Issued: October 26, 2002

FOOTBALL POLISHES OFF PLATTEVILLE

PLATTEVILLE - Holding off a pesky UW-Platteville squad, the UW-Eau Claire men's football made the plays down the stretch to defeat the Pioneers 42-35 here today at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.

The Blugolds, now 6-1 overall, move into a five-way tie for first place with La Crosse, Stevens Point, Stout and Whitewater at 3-1 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Pioneers fall to 2-4 overall and 1-3 in the WIAC.

Scoring started early and often for the Blugolds, who scored on four of seven first half possessions. Dave Garrison (So.-Apple Valley, MN) got the Blugolds on the score board first with an eight-yard touchdown run with 6:31 remaining in the first quarter to give the Blugolds an early 7-0 lead.

The offense picked up in the second quarter with the Blugolds scoring three touchdowns. Dan Lyrenmann (So.-Hales Corners/Whitnall) picked off a Platteville pass that set up a 16-yard touchdown drive capped off Garrison's one-yard touchdown plunge at 12:44. Three minutes later the Blugold aerial game go going when Nels Fredrickson (So.-Burnsville, MN) connected on a 34-yard touchdown pass with Erik Ferguson (Jr.-Eyota, MN/Eyota-Dover) to make the score 21-0.

The Pioneers seemed to have taken momentum with a touchdown at 8:55 but the Blugolds answered with an 11-play, 58 yard drive that culminated with a three-yard touchdown run by Luke Kedrowski (Sr.-Colby) to give the Blugolds a 28-7 lead heading into halftime.

Platteville blocked the opening punt of the second half and returned the play for a 36-yard touchdown to make the score 28-14 but the Blugolds soon made back the score with a 30-yard touchdown reception by Jason Foemmel (Sr.-Marshfield) put the lead back to 35-14.

The next nineteen minutes saw the Pioneers score touchdowns on drives of 65, 52 and 33 yards to tie the game at 35-35.

With 6:33 remaining in the game, the Blugolds marched 80 yards on 15 plays and taking 5:22 off the clock to regain the lead at 42-35 when Fredrickson and Ferguson hooked up once again, this time on a 31-yard touchdown pass. The drive saw the Blugolds show great poise and execution as they converted three third-down conversions and a fourth-and-one.

The Pioneers had one-last chance to force overtime but time ran out as the Blugolds went on to victory.

Fredrickson completed 18-of-31 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Joe Gast (Fr.-Waconia, MN) led the ground game with 88 yards on 23 carries. Foemmel took team-high honors with eight receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown as Ferguson ended the game with four receptions for 72 yards and two touchdowns. The Blugolds owned a 39:49-20:11 advantage in time of possession and outgained the Pioneers 413-313.

The Blugold defense forced the Pioneers into three interceptions and one fumble recovery. Justin Miller (Sr.-Woodbury, MN) and Pat Cummings (Jr.-Rochester, MN/John Marshall) recorded their third and second interceptions of the season, respectively as Lyrenmann made his first career pick. Andrew Jones (Fr.-Wild Rose) led the Blugolds with seven tackles, all solo.

The Blugolds return to Carson Park this Saturday when the welcome conference co-leader UW-Whitewater to town. Kick-off is set for 1:00 PM.