STEVENS POINT - The UW-Eau Claire football team had five interceptions today, including one for a touchdown, as the Blugolds defeated UW-Stevens Point by a score of 17-3 for their fourth consecutive victory.

In the Blugolds first win in Stevens Point since the 1987 season, the Blugolds defense stepped up and made plays when they had to make them. The "bend but don't break" motto of the Blugolds' defense was evident today as the Pointers were inside the Blugolds' 40 yard line seven times, but only came away with a field goal.

The Blugolds defense got it started right a way as safety Brent Tieri (Sr.-Rockford, MN) picked off a Brett Borchart pass on the third play from scrimmage and returned it 21 yards to the Pointer 47 yard line. The Blugolds offense, however, was held in check for the most part of the first quarter. The Pointer offense drove down the field on their third possession of the game and looked to go out front with a 40 yard field goal, but the Blugolds' Sam Cummings (So.-Rochester, MN/John Marshall) got a hand on the kick and kept the game scoreless.

Following another Tieri interception, the Blugolds got the first points of the day early in the second quarter when Mitch Schaeuble (So.-Wrightstown, WI) hit a 32 yard field goal to put the Blugolds up 3-0. The Blugolds then drove down the field late in the first half, but came away with no points when the Pointers blocked a Blugold 25 yard field goal attempt to keep the score 3-0 as the teams went to the locker rooms for halftime.

The Blugolds then decided to kick the ball off to start the second half and that decision proved to be a good one. On the Pointers third play of the second half, the Blugolds' Brad Alexejun (Jr.-Green Bay WI/Ashwaubenon) intercepted a Borchart pass and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown to make the score 10-0. On the Pointers next possession the Blugolds came with their fourth pick of the ball game as Derek Sikora (Sr.-Neillsville, WI) intercepted the ball in the end zone to keep the score 10-0. The Blugolds proceeded to go on a 19-play, 80-yard drive capped off by a Joe Gast (Sr.-Waconia, MN) one yard touchdown run as the Blugolds went up 17-0. The Blugolds converted two fourth downs on the drive.

The Pointers finally got on the board with just under five minutes remaining as Dan Heldmann converted a 22 yard field goal to make the score 17-3. Stevens Point had one last gasp, but the Blugolds came away with their fifth pick of the game as Sikora intercepted the Pointers once again in the end zone for his second of the day. The Blugolds ran out the clock from there for a final of 17-3.

Gast had another big day on the ground, running for 143 yards on 36 carries and one touchdown. Quarterback Jesse Krzyzanowski (Sr.-Thorp, WI) had a solid day through the air throwing for 183 yards on 19-of-33 passing. His favorite target for the second week in a row was brother Darin Krzyzanowski (Sr.-Thorp, WI) who had seven catches for 59 yards. Johnny Klicka (Sr.-Wild Rose, WI) led the Blugolds in tackles with 12.

With the win the Blugolds are now 5-3 overall and 4-1 in WIAC play. The loss drops the Pointers to 2-6 overall and 1-4 in conference play.

Up next the Blugolds will play their final road contest of the season as they will travel to Oshkosh to face the Titans. The action is set to begin next Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

Eau Claire-Stevens Point Box Score

- JR -