EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire football team won its third straight contest over UW-La Crosse today in thrilling fashion, winning 27-20 in double overtime.

The victory gives the Blugolds their third straight win of the season. The Blugolds now have an overall record of 4-3 and a conference record of 3-1. The loss drops the Eagles to 3-3 overall and 2-2 in the conference.

La Crosse got on the board on their first possession of the game when the Eagles drove 78 yard on 14 plays capped off by a Corey Geldernick five yard touchdown run to go up 7-0. On the next possession the Blugolds drove down the field and Mitch Schaeuble (So.-Wrightstown, WI) nailed a 40 yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter to make the score 7-3.

The Blugolds Brent Tieri (Sr.-Rockford, MN) then picked off Eagles quarterback John Schumann around midfield, but the Blugolds could not capitalize on the turnover, missing a 35 yard field goal. After a 22 yard punt return by Derek Sikora (Sr.-Neillsville, WI), the Blugolds got their first touchdown of the day when Joe Gast (Sr.-Waconia, MN) plunged in from 2 yards out to give the Blugolds a 10-7 lead.

It stayed that way all the way until the fourth quarter, when the Blugolds' Schaeuble connected on his second field goal of the day, this time from 27 yards out to give the Blugolds a 13-7 lead.

It seemed the Blugolds were in control until the Eagles connected on a throwback pass from Schumann to running back Dan Hall that went 63 yards for the touchdown. The Eagles extra point attempt was then blocked by the Blugolds' Brad Alexejun (Jr.-Green Bay WI/Ashwaubenon) to keep the score tied at 13-13 with 11 minutes remaining in the game.

Both teams had their chances in the final minutes of the ball game. First the Eagles missed a 34 yard field goal wide left with 1:07 to play, and as time expired the Blugolds missed 42 yard field goal.

With the game tied at 13 the game went into overtime. The Eagles got the ball first in the first overtime and on the first play Schumann connected with Ted Everson on a 25 yard touchdown pass to put the Eagles on top 20-13.

The Blugolds then converted two fourth downs including the tying touchdown pass from Jesse Krzyzanowski (Sr.-Thorp, WI) to Garett Pankratz (Sr.-Milladore, WI/Auburndale) on fourth and goal from the two to send it to a second overtime.

The Blugolds got the ball first in the second overtime and scored when Gast dove over the pile from one yard out to give the Blugolds a 27-20 lead. The Blugolds defense then held tough and shut down the Eagles forcing an incompletion on the final play of the game to win 27-20.

Gast had huge day running for 152 yards on 37 carries and two touchdowns. Jesse Krzyzanowski threw for 166 yards and had one touchdown pass. His favorite target on the day was his brother Darin Krzyzanowski (Sr.-Thorp, WI) who had eight catches for 62 yards. Ryan Schulz (Jr.-Maple Grove, MN) led the Blugolds in tackles with 15.

Up next the Blugolds will travel to Stevens Point to face the Pointers next Saturday. The kickoff is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

Eau Claire-La Crosse Box Score

- JR -