RIVER FALLS - The UW-Eau Claire football team snapped a two-game losing streak today as it defeated UW-River Falls by a score of 21-11.

In the lowest scoring game between the two teams since the 1986 season, the Blugolds did just enough to pull out the victory against the Falcons. The Falcons had the advantage in total yards out gaining the Blugolds 357-275, but key turnovers hurt the Falcons and the defense for the Blugolds stepped up when it had too.

The Blugolds got off to a quick start scoring on their first three possessions. The Blugolds received the opening kickoff and marched down the field to score the first points of the game when Jesse Krzyzanowski (Sr.-Thorp, WI) connected with Tony Hull (So.-Blaine, MN/Spring Lake Park) for a 5 yard touchdown pass. Jesse Krzyzanowski started the game with 15 straight pass completions. His first incompletion came with 6:09 to play in the first half. After the Blugolds defense held the Falcons to three plays and out on their opening possession, the offense took over and scored again when Jesse Krzyzanowski hit Tony Hull for a second time, this time for a 7 yard touchdown.

The Falcons got on the board on the first play of the second quarter when Falcons kicker Spasimir Bodurski booted in a 21 yard field goal to make the score 14-3. However, the Blugolds came right back when Joe Gast (Sr.-Waconia, MN) plunged in from a yard out to make the score 21-3. That score held up until halftime.

The second half was dominated by both defenses. The key turnover of the game came in the third quarter when it appeared that the Falcons were going punch it in, but a fumble recovery by the Blugolds' Nate Jahn (So.-Alma Center, WI/Lincoln) in the red zone ended that. The Falcons then turned it over on downs early in the fourth quarter in Blugold territory.

The Falcons finally got in the end zone with three minutes left. The Falcons added a 2-point conversion to make the score 21-11. The Falcons onside kick was unsuccessful and the Blugolds ran out the clock for the 21-11 victory.

Jesse Krzyzanowski threw for 183 yards and two touchdown passes. Gast ran for 78 yards on 22 carries and had one touchdown. Darin Krzyzanowski (Sr.-Thorp, WI) caught eight passes for 53 yards and Tony Hull had seven catches for 63 yards and two touchdowns. Johnny Klicka (Sr.-Wild Rose, WI) led the Blugolds in tackles with 11.

With the win the Blugolds improve to 2-3 overall and a conference record of 1-1. The loss drops the Falcons to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in the conference. The four consecutive wins for the Blugolds against the Falcons is the most in the series' history.

Up next the Blugolds will return home for homecoming against rival UW-Stout. The action is set to get underway next week at 1 p.m.

Eau Claire-River Falls Box Score

- JR -