EAU CLAIRE, Wis. - For the second year in a row, the UW-Eau Claire football team gave up 27 points to River Falls and came up short, falling 27-19 today at Carson Park.

The Blugolds drop to 4-2 overall on the season and 2-2 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). River Falls improved to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the conference. In last year's contest against River Falls, the Blugolds fell with a similar score, 27-20. River Falls now leads the all-time series 48-33-7.

The Blugolds jumped on the board first early in the second quarter with a one-yard Cory Sartorelli (Jr.-Appleton, Wis./North) touchdown run. Sartorelli, who handled kicking duties today as well, then missed the extra-point keep the score 6-0. The scoring drive spanned 15 plays and 80 yards, but the Blugolds consumed less than three minutes and 20 seconds.

Three drives later the Falcons found the end zone with a five-yard rush of their own by Joel Yogerst. Jesse Finer added the extra point to give the Falcons their first lead of the contest, a lead they would not give up. The score remained 7-6 at the half.

River Falls opened the third with a 56-yard drive, which ended with a missed field goal. The Blugolds then took over but Sartorelli fumbled on the first play and the Falcons recovered. Ten plays later the Falcons once again scored and added an extra point to push their lead to eight.

Eau Claire hung right with River Falls, with Sartorelli scoring on the next drive. This time he nailed the PAT which put the Blugolds within one. River Falls again answered on its next series with another rushing touchdown by Yogerst to make the score 20-13. River Falls then attempted a two-point conversion but Paul Bielmeier (Sr.-Edgar, Wis.) picked off the pass to stop the Falcons.

Once again Eau Claire stuck right with the Falcons and scored on its next drive, this time on a 26-yard run by Sartorelli. River Falls blocked Sartorelli's kick, though, to hold the Blugolds at 19. With 1:42 left in the contest, River Falls then put the nail in the coffin, with another Yogerst touchdown. Finer hit the extra point to make the score 27-19.

River Falls edged the Blugolds in total offense today with 374 yards to the Blugolds' 327. The Falcons ran a balanced attack with 189 yards coming on the ground and 185 in the air. Eau Claire put up 142 yards through the air and 185 on the ground.

Sartorelli led the Blugolds with 160 yards rushing on 28 carries, while Spencer Kehoe (Jr.-Clear Lake, Wis./Winona State) led the receivers with six receptions for 89 yards. Kyle Paulson (Jr.-Amery, Wis.) ended the game with 142 passing yards, throwing 15 completions on 30 attempts.

Matt Pollock led the Falcons with 133 rushing yards on 29 attempts. Yogerst had only five carries but picked up four touchdowns. Storm Harmon led the Falcons in passing with 10 completions on 17 attempts for 185 yards. Michael Zweifel led River Falls with 137 receiving yards on five catches.

On the defensive side of the ball, Dave Wicklund (Sr.-Kewaskum, Wis./Bemidji St.) led the Blugolds with nine tackles (seven solo, two assists). Bryant Dorsey (Jr.-De Pere, Wis.) completed the contest with seven tackles, including six solos and one assist. Matt Ebner (Sr.-Mindoro, Wis./Melrose-Mindoro) and Ben Shea (Jr.-Manitowoc, Wis./Lincoln/UW-Stout) each added a sack in the game, and Shea forced a fumble.

Up next the Blugolds will head to Platteville to take on the Pioneers. The game is slated for next Saturday at 1 p.m.

Eau Claire-River Falls Box Score

- KM -