Issued: October 25, 2003

FIVE TURNOVERS RESULT IN BLUGOLD LOSS TO WARHAWKS

WHITEWATER - The UW-Eau Claire football team turned the ball over five times without forcing a turnover of it own as the Blugolds fell to No. 21 Whitewater 45-7 here today at Perkins Stadium.

The Blugolds fall to 3-4 on the season with the loss and 2-2 in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action while the nationally-ranked Warhawks improve to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in conference. Whitewater is the only team in the WIAC with an undefeated conference record.

The Warhawks got the scoring started midway through the first quarter with a four-yard touchdown run. With less than two minutes remaining in the opening quarter they tacked on another score, this time on a two-yard run, to widen the lead to 14-0.

Early in the second quarter the Warhawks again got into the end zone with a 32-yard pass from Mike Askren to Jim Lesczynski to make the score 21-0. After another touchdown run which made it a four touchdown deficit, the Blugolds finally got the offense started in the final minutes of the first half but a 29-yard field goal opportunity was missed and the Blugolds trailed 28-0 heading into the break.

Eau Claire cut into the lead on the first drive of the second half when Nels Fredrickson (Jr.-Burnsville, MN) scrambled for an 18-yard touchdown run to make the score 28-7.

The Warhawks responded with a five play, 63-yard drive highlighted by a 45-yard reception by Lesczynski. Two plays later Lesczynski caught a 15-yard pass for a Warhawk touchdown to extend the Whitewater lead to 35-7.

The Warhawks added 10 more points the rest of the way to take the 45-7 victory.

Fredrickson finished the game 12-of-27 for 154 yards and two interceptions while Jeremy Darnell (Jr.-Owen-Withee) finished with 112 yards on 9-of-13 passing and one interception.

The leading Blugold receiver on the day was Don Kahl (Jr.-Brookfield/East) who caught five passes for 69 yards. Erik Ferguson (Sr.-Rochester, MN/Dover-Eyota) caught five passes for 63 yards.

Pat Cummings (Sr.-Rochester, MN/John Marshall) led the Blugold defense with nine tackles while Dan Lyrenmann (Jr.-Hales Corner/Whitnall) earned the only sack for Eau Claire while also blocking a Warhawk field goal attempt.

The Blugolds return home to Carson Park next weekend for a Saturday match up against Platteville. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.