If anyone on UW-Whitewater's football team thought Saturday's rematch with Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) would be like the first go-round earlier this season, the Warhawks' seniors put a quick stop to that notion.

"As soon as we showed up on Monday ... any senior you saw (said), 'We know who we're going up against,' " said defensive end Ryan Ogrizovich, a team captain. "We know these guys are the real deal."

Saturday's game at Perkins Stadium — this time an NCAA Division III semifinal — should be closer than the Warhawks' 41-14 win Oct. 27. In fact, with a trip to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl on the line, UW-Whitewater coach Lance Leipold has no doubts about the resiliency of his team's opponent.

"They got themselves right back on track and won their conference championship and put the loss behind them," Leipold said. "That's a sign of an excellent football team and an excellent (coaching) staff. I know they're going to come in here expecting to play better and they will play better."

In the first game, the Warhawks (12-1) were led by a ball-hawking defense that forced five turnovers and returned two interceptions for touchdowns. The defense also held the Crusaders (12-1) to a season-low 162 team rushing yards, though Mary Hardin-Baylor was forced to all but abandon its option running attack after falling behind 31-0 early in the third quarter.

The challenge again for the UW-Whitewater defense will be to contain the nation's top-ranked rushing and scoring offense (375.2 yards and 53.8 points per game). Led by senior Jarvis Thrasher (1,883 rushing yards, 23 touchdowns) and sophomore Quincy Daniels (1,470, 19), the Crusaders can be expected to attack the perimeter of the Warhawks' defense, UW-Whitewater senior strong safety Andy Murray said.

"They kind of exploited us a couple of plays on their option (in the first game)," said Murray, a former Mount Horeb athlete. "I'm guessing they're going to probably run a little (more) option weak, because that's what worked for them last game."

The Warhawks' defense kept that exploitation to a minimum, however, as Thrasher and Daniels combined for just 118 rushing yards, their lowest total of the season.

"It's the most speed that we have played against ... all year. We have to play fundamentally sound football," Leipold said. "With their option attack, we have to be assignment sound, technique sound and make sure we're taking care of our responsibilities."

UW-Whitewater has been up to the task during the playoffs, forcing 14 turnovers and recording 12 sacks and 20 tackles for loss. With a defense that starts seven seniors, the Warhawks have allowed just 3.71 yards per play over their past three games.

But the talk among the Warhawks, who are shooting for their third consecutive Stagg Bowl appearance, was not just about their opponent, Ogrizovich said.

"It was (also) brought up Monday, as the seniors were kind of hanging out and talking in the locker room: This is our last home (game) here at Perkins Stadium," he said. "There's no way we're going to let (Mary Hardin-Baylor) come up here and mess with us."