UW-Eau Claire (7-2) vs UW-Stevens Point (6-3)
Saturday, November 16, 1:00 PM
Carson Park, Eau Claire, WI

Series History: Saturday’s match-up between UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stevens Point marks the 69th meeting between both schools with the Pointers holding a 26-37-5 advantage. Last year the Blugolds lost a heart-breaking 30-27 double-overtime thriller to the Pointers at Goerke Field. The Pointers attempted a game-winning field goal with 41 seconds remaining in regulation but the Blugolds blocked the attempt to send the game into overtime. The Blugolds opened the second overtime with a fumble that led to the Pointers’ game-winning field goal. Darrell Souhrada capped off a brilliant career at UW-Eau Claire gaining 162 yards on 37 carries with two touchdowns.

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 22-16 career mark. Last season the Blugolds were WIAC co-champions.

UW-Stevens Point Coach John Miech: Coach Miech is in his 15th season with the Pointers. The all-time winningest coach in school history, Miech owns a 99-49-2 record at Stevens Point.

‘Catching Up’ in the Record Book: Senior wide receiver Jason Foemmel is climbing up the UW-Eau Claire football record book in several categories. Foemmel currently ranks fifth in career receptions (119), sixth in career receiving yards (1,734), tied for sixth in most passes caught in a season (48) and touchdown passes caught in a career (12) and 13th in most receiving yards in a season (640). Foemmel is four receptions shy of passing assistant coach Cary Osborn for fourth on the school’s all-time receptions list.

Last Week’s Action: The UW-Eau Claire football team was unable to overcome an early deficit to UW-La Crosse and fell out of a tie for first place as the Eagles went on to a 26-9 victory at Roger Harring Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

La Crosse jumped out to a 7-0 lead when Matt Makaryk completed a seven-yard touchdown pass to Scott Burnoski at 2:50 of the first quarter. The Eagles increased their lead to 14-0 when Ross Moline hit paydirt from one yard out at 11:19 of the second quarter.

The Blugolds mounted a comeback beginning with a Nick Diciaula 20-yard field goal with 5:11 remaining in the first half cutting the lead to 14-3.

After a scoreless third quarter, the Blugolds cut the lead to 14-9 when tailback Joe Gast scampered in from six yards out with 10:26 to go in the fourth quarter. The Blugolds took advantage of excellent field possession after the defense forced the Eagles into a three-and-out. The Blugold scoring drive went 46 yards on eight plays taking 2:09 off the clock.

The Blugolds got the ball back after forcing another La Crosse three-and-out, but strongside linebacker Dustin Powell picked off a Nels Fredrickson pass and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown to increase the Blugold lead to 20-6.

On their next possession the Blugolds drove down to the Eagles’ 30 yard line before Fredrickson was picked off for the third time. The Eagles added an insurance touchdown while the Blugolds turned the ball over on downs on their final two possessions.

On the day the Blugolds outgained the Eagles 338-268 while running 10 more offensive plays than La Crosse. However, the Blugolds committed four turnovers against one Eagle turnover while the Eagles converted 11-of-18 third downs to win the time of possession battle 33:43-26:17.

Fredrickson completed 16-of-40 passes for 198 yards throwing three interceptions and being sacked three times. Gast led all rushers on the day gaining 99 yards on 25 carries. Wide receiver Jason Foemmel led all receivers with six receptions for 74 yards while tight end Brad Newton hauled in four catches for 54 yards.

It all comes down to this: Five teams remain in contention for a share of the conference crown with three of those teams still eligible for an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. If La Crosse defeats Stout they will claim the outright conference title and earn the WIAC’s automatic bid. If Stout upends the Eagles then the Blue Devils could earn a Pool A or C bid depending on the outcome of the Whitewater-Oshkosh contest. Defending co-champions Eau Claire and Stevens Point will battle with the winner earning second straight championship with a La Crosse loss but would lose out an automatic bid based on WIAC tie-breaking procedures. A Whitewater win along with a La Crosse loss would bode well for the Warhawks, who have wins over the Eagles and Stout.

About the Pointers: Scott Krause connected with Kurt Kielbock for a 25-yard touchdown on UW-Stevens Point’s first play of overtime as the Pointers overcame a furious fourth quarter rally by UW-Platteville to post a 34-28 victory at Goerke Field.

UW-Stevens Point led 28-7 with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter before the Pioneers scored three touchdowns in a span of 4:19 to tie the game. However, Pointers’ freshman linebacker Brent Maxwell had his first career interception on UW-Platteville’s overtime possession, setting up the Pointers’ game winning score.

The Pointers dominated the first three quarters of play, outgaining the Pioneers 424-137 through the first 45 minutes. However, the Pioneers outgained UW-Stevens Point 172 to minus-four in the final quarter.

UW-Platteville took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter with a five-play, 80-yard drive capped by Damian Droessler’s two-yard touchdown run.

The Pointers countered on their next possession as Jason VanderVelden finished a 12-play, 88-yard drive with a 10-yard scamper. UW-Stevens Point pushed the lead to 14-7 just before halftime as Krause hit Tony Romano for a 35-yard touchdown with 1:09 left in the half.

The Pointers scored 13-play, 90-yard drive that took 6:34 in third quarter and included a 20-yard run by VanderVelden on a fake punt. After UW-Platteville threw an interception on its next possession, VanderVelden broke free for a 47-yard touchdown run on a third-and-one play to give UW-Stevens Point a 28-7 lead. VanderVelden finished with 129 yards on 23 carries for his first career 100-yard game.

Droessler cut the lead to 28-14 with 8:54 left in the fourth

quarter on a one-yard run and then added a two-yard touchdown less than two minutes later following a Mitch Repka interception. Following a Pointers’ punt, Tom Stetzer hit Matt Kent for a 62-yard touchdown on the Pioneers’ first play to tie the game with 4:35 left.

*Clinched Share of WIAC Title

Last Week’s Results: La Crosse 26, Eau Claire 9; River Falls 13, Oshkosh 12; Stevens Point 34, Platteville 28 OT; Whitewater 24, Stout 21.

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