Issued: November 15, 2003

BLUGOLDS HOLD OF RALLY, TOP OSHKOSH

OSHKOSH - The UW-Eau Claire football team held a 45-14 lead in the fourth quarter and were able to outlast a 22-point effort in the final 12 minutes from Oshkosh as the Blugolds topped the Titans 45-36 here today at Titan Stadium

Eau Claire finishes the season with a record of 5-5 overall and 4-3 in the WIAC while Oshkosh falls to 4-6 for the season and 1-6 in conference play. The Titans lost six straight to end the season.

In the win, Erik Ferguson (Sr.-Rochester, MN/Dover-Eyota) set the all-time Eau Claire record for receptions in a single season with 60 on the season.

After a scoreless first quarter, Joe Gast (So.-Waconia, MN) put the Blugolds on the board in the opening minute of the second quarter with a one-yard touchdown run. The score was set up by a 74-yard pass completion from Nels Fredrickson (Jr.-Burnsville, MN) to Ferguson.

Ferguson struck again on the Blugolds next possession, this time on the ground as he ran it in from 27-yards out to give Eau Claire a 14-0 lead.

The Titans responded with back-to-back touchdowns to tie the game at 14. The Blugolds answered right back as Fredrickson hit Matt Evensen (So.-Junction City/Auburndale) with a 15-yard pass and two plays later found Evensen again, this time for a 25-yard touchdown pass to give Eau Claire a 21-14 lead.

On the Blugolds next possession Fredrickson found running back Brian Mitchell (So.-Carol Stream, IL) for a 33-yard touchdown reception to extend the lead to 28-14. The Blugolds still were not done scoring in the second quarter, as Nick Diciaula (Sr.-Brookfield/Central) added a 34-yard field goal with two seconds left to give Eau Claire a 31-point second quarter and a 31-14 lead heading into halftime.

The third quarter played out similar to the first, with Eau Claire scoring the only touchdown of the quarter with another one-yard touchdown run by Gast. The Blugolds extended the lead to 45-14 with 11:23 left in the game on a Jeremy Darnell (Jr.-Owen Withee) 5-yard touchdown scramble.

Then the Titans made a push. Freshman Andy Moriarty scored on a 17-yard run and on the next possession quarterback Nick Wara ran in from 31-yards out to close the gap to 45-28. After a Blugold punt, Wara ran in again, this time from eight-yards out but only 44 seconds remained on the clock and Eau Claire left Oshkosh with a 45-36 victory.

The game featured more than 1,100 yards of offense as the Titans gained 612 while the Blugolds put up 499.

Ferguson had another great game, catching five passes for 142 yards and rushing for a touchdown. Fredrickson finished the game 14-of-26 for 268 yards and two touchdowns without throwing an interception.

Nick Wara ran for 128 yards for the Titans while throwing for 371. He had four touchdowns on the day.