Issued: October 4, 2003

BLUGOLDS DROP SHOOTOUT TO BETHEL

EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire football team allowed 451 total yards en route to a 45-42 loss at the hands of No. 22 Bethel College here today at Carson Park.

The Blugolds fall to 2-2 on the season while the Royals improve to 5-0 overall. Bethel is currently ranked 22nd in the nation according to the latest D3football.com Top 25 poll.

Bethel was the first on the scoreboard in the first possession of the game, but it was their defense putting the ball in the end zone with a 40-yard fumble recovery return for a touchdown to make the score 7-0.

Eau Claire responded early in the second quarter when Mike LaBarbera (Sr.-Eau Claire/Memorial) returned a very short Royal punt 30 yards for a touchdown to knot the game at seven. Two drives later the Blugolds took their first lead of the game when Nels Fredrickson (Jr.-Burnsville, MN) led the Blugolds on a six play, 71-yard drive highlighted by a 47-yard touchdown reception from Fredrickson to Erik Ferguson (Sr.-Rochester, MN/Dover-Eyota).

Eau Claire extended the lead late in the half with another big pass, this time from Jeremy Darnell (Jr.-Owen-Withee) who hit Matt Evensen (So.-Junction City/Auburndale) for a 38-yard touchdown to give the Blugolds a 21-7 lead. Bethel responded with a four play, 63-yard drive in just 43 seconds to pull within seven points with just 14 seconds remaining in the half. At the half it was 21-14 in favor of Eau Claire.

The Royals started the second half with a bang as they drove 95 yards on 10 plays to tie the game at 21. On the very next possession the Blugolds put together a solid 61-yard drive and Brian Mitchell (So.-Carol Stream, IL) scored on an eight-yard run to make the score 28-21. Eau Claire widened the lead after a Bethel punt when Joe Gast (So.-Waconia, MN) broke off a 47-yard touchdown run to give the Blugolds a 35-21 advantage just before the start of the fourth quarter.

After a Bethel touchdown, Gast struck again with a three-yard touchdown run. The 81-yard drive was highlighted by a 67-yard pass from Fredrickson to Ferguson and the score was 42-28. The Royals refused to go away and on the ensuing possession drove 60 yards to pull within seven points.

After a Blugold punt, Bethel drove for a game-tying touchdown and Chris Evans ran the ball in from five yards out to tie the game at 42. On Eau Claire's ensuing possession Fredrickson hit Evensen on a pass pattern but Evensen fumbled the ball and the Royals recovered, giving them excellent field position with 5:41 left in the game. The Royals converted on a field goal attempt to take a 45-42 lead.

Eau Claire was unable to convert on a fourth and 11 and got the ball back with 16 seconds after a Bethel punt. Darnell threw an interception on the second play however, and the Blugolds suffered the 45-42 loss.

Fredrickson finished 9-of-21 for 185 yards with one touchdown and one interception while Darnell was 4-of-8 for 59 yards, also throwing one touchdown and one interception.

Evensen caught seven passes for 90 yards and a touchdown and Erik Ferguson caught just three passes but for 120 yards and a touchdown.

Gast led all rushers with 111 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns while Mitchell carried the ball 20 times for 75 yards and one touchdown.

Bethel's All-American candidate quarterback Scott Kirchoff finished 30-of-57 for 379 yards and a touchdown despite having several balls dropped.

Eau Claire's defense was led by Mike Lansing (Jr.-Janesville) who totaled 10 tackles while breaking up two passes. Derek Sikora (So.-Neillsville) added eight tackles in the loss.

The Blugolds return to conference action next weekend when they host UW-La Crosse at 11:30.