MENOMONIE, Wis. - With both teams coming into today's game tied for third place in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the UW-Eau Claire football team beat I-94 rival UW-Stout 17-6 at Don and Nona Williams Stadium and took sole possession of third place in the conference.

The Blugolds completed their season today with a 6-4 overall record and a 4-3 record in conference play, while UW-Stout finished at 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the WIAC. Stevens Point and Whitewater both won today as well and became WIAC Co-Champions.

In today's game, neither team found a groove early. Stout ended all its first quarter drives with punts and the Blugolds punted twice and turned another over on downs. It was not until the second quarter when the scoreboard lit up for the first time with points. Eau Claire's Craig Kolb (Jr.-Marshfield, Wis.) nailed a 26-yard field goal at 10:13 in the second to give the Blugolds a 3-0 lead, a lead they would take into halftime.

In the third quarter the Blugolds struck twice, scoring touchdowns both times. Craig Polifka (Sr.-Kewaunee, Wis.) helped set up the first score, taking the opening kickoff 50 yards to the Stout 44 to give Eau Claire great field position. Two plays later Cory Sartorelli (Jr.-Appleton, Wis./North) broke away for a 41-yard scamper down to the Stout 3. He then completed the drive with two more runs for the final three yards to put the Blugolds up 9-0. Kolb then hit the extra point to increase Eau Claire's lead.

On the Blugolds' next drive, Eau Claire once again found the end zone. This time it came through the air, an eight yard pass from Kyle Paulson (Jr.-Amery, Wis.) to David Goodman (Fr.-Neenah, Wis.). Kolb once again hit the extra point to make the score 17-0. With 22 seconds remaining in the contest, Stout scored its only touchdown of the game on a 32-yard pass from Kyle Provos to Antawan Walker. The Blue Devils then attempted a two-point conversion but failed, keeping the score at 17-6.

Stout outgained Eau Claire today with 255 yards of total offense to the Blugolds' 248. Eau Claire finished the game with 145 yards passing and 103 yards rushing, while Stout had 130 yards on the ground and 125 through the air.

Sartorelli rushed for 86 yards on 33 carries, finishing the season with 1,288 rushing yards. Paulson was 13-for-21 today with an interception and a touchdown and accumulated 145 yards of passing. Spencer Kehoe (Jr.-Clear Lake, Wis./Winona State) led the Blugolds with four catches for 38 yards.

On defense, Paul Bielmeier (Sr.-Edgar, Wis.) led the Blugolds with five solo tackles and two assists. Brad Nierenhausen (Jr.-Cottage Grove, Minn./Park) had seven tackles on the day, coming from three solos and four assists. Polifka also came up with an interception today.

Eau Claire-Stout Box Score

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