EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire football team won its third straight homecoming game today as it defeated the UW-River Falls Falcons 23-3 at Carson Park and in doing so snapped a two-game losing streak.

The Blugolds improve to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play. The Falcons fall to an overall record of 1-4 and a 0-2 conference record. The Blugolds have now won five straight against River Falls.

On the Blugolds first punt of the game early in the first quarter, the snap went over punter Mitch Schaeuble's (Jr.-Wrightstown, WI) head and he was forced to fall on the ball at their own nine-yard-line. The Falcons got down to the Blugold three-yard-line, but were forced to kick a field goal. The Falcons would then have a special teams mishap of their own as the Falcon holder mishandled the snap and was forced to scramble before Shaggy Murphy (Sr.-Eau Claire, WI/Regis) tackled him to give the ball back to the Blugolds.

The Blugolds proceeded to move the ball down the field. One big pass play from Kyle Paulson (So.-Amery, WI) to Matt Evensen (Sr.-Junction City, WI/Auburndale) was called back due to a penalty. The Blugolds still got the ball down to the Falcon 24-yard-line before kicker Craig Kolb (Fr.-Marshfield, WI) hit a 41-yard field goal to make the score 3-0 with 4:31 to play in the first quarter. It was the fourth time this season the Blugolds scored first in a game.

The score remained that way until the middle of the second quarter when the Blugolds once again got deep into River Falls territory and Craig Kolb came on to hit a 17-yard field goal to make the score 6-0. The Falcons cut the lead in half on the next possession on a Spasimir Bodurski 33-yard field goal to make the score 6-3.

The Blugolds then performed the two-minute drill to perfection. Starting at their own 20-yard-line, three straight completions by Kyle Paulson moved the ball down to the River Falls 38-yard-line. On the next play Paulson connected with Chris Hull (Jr.-Blaine, MN/Spring Lake Park) who broke a tackle and dove in the end zone for a 38-yard touchdown to make the score 13-3 at the half.

On the Blugolds first possession of the second half, Eau Claire drove the ball down deep into Falcon territory before the Blugolds were intercepted at the 22-yard-line. Three plays later, the Blugolds Nate Rucker (Jr.-Green Bay, WI/Southwest) forced a Falcons fumble that was recovered by Brad Alexejun (Sr.-Green Bay, WI/Ashwaubenon) at the River Falls 27-yard-line. However, the Blugolds would be unable to capitalize and Craig Kolb came on hit a 41-yard field goal his third of the game to make the score 16-3. The three field goals tie a school record and it is the second time he has accomplished that feat this season.

River Falls quarterback Jeremy Wolff was intercepted by Shaggy Murphy on the Falcons next possession and Murphy returned the interception 27 yards to the Falcons 31-yard-line. On the next play Paulson hit Matt Evensen for a 31-yard touchdown pass to make the score 23-3 with 29 seconds to play in the third quarter. The score would not change as the Blugolds won 23-3.

The Blugolds had 316 yards of total offense, the most this season. Kyle Paulson had a collegiate-high 251 yards on 16-of-28 passing and had two touchdowns. It was the second time this season the Blugolds threw for over 200 yards. Both Chris Hull and Matt Evensen had over 100 yards receiving. Hull had six receptions for 104 yards and Evensen also had six receptions for 102 yards. Eddy Kaiser (Sr.-Duluth, MN/East) rushed for 65 yards on 16 carries. Sam Cummings (Jr.-Rochester, MN/John Marshall) and Brad Alexejun had seven tackles each to lead the defense.

The Blugolds are 6-3-1 against the