Issued: October 11, 2003

BLUGOLD AERIAL ATTACK UPENDS NO. 3 LA CROSSE

EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire football team did not allow a single second-half point and passed for 358 yards en route to a 24-21 victory over third-ranked UW-La Crosse here today at Carson Park.

The Blugolds improve to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play while the Eagles suffer their first loss of the season and fall to 4-1 and 1-1 in the conference standings. La Crosse is currently ranked third in the latest D3football.com poll.

The Blugolds scored on the game's opening drive when Nick Diciaula (Sr.-Brookfield/Central) hit a 38-yard field goal attempt to give the Blugolds a 3-0 advantage. The score was set up by a 38-yard pass from Nels Fredrickson (Jr.-Burnsville, MN) to Erik Ferguson (Sr.-Rochester, MN/Dover-Eyota).

The Blugolds extended the lead to 10-0 on their next possession with another long strike from Fredrickson to Ferguson, this time for 56 yards and a touchdown.

The Eagles got on the board at the end of the first quarter with a 12-yard touchdown run and took the lead on their next possession with a 49-yard pass followed by a 23-yard touchdown run to take a 14-10 lead.

Brent Weber (Fr.-Rice Lake) intercepted a Steve Tennies pass on the Eagles 37-yard line, ending La Crosse's drive and giving the Blugolds the ball and great field position. Eau Claire was able to take advantage as Brian Mitchell (So.-Carol Stream, IL) ran in from eight yards out to give the Blugolds a 17-14 lead with 3:58 remaining in the first half. The Eagles were able put together a drive in the final minutes and Tennies hit Matt Pagel on a 13-yard touchdown to give La Crosse a 21-17 halftime lead.

Due to three turnovers between the two teams, neither team was able to put any points on the board in the third quarter.

Eau Claire regained its first half lead early in the fourth quarter with another big play as Fredrickson hit Evensen for a 26-yard touchdown to give the Blugolds a 24-21 advantage.

After a Blugold turnover on downs at the La Crosse 20, the Eagles had one last chance with 1:05 remaining in the game and no timeouts. After a sack by Austin Crow (Sr.-Woodbury, MN) for a loss of nine yards, Tennies hit Scott Burnoski for a 29-yard pass play. Burnoski got out of bounds with three seconds to play and the Eagles lined up for a 58-yard field goal attempt. After two Eau Claire timeouts, Jedediah Jensen attempted the game-tying kick but it was blocked by the Blugolds right into the hands of La Crosse's Chester Janke, who launched a pass to the Blugold 27-yard line where Mike Lansing (Jr.-Janesville/Craig) picked it off. A flag was on the field but the call was against the Eagles and the Blugolds walked away with a 24-21 victory.

Fredrickson finished 26-of-40 for 337 yards, two touchdowns and one interception while also running 11 times for 31 yards. Two Blugold receivers had phenomenal games as Ferguson caught 11 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown while Evensen caught 10 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown.

Crow led the defense, which had allowed 78 points in the second half this season prior to today's second half shutout of the Eagles, with six tackles, two for a loss, and two sacks. Derek Sikora (So.-Neillsville) totaled six tackles with two interceptions while Weber added six tackles and a pick. Pat Cummings (Sr.-Rochester, MN/John Marshall) and Mike LaBarbera (Sr.-Eau Claire/Memorial) each added six tackles in the Blugold victory.

The Blugolds will continue conference action next weekend when they travel to Stevens Point to battle the Pointers at 1:00 p.m. at Goerke Field.