Issued: September 27, 2003

BALANCED OFFENSE LEADS BLUGOLDS OVER RIVER FALLS

RIVER FALLS - The UW-Eau Claire football team rushed for 178 yards and passed for 238 more en rout to a 42-28 victory over River Falls in the WIAC opener here today at Ramer Field.

The Blugolds move to 2-1 on the season and 1-0 in WIAC action while the Falcons fall to 0-3 for the season and 0-1 in conference play.

The Falcons got the scoring started on their second possession with a 14 play, 85-yard drive capped off by a John Peterlik 10-yard touchdown run to put River Falls up 7-0 in the first quarter. The drive was kept alive by Owen Schmitt who ran four yards on fourth and three to set up the touchdown.

The Blugolds responded early in the second quarter when Nels Fredrickson (Sr.-Burnsville) hooked up with Matt Evensen (So.-Junction City/Auburndale) for a 17-yard touchdown pass to knot the game at seven.

After a short Falcon punt, it was Evensen getting in the end ` zone again, this time with a 23-yard wide receiver reverse to give the Blugolds a 14-7 advantage. Both teams were held in check the remainder of the half and the Blugolds took a seven point lead into the locker room.

On the first possession of the second half the Falcons put together an impressive 12 play, 81-yard drive highlighted by a 29 yard pass from Troy Foss to Peterlik. Peterlik later ran the ball into the end zone from a yard out to tie the game at 14.

On Eau Claire's next possession Fredrickson struck again, this time with a 61-yard pass to Erik Ferguson (Sr.-Rochester, MN/Dover-Eyota) to bring the ball to the River Falls 18-yard line. Two plays later Brian Mitchell (So.-Carol Stream, IL) ran 12 yards for the touchdown. The extra point was no good but the Blugolds regained the lead at 20-14.

It took just two plays for the Blugolds to get the ball back as Mike Lansing (Jr.-Janesville/Craig) picked off a Troy Foss pass on the River Falls 28-yard line. After a Blugold first down, Joe Gast (So.-Waconia, MN) rushed for a five-yard touchdown. Fredrickson hit Ferguson on the two-point conversion attempt and the score was 28-14.

After another short Falcon punt, Fredrickson used his legs to keep the drive rolling as he ran up the middle for 27 yards. Two plays later he completed a nine-yard touchdown pass to Ferguson to give the Blugolds a 35-14 lead.

Jeremy Darnell (Jr.-Owen/Withee) hit Evensen for a 25-yard touchdown pass on the next possession to widen the lead to 42-14. The Falcons score a touchdown late in the third quarter and another in the fourth but it wasn't enough to overcome the Blugolds as the final score was 42-28 in favor of Eau Claire.

Fredrickson finished the day 14-of-26 for 187 yards and two touchdowns and did not throw an interception. Evensen caught eight passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns while also running one time for a 23-yard touchdown. Don Kahl (Jr.-Brookfield/East) caught six passes for 62 yards while Ferguson caught two balls for 70 yards and a touchdown.

Mitchell was the Blugolds leading rusher with 79 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown while Gast ran 11 times for 54 yards and a touchdown.

Pat Cummings (Sr.-Rochester, MN/John Marshall) helped lead the Blugold defense with 11 tackles while Lansing recorded 10 tackles to go along with an interception and a fumble recovery. Austin Crow (Sr.-Woodbury, MN) added nine tackles and had two of the Blugolds five sacks on the day. Billy Dierks (Sr.-Goodhue, MN) grabbed an interception to go along with two tackles.

Eau Claire will battle Bethel College next week in the Blugolds homecoming game at Carson Park. Last season Eau Claire scored a decisive 40-0 victory over the Royals.