LA CROSSE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire football team continued their Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) schedule on Saturday as they traveled to La Crosse, Wis. to take on the #4 ranked UWL Eagles. For the second straight week, the Blugolds found themselves with a lead in the opening quarter as the offense and defense controlled the game out of the gate. La Crosse locked down the Blugolds in the final two and half quarters as Eau Claire fell to Eagles, 59-14.
The Blugold defense got things rolling for Eau Claire on the Eagles' first drive as
Peyton Erikson (So. – Rhinelander, Wis.) forced a fumble at midfield that was recovered by
JP Wolterstorff (Jr. – Eau Claire, Wis./Regis), giving UWEC's offense prime position. After the forced turnover,
Ivan Ruble (Jr. – Clear Lake, Wis.) capped off an 11-play drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown up the middle to give the Blugolds a 6-0 lead.
Dan Zeuli (Jr. – Hudson, Wis.) knocked home the first of his two extra points to increase the Eau Claire lead to seven points.
After an answer by UWL on the next drive, the first quarter concluded with both teams tied at 7-7.
With the ball at their own 32-yard line, the Blugolds kept their offense consistent as they marched down the field with a mix of short gain rushes and big time passes. On the eighth play of the drive,
Harry Roubidoux (Jr. – Winneconne, Wis.) found
Isaac Garside (Jr. – Bonduel, Wis.) on a short passing play that ended with Garside running 25 yards into the end zone to take back their lead by seven.
The Eagles didn't let the UWEC lead last long as they scored on the ensuing drive to tie the game at 14-14. UWL found their first lead of the game on the very next Eau Claire drive with an interception returned for a touchdown, making it 21-14. UW-Eau Claire was forced to punt on their final two full drives of the first half as they hit the locker room with a 35-14 deficit.
The second half was no kinder to the Blugolds as they recorded 48 of their 198 total offensive yards in the final two frames. With the Blugolds kept out of the end zone, UWL added 24 points as they handed UWEC their sixth loss of the season.
Leading the offense during the afternoon was
Ivan Ruble with 57 yards on 20 carries,
Landon Tonsager (Fr. – Eagan, Minn.) with eight catches for 89 yards, and
Isaac Garside with four catches for 55 yards and one touchdown. Ruble and Tonsager combined for 260 all-purpose yards. Defensively,
Ryan Kuechle (Sr. – Mankato, Minn./East) led the way with 11 tackles.
Gyanni Kanellakis (Jr. – Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove) was close behind with ten, and
Noah Nephew (Jr. – Lakeville, Minn./North) and
Isaac Runstrom (Fr. – Cumberland, Wis.) had six tackles each.
Liam Enright (Jr. – Elmhurst, Ill./York)
The Blugolds (2-6, WIAC 1-4) will be back in action on Saturday, November 4
th when they host the annual "War on 94" rivalry game with UW-Stout. Kickoff from Carson Park is scheduled for 1:10 p.m.
