EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire football team kicked off their 2023 season at Carson Park on Saturday. With nonconference opponents Concordia-Moorhead (Minn.) in town, UW-Eau Claire looked to begin a new era in the Chippewa Valley with head coach, Rob Erickson at the helm for the first time. A late fourth quarter comeback by the Concordia Cobbers was silenced by a 33-yard field goal by
Dan Zeuli (Jr. – Hudson, Wis.) in the closing seconds, giving the Blugolds the 31-28 victory.
As the 2023 season got underway, both defenses stood strong on the opening drives as three punts and one turnover on downs concluded the first four drives. UW-Eau Claire struck first on their third drive of the afternoon on a 54-yard touchdown pass from
Harry Roubidoux (Jr. – Winneconne, Wis.) to
Landon Tonsager (Fr. – Eagan, Minn.) to earn the early 6-0 lead. Tonsager's touchdown haul was not only a team high on the day but was Tonsager first collegiate catch. Landon held an impressive opening day with a game high 8 catches, 165 yards and one touchdown.
Following the opening score,
Trey Fitzgerald (Jr. – Mosinee, Wis.) caught the Cobbers in confusion during the extra point and ran in the two-point conversion to give Eau Claire the 8-0 lead.
Concordia-Moorhead responded roughly five minutes after the opening UWEC touchdown with a pair of deep shot touchdowns of their own to take a 14-8 lead with just over eight minutes left in the first half.
Sam Schradle (Jr. – Cumberland, Wis.) who played defensive back for UW-Eau Claire the previous two seasons, found his rhythm in the backfield in the second quarter after breaking out for a 53-yard run up the middle and out to the sideline to help Eau Claire tie the game at 14-14. Schradle finished the day with 11 touches for 68 total yards.
Dan Zeuli knocked home his first extra point of the day to push UWEC back in front, 15-14.
The one-point lead at halftime was short lived as the Blugolds came out with fire in the second half. After the defense forced a three-and-out on negative yards, the offense marched down the field all the way inside the ten-yard line.
Harry Roubidoux connected with
David Antoine (Jr. – Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandberg) in the back of the end zone for his second passing touchdown of the day to increase the lead to 22-14 with another Zeuli extra point.
The following Concordia drive showcased the Eau Claire defense as
Jonah Evans (Sr. – Eagan, Minn.) recorded his first interception in a Blugold uniform and returned it 34-yards to put the offense back in striking distance. Evan's forced turnover was complimented six plays later as
Ivan Ruble (Jr. – Clear Lake, Wis.) barreled into the end zone from the two-yard line to make it 28-14.
The fourth quarter held a bit of a momentum swing for the Blugold faithful as Concordia completed two passing touchdowns within the 15-yard line on separate drives to tie the game at 28-28 with less than three minutes remaining. Starting at their own 19, Eau Claire's offense marched 65 yards down the field to the Concordia 16-yard line to set up a game winning field goal opportunity. Despite Concordia's efforts to ice the kicker with under 30 seconds left in the contest,
Dan Zeuli nailed the 33-yard field goal to put Eau Claire up 31-28. The Cobbers put together two long passing plays for 17 yards each to make a comeback, but time would run out on the final play of laterals as the UWEC defense stood strong to secure the home victory.
Leading the way for the Blugolds was
Harry Roubidoux who finished the afternoon with 24 completions on 41 attempts for 315 yards and two touchdowns.
Ivan Ruble and
Sam Schradle combined for 28 touches and 97 yards, plus one touchdown each.
Landon Tonsager finished his first collegiate game with eight receptions for 165 yards and one touchdown.
On the defensive side,
Jake Cochnauer (Jr. – Farmington, Minn.) led the team with six solo tackles.
Peyton Erikson (So. – Rhinelander, Wis.) tied Cochnauer for total tackles with seven each during his first collegiate game.
Landon Wesloh (So. – Zimmerman, Minn./Jamestown) and
Marcus Banks (Jr. – Cannon Falls, Minn.) recorded two sacks each for a combined total of 27 yards lost.
The Blugolds (1-0) will continue their nonconference schedule next Saturday, September 9
th when they travel to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to square off with
