UW-Eau Claire (4-1) vs UW-River Falls (1-3)
Saturday, October 12, 1:00 PM
Carson Park, Eau Claire, WI

Series History: Homecoming week at UW-Eau Claire features the 82nd meeting between the Interstate-94 rivals with UW-River Falls holding a 46-28-7 advantage. The Falcons have won seven of the last 10 games in the series, including three consecutive victories. Last season the Falcons handed the Blugolds their first loss of the 2001 season with a 24-23 double overtime victory. After River Falls scored a touchdown to start off the second overtime, Darrell Souhrada answered with a one-yard scoring plunge to pull the Blugolds to within one point at 24-23. The Falcons blocked the ensuing extra point to preserve the victory.

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 a 20-15 career mark. Last season the Blugolds were WIAC co-champions.

UW-River Falls Coach John O’Grady: Coach O’Grady is in his 14th season with the Falcons. O’Grady owns an 81-50-3 record at River Falls, including a conference title in 1998 and qualifying for the Division III NCAA playoffs in 1995 and 1996.

Up Next: The Blugolds will receive their WIAC bye next week before returning to the field on October 26 when they face UW-Platteville at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 P.M.

River Falls will kick off a two-game homestand when the Falcons welcome UW-Stevens Point to Ramer Field. Game time is set for 2:00 P.M.

Last Week’s Action: The UW-Eau Claire offense scored touchdowns on four straight possessions in the first half while the Blugold defense held the potent Bethel offense to over 130 yards under its season average to defeat the Royals 40-0 at Armstrong Stadium.

Forced to punt on the game’s opening possession, the Blugold offense lit up the Royal defense with four straight touchdown drives. Brian Mitchell started the scoring spree with a two-yard run that capped off an 18-play, 76 yard drive lasting 6:47 to put the Blugolds ahead 7-0.

The Blugolds marched down the field to open the second quarter with a 9-play, 70 yard drive ending with a two-yard touchdown catch from Don Kahl to make the score 13-0.

Taking advantage of a Bethel fumble recovered by Austin Crow that put the ball on the Royals 19 yard line, the Blugolds added six more points on a Joe Gast one-yard plunge to make the score 19-0. The scoring run by Gast was set up by an 18-yard reception to Brad Newton from quarterback Nels Fredrickson.

On their next offensive series, the Blugolds capitalized on a short field once again with a 13-yard touchdown catch to Kahl, his second of the quarter, extending the lead to 25-0.

The second half saw Newton and Fredrickson connect on a 13-yard touchdown pass at 4:52 of the third quarter to make the score 33-0. The play marked the third touchdown reception for a Blugold tight end on the day.

The scoring bonanza came to a close in a big way when Fredrickson went deep to Jason Foemmel for 71 yards with 0:14 remaining in the third quarter.

Fredrickson provided a huge spark in his return to the Blugold offense, going 21-of-26 for 300 yards and four touchdowns against zero interceptions. Newton hauled in a team-best six balls for 77 yards while Foemmel and Matt Evensen caught five balls apiece for 96 and 72 yards.

Linebacker Andrew Jones totaled 12 tackles followed closely by cornerback Derek Sikora with 10 tackles, two for losses. Five different players recorded sacks for the Blugolds, who posted their first shutout of the season.

Let the Madness Begin: Some things never change-death, taxes and the unpredictability of the WIAC. Stevens Point and Stout, ranked 14th and 15th in the latest AFCA coach’s poll, were dealt setbacks by La Crosse and Platteville that turned the conference standings upside down. Only River Falls has a sub-.500 overall record that includes losses to Division II Chadron State and Concordia-St. Paul. This week’s schedule features conference leaders La Crosse and Platteville meeting at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Eagles will try to avenge last season’s 36-29 setback to the Pioneers. Stout looks to avenge last season’s loss to Oshkosh while Stevens Point will try to do likewise to Whitewater.

About the Falcons: Saturday’s match-up will feature a Falcon offense striving for consistency while its defense looks to rebound after allowing its highest point total of the season last weekend.

The Falcon wishbone ground attack features experience on the offensive line with a youthful backfield starting two juniors and two sophomores. The strength of the offensive line can be found at the interior positions where 265-pount left guard Shaun Izdepski joins forces with center Andy Kotelnicki and right guard Thor Johnson. Kotelnicki and Johnson are both listed at 305 pounds.

A young backfield heads up the ground attack led by halfback sophomore John Peterlik and freshman Dan Beyer. Peterlik is third in the WIAC in rushing with 98 yards per game while Beyer is fifth at 75 yards per game. Beyer is doubtful for this weekend’s game due to injuries.

Tom Pulford is the likely starter as Dustin Vogelgesang is still questionable with a shoulder injury suffered against Concordia-St. Paul. Pulford has started the last two games in place of the injured Vogelgesang and is likely to get the starting nod against the Blugolds. The Falcons are looking to kick-start their offense as they find themselves last in the conference in scoring offense at 16.2 points per game.

The Falcon defense had a tough time stopping Whitewater’s rushing attack last weekend. The Warhawks rushed for 285 yards and finished with 464 yards in total offense. Entering Saturday the Falcons are third in points allowed (22.5) and fourth in total defense (357) among WIAC schools. The Falcons will look to slow down a Blugold offense that scored 40 points last weekend against Bethel.

Linebacker Abe Garcia leads the WIAC in tackles with 42 while safety Luke Miska is fourth with 32. Garcia is tied for the WIAC lead with nine tackles for loss and tackle Nick Rue has seven. Cornerbacks Roman Johnson and Neil Mantor each have two interceptions in lead the team. The Falcons are third in the WIAC in passing defense (219).

Last Week’s Results: Eau Claire 40, Bethel (MN) 0; La Crosse 31, Stevens Point 25; Platteville 34, Stout 31 OT; Whitewater 35, River Falls 14.

This Week’s Games: Oshkosh at Stout, 2:00 PM; Platteville at La Crosse, 1:00 P.M.; River Falls at Eau Claire, 1:00 PM; Stevens Point at Whitewater, 1:00 PM.