For the first time during its run of four straight postseason appearances, the UW-Whitewater football team is no longer gunning for an elusive first title.

It is defending one.

"This is a new team, a new year," said Warhawks senior linebacker Jace Rindahl, a Cambridge native. "We're the defending champions, but a lot of people don't expect us to be as good as we were last year.

"We take that as a challenge."

Whitewater's challenge of defending its title kicks off Saturday when the fifth-seeded Warhawks (9-1) host sixth-seeded St. John's, Minn. (8-2) in a NCAA Division III West Region first-round playoff game at noon at Perkins Stadium.

The Warhawks have won 13 of their last 15 postseason games, with the two losses coming to Mount Union (Ohio) in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in 2005 and '06. Whitewater beat the Purple Raiders 31-21 in last year's Stagg Bowl.

"It's exciting making the playoffs every year," said Rindahl, who leads the Warhawks with 66 tackles (5½ for loss) and three interceptions. "We're really looking forward to getting these playoffs started."

When they do, it will be largely new experience for this Warhawks team, one that lost 23 seniors from the team that went to three consecutive national championship games. Rindahl has tried to take the mantel of defensive leader after the departure of linebackers AJ Raebel and Tristan Borzick.

"I've taken a little more of a leadership role on defense with those guys gone," Rindahl said. "I've had the most playing experience and I've always seen myself as a leader, so I've just tried to help the younger guys with whatever they need, whether it's the mental game or watching film or whatever to get ready for the postseason."

Whitewater earned an at-large playoff berth after sharing the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title with UW-Stevens Point, which beat the Warhawks 17-16 on Oct. 25 to earn the league's automatic berth. The Pointers (9-1) play host to Wartburg, Iowa (8-2) Saturday.

The Johnnies won the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference under legendary coach John Gagliardi, whose 461 career wins rank first in NCAA football history.

"We know the program and we know about their tradition," Whitewater tight end Nick Slupski said of St. John's, a team the Warhawks beat 17-14 in the 2006 playoffs. "They have a solid defensive line, and we expect them to come out and be the team they always are."