins Stadium.

Whitewater (10-0) earned an automatic berth as the champion of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Warhawks were the only WIAC team to earn a postseason berth as UW-Stevens Point (7-3 overall, 6-1 WIAC) and UW-Stout (8-2, 5-2) were  overlooked for the 32-team field.

The Warhawks are making their eighth playoff appearance since joining the NCAA in 1980 and their fifth in a row. They have reached the Stagg Bowl each of the previous four years, winning the NCAA Division III national title in 2007. 

Lakeland (6-4) earned a berth in the playoffs as the Northern Athletics Conference champion. The Muskies have three former area players on their roster -- senior linebacker Jamie Schramm of Cuba City, 6-foot-9 senior offensive lineman Joe Janisch of New Glarus and freshman offensive lineman Andy Gonzalez of Lake Mills

 The winner of UW-Whitewater/Lakeland game will meet the winner of the opener between Wabash College (Ind.) (9-1) and Illinois Wesleyan University (9-1) in the second round on Nov. 28.

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