EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire football team closed out the 2014 season with a 20-10 loss to UW-La Crosse at Carson Park Saturday. The Blugolds finish the year with a record of 1-9.

Photos (By Chico La Barbera)

The Blugolds struck first with 8:15 left in the first quarter on Parker LeMire's (Jr.-Somerset, WI) 32-yard field goal. The drive was set-up after Erik Hulman (Jr.-Milwaukee, WI) forced and recovered a fumble.

The Eagles responded on the ensuing drive, set-up by a 45-yard kickoff return to the UW-Eau Claire 40-yard line. UW-La Crosse scored on a seven-yard run with 6:42 left in the first quarter, but the extra-point was blocked by Roger Steen (Sr.-Luck, WI).

The Blugolds reclaimed the lead early in the second quarter as Jon Van Geffen (Sr.-Shiocton, WI) scored on a three-yard run with 13:18 remaining in the half.  The Blugolds went 53 yards on seven plays with Van Geffen rushing for 37 yards on six carries.  LeMire's extra-point was good. 

The Eagles took the lead for good on its next drive on a 22-yard shuffle touchdown pass with 11:09 left in the second quarter.  The Blugolds blocked the extra-point again, this time by Thurgood Dennis (Sr.-Allouez, WI).

After UW-Eau Claire was forced to punt, UW-L started its next drive on its own two-yard line.  The Eagles went 98 yards on 10 plays to score on a 12-yard touchdown run.  UW-La Crosse converted on the two-point conversion to take a 20-10 lead.

The Blugolds finished with 227 yards of offense, including 154 rushing and 73 passing. UW-Eau Claire tallied 13 first downs and was three-of-12 on third-down.

Van Geffen rushed for 175 yards on 35 attempts (5.0 average) and one touchdown. Joel Newman (Jr. Redwing, MN) was seven-of-17 passing for 50 yards while Mark Munger (Sr.-Eau Claire, WI) finished three-of-four for 23 yards with an interception.  Chris Cummings (Jr, Milwaukee, WI) caught four passes for 24 yards. 

Kaeleb Stangler (Fr. Rochester, MN) led the Blugolds with eight tackles, including seven unassisted.  He also had one tackle for loss and a quarterback sack.

-JM-