The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire football team lost 71-14 to the Falcons at Ramer Field at Smith Stadium on Saturday during their visit to No. 6 UW-River Falls.
In the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) opening, the Blugolds managed two touchdowns in the second half, but it was insufficient to overcome their highly regarded opponent.
HOW IT OCCURREDThanks to a 35-point second quarter, the sixth-ranked Falcons jumped out to a 50-point lead at halftime, and the Blugolds were unable to catch up. In the second quarter, UW-River Falls scored five touchdowns to gain the upper hand.
Their rushing game produced four of their first-half touchdowns, and they nearly reached 400 yards of total offense by halftime. In the end, the Falcons scored the game’s opening 64 points.
In the third quarter, Blugolds quarterback Christian Torgerson (Fr. — Turtle Lake, Wis.) scored a touchdown on the ground after covering five yards.
In the last four minutes of the fourth quarter, Jayce Kolinski (Fr. — Dane, Wis./Lodi) caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from Jacob Donohue (So. — Grayslake, Ill./Grayslake North) to round out the scoring.
The Blugolds’ offensive yardage increased to 265 while the Falcons’ was at 605.
Torgerson had a standout game, leading the Blugolds’ rushing attack with 103 yards on 15 carries. For an additional 28 yards, Demetrius Bergmann (Fr. — Pepin, Wis.) added nine rushes.
Winneconne, Wisconsin native Harry Roubidoux (Sr.) completed nine throws for 112 yards. Donohue gained nine yards and a touchdown by completing one of his two passes.
On two receptions, Nolan Stans (Sr. — Spring Valley, Wis.) totaled 46 receiving yards. Franko Williams (So. — Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha North) and Isaac Garside (Sr. — Bonduel, Wis.) each had three catches for 33 and 32 yards, respectively.
Brady Puls (Fr. — Lodi, Wis.) led the team in defensive tackles with ten. With six solo tackles, Peyton Erikson (Jr., Rhinelander, Wis.) led the team.
UP NEXT
When the Blugolds return home to host UW-Stevens Point for Homecoming on Saturday at Carson Park, they’ll be hoping to get back on track. The previous three times the two teams have faced off, UW-Eau Claire has prevailed 24-17, most recently last season. It is one o’clock when the game starts.
One of the Blugolds’ most important players of the past few seasons is featured in a sit-down feature interview on Homecoming in the print edition of the Leader-Telegram on Wednesday.