Issued: September 14, 2002

FOOTBALL GETS AERIAL IN WIN OVER AUGSBURG

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - In a game that had many similarities to last year's match-up, the UW-Eau Claire football team jumped out to a 24-0 halftime lead en route to a 37-13 victory over Augsburg College here tonight at Edor Nelson Field.

The Blugolds improved to 2-0 on the season while the Auggies evened their record at 1-1. Both Blugold victories this season have come against Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponents.

Last season the Blugolds defeated the Auggies 37-14 in the Clearwater Bowl at Carson Park.

With a 3-0 lead, quarterback Jeremy Darnell (Fr.-Withee/Owen-Withee) capped off a 10-play, 72-yard drive with a nine-yard touchdown run with three seconds remaining in the first quarter to give the Blugolds a 10-0 lead.

The offensive onslaught continued in the second quarter when Darnell completed a two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brad Newton (Sr.-Baldwin/Baldwin-Woodville) on a three play, 47-yard drive to extend the lead to 17-0. The drive featured a 46-yard completion from Darnell to wide receiver Matt Evensen (Fr.-Junction City/Auburndale). Tail back Brian Mitchell (Fr.-Carol Stream, IL) scored the Blugolds' third touchdown of the first half on a two-yard run with 26 seconds remaining in the second quarter to increase the lead to 24-0.

Tail back Joe Gast (Fr.-Waconia, MN) opened the fourth quarter with a 14-yard touchdown run to push the Blugold lead to 31-6. Playing reserves for most of the fourth quarter, fullback Mike Hennessey (Fr.-Somerset) scored his first collegiate touchdown rumbling 19 yards with 2:06 remaining in the game to seal the deal on a 37-13 victory.

Mathew Shannon of Augsburg scored both Auggie touchdowns on two long touchdown receptions, the first going 61 yards and the second covering 81 yards.

The Blugolds totaled 471 yards of total offense compared to 312 for Augsburg.

Darnell finished the game 21-of-41 for 266 yards and one touchdown. Ten different Blugolds caught passes on the night led by wide receiver Jason Foemmel (Sr.-Marshfield) hauling in five receptions for 66 yards, both team highs.

Linebacker Brad Gawronski (Sr.-Reedsburg/Webb) led the Blugold defensive effort with eight total tackles. Defensive lineman Nick Goeser (Sr.-Scandinavia/Iola-Scandinavia) finished with three tackles, including a sack for a nine-yard loss. Defensive lineman Dan Larson (Sr.-Baldwin/Baldwin-Woodville) recorded his first interception of the season.

Next week the Blugolds travel to Don and Nona Williams Stadium in a match-up with interstate rival UW-Stout Saturday, September 21 at 7:00 P.M. in a game featuring two nationally-ranked teams.