UW-Eau Claire (3-1) vs Bethel (MN) College (1-3)
Saturday, October 5, 1:00 PM
Armstrong Stadium, St. Paul, MN

Series History: This Saturday’s game features the first-ever meeting between the Blugolds and Royals. Bethel will be the third Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference school the Blugolds have faced this season. The Blugolds are 6-2 overall and have won five straight games against MIAC schools since 1998. During that span the Blugolds are 3-2 against St. John’s and 3-0 versus Augsburg. The Royals have faced just one Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference school during that stretch, losing to UW-Stevens Point 37-27 last season in a first round NCAA Division III playoff match-up.

Radio: WBIZ-AM Sportsradio 1400 will cover the game for the Blugolds with Mike Sullivan performing the play-by-play duties.

UW-Eau Claire Coach Todd Hoffner: Coach Hoffner enters his fourth season with the Blugolds. Hoffner holds an 19-15 career mark. Last season the Blugolds were WIAC co-champions.

Bethel Coach Steve Johnson: Coach Johnson is in his 14th season with the Royals. Johnson owns an 87-47 record at Bethel, including NCAA Division playoff appearances in 2000 and 2001.

Up Next: It will be Homecoming week at UW-Eau Claire as the Blugolds welcome I-94 rival UW-River Falls to Carson Park. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 P.M.

Bethel will host its fourth consecutive home game as St. Olaf travels to Armstrong Stadium. The game is scheduled for a 1:00 P.M. start.

Last Week’s Action: With both teams unable to muster any consistent offense, the UW-Eau Claire football team led by a suffocating defense took the air out of the UW-Oshkosh offense en route to a 12-10 victory here today at Carson Park.

The defense responded in a big way after last week’s setback by holding the Titans to 235 yards of total offense. Five different Blugold recorded sacks in addition to forcing three Titan turnovers.

Dan Larson led the defensive charge with 10 total tackles, five solo. Derek Sikora totaled eight tackles, six solo and Nick Goeser assisted five tackles to finish with seven.

After a Titan field goal at 8:40 of the first quarter gave Oshkosh a 3-0 lead, both teams remained scoreless until Nick Diciaula kicked a 21-yard field goal with two minutes remaining in the first half to tie the score at 3-3.

The Blugolds grabbed their first lead in the third quarter when Jeremy Darnell connected with Erik Ferguson on a 20-yard touchdown pass to move the Blugolds ahead 9-7.

On the next Blugold possession the Titans tipped a Darnell pass on first down that was intercepted by Nick Carlson and returned for a 35-yard touchdown return giving the Titans a 10-9 lead.

After the next five possessions ended in punts, the Titans were driving until Austin Crow forced a quarterback Nick Wara to fumble and Andrew Jones recovered the ball on the Titan 42-yard line.

The Blugolds went 32 yards on 12 plays taking 4:09 off the clock setting up the game-winning 27-yard field goal from Diciaula off the right hash mark that sailed inside the left upright.

The Titans had two chances to take the lead in the game’s final 3:46 but missed a 42-yard field goal with 2:23 and threw a desperation interception as time expired.

Darnell ended the game 16-of-29 for 143 yards with a touchdown and one interception. Joe Gast gained 52 yards rushing while Jason Foemmel caught six passes for 48 yards.

WIAC 3-MIAC 1: With non-conference schedules coming to an end, the WIAC has a 3-1 advantage over the MIAC entering Eau Claire’s match-up with Bethel this weekend. The Blugolds have feasted on MIAC opponents so far this season with victories over St. John’s and Augsburg. Last weekend Stout used a punishing running attack that amassed over 350 yards to defeat St. Thomas 28-7. The Johnnies have collected the only MIAC victory over the WIAC this season with a 42-18 win over Whitewater in Collegeville. After Saturday Stout will close out the border battle between both conferences when it host Concordia-Moorhead October 19.

About the Royals: The Royal’s 1-3 start is a little misleading when you look at the stats. Despite outgaining their opponents 384-345 in total offense and 248-180 through the air, it has been the -11 turnover ratio that has made life difficult for the Royals. The return of two-year starter Scott Kirchoff in the near future could cure Bethel’s turnover woes and help the Royals regain their form of the past three seasons.

The Royals return 11 starters, seven on offense and four on defense, from last year’s 9-2 team and have a solid group of seniors that have gone 27-5 in their three-year career.

Senior running back Mike Johnson was a unanimous All-American selection last season after he ran for 1,462 yards, scored 20 rushing touchdowns and 23 total touchdowns, all which are school records. He led the MIAC in rushing with 139.7 yards per game and was named the league’s offensive player of the week two times and was named the MIAC’s Most Valuable Player.

Senior wide receiver Joel Olson had a break out season in 2001 as he set school records for receptions (81), receiving yards (1,225), and receiving touchdowns (15). He was an All-MIAC First Team selection and also was named second-team All-West Region by the Football Gazette.

Senior Jon Foss is one of the fastest defensive ends in the MIAC and recorded 11.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss in 2001. An All-MIAC selection and Bethel’s leading tackler in 2001, he also earned first-team All-West Region honors. Senior tackle Brett Schendel returns after earning Second Team All-MIAC honors last season.

Senior strong safety Sam Lacy is the lone returning starter in the Royals’ defensive backfield. He earned Second Team All-MIAC honors last season as he recorded 54 tackles, including 12.0 tackles for loss.

Linebacker Josh Kurtz transferred from the University of Minnesota before last season and has the size (6-5, 235) and speed to be a big-play performer.

Last Week’s Results: Eau Claire 12, Oshkosh 10; River Falls 23, St. Ambrose (IA) 14; Stout 28, St.Thomas 7; Augustana (IL) at Platteville cancelled due to lightning.

This Week’s Games: Eau Claire at Bethel (MN), 1:00 PM; La Crosse at Stevens Point, 1:00 PM; Stout at Platteville, 2:00 PM; Whitewater at River Falls 1:00 PM.