Issued: November 8, 2003

FERGUSON SETS RECORD IN LOSS TO STOUT

EAU CLAIRE – Erik Ferguson (Sr.-Rochester, MN/Dover-Eyota) set the all-time Eau Claire single season receiving record with 1,015 yards and became the first ever Blugold wide receiver to surpass the 1,000 yard mark but the Blugolds fell to UW-Stout 43-36 in the final seconds here today at Carson Park.

Eau Claire falls to 4-5 overall and 3-3 in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action while the Blue Devils improve to 5-4 for the season and 3-3 in conference play. The loss knocks the Blugolds out of contention for the WIAC championship.

Ferguson broke Tom Saskowski’s record of 971 yards set in 1984. Ferguson needs three more receptions to break the Blugold single season receptions record. His 11 catches today gave him 55 receptions for the season.

Stout earned the first points of the game with a 16-yard touchdown run by Luke Bundgaard to take an early 7-0 lead. Eau Claire responded just 10 seconds into the second quarter when Joe Gast (So.-Waconia, MN) scored on a four-yard touchdown run. After a Stout penalty on the extra point, the Blugolds converted on a two-point attempt to take an 8-7 lead.
Two possessions later the Blugolds extended their lead as Nels Fredrickson (Jr.-Burnsville, MN) hooked up with Don Kahl (Jr.-Brookfield/East) for a 20-yard touchdown pass to make the score 15-7.

The Blue Devils answered on their next possession with another touchdown run by Bundgaard and a successful two-point conversion to tie the game at 15 with 1:50 left in the first half.
Stout regained the lead on the first possession of the second half when quarterback Nick Ohman scampered in from eight yards out to put Eau Claire down by seven. After a 31-yard kickoff return by Erik Ferguson (Sr.-Rochester, MN/Dover-Eyota), Fredrickson hooked up with Matt Evensen (So.-Junction City/Auburndale) on the first play of the drive for a 49-yard touchdown pass to once again tie the game. Heading into the fourth quarter it was 22-22.

After a Blue Devil punt to start the fourth, Fredrickson threw an interception to Rick Morris who returned it 61 yards for a Stout touchdown. The extra point was good and the Blue Devils once again held a one touchdown advantage.

The Blugolds responded with a 5 play, 63-yard scoring drive capped off by a one-yard touchdown run by Gast to knot the game at 29 with 12:07 left in the game.

The score remained the same until the 2:27 mark when the Blue Devils picked off another Fredrickson pass and Luke Rykal ran it back 19 yards for another Stout defensive touchdown. The extra point sailed wide but the Blue Devils held a 35-29 lead late in the fourth quarter.

The Blugolds then mounted another impressive drive led by both Fredrickson and Ferguson. Ferguson caught passes of 11 and 16 yards to start the drive then ran for 17 more to bring the ball to the Stout 25-yard line. Fredrickson ran for seven yards on the following play and hit Ferguson for eight more on the next. With 37 seconds remaining Fredrickson scrambled in from 10-yards out to give Eau Claire a 36-35 advantage.

Things looked good for the Blugolds but with time winding down Ohman hit Seth Mattison for a 55-yard pass play to bring the ball to the Eau Claire four-yard line. Two plays later Bundgaard ran in from a yard out to give Stout a 41-36 lead. The Blue Devils again successfully converted on a two-point attempt and took a 43-36 lead.

With eight seconds left to play Fredrickson hit Evensen on a 13-yard pass play and the sophomore wide receiver was able to get out of bounds with one second remaining, setting up a Hail Mary attempt. The pass was knocked away and the victory was preserved for the Blue Devils.

Ferguson finished with 11 receptions and 138 yards for his sixth 100-yard receiving game of the season. Fredrickson completed 20-of-38 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns, but threw three interceptions in the loss.

Stout completely dominated the ground game with 261 yards rushing to the Blugolds 135. Bundgaard led the way with 137 while Ohman added 107 from the quarterback position.

The Blugolds travel to Oshkosh for the season finale next Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. start time.