CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire football team travled for the first time this season as they continued their nonconference schedule with a trip to Iowa. UW-Eau Claire faced off with the Coe College Kohawks as both 1-0 teams looked to add to their positive records. The football seemed to fall against Eau Claire in the opening half as penalties and turnovers put Eau Claire in a 27-point deficit at halftime. The Blugolds found their rhythm in the second half as
Quinn Faust (So. – Lodi, Wis.) threw two touchdown passes to cut into the Kohawk lead. Fourteen points would not be enough as Eau Claire fell for the first time this season, 44-14.
In the first quarter, the Blugold defense held the Kohawks to one red zone visit. The only trip inside the 20-yard line for Coe game during their first position as UWEC forced a missed field goal to keep the two teams tied at 0-0 early on. The Blugolds had the edge during the run game as they recorded six more yards than Coe on four less carries during the opening quarter. Six different Blugolds ran the ball during the afternoon matchup.
Ivan Ruble (Jr. – Clear Lake, Wis.) and
Vince Hanz (Fr. – Wausau, Wis./Wausau West) combined for 61 yards on 20 carries.
The Blugolds continued to run the ball in the second for 49 yards on ten carries.
Ryan Kuechle (Sr. – Mankato, Minn./Mankato East) collected six of his twelve total tackles during the game in the second quarter as the Blugolds held the Kohawks to 123 offensive yards. Just before halftime, the Blugolds'
Malik Johnson (Sr. – Lomira, Wis.) blocked an extra point to keep the UWEC deficit at 27 points.
UW-Eau Claire found the endzone for the first time with just under five minutes left in the quarter as
Quinn Faust found
Hayden Goodman (Jr. – Chippewa Falls, Wis.) in the endzone for a 23-yard tally to bring the score to 34-7. The connection between the two Wisconsin natives was their first collegiate touchdowns as UWEC looked to chip away at the Coe College lead.
The final quarter evened out between the Blugolds and Kohawks as each side found the endzone just once. In the final minutes,
Quinn Faust found
Nolan Stans (Jr. – Spring Valley, Wis.) in the back of the endzone from the five-yard line for Faust's second touchdown pass of the day and Stans' first touchdown reception of the year. UWEC's final tally would be the final score of the day as the Blugolds fell to the Kohawks, 44-14.
Faust finished the day with 13 completions for 161 yards and two touchdowns.
Ivan Ruble led the team in rushing and receiving, recording 84 all-purpose yards. Leading the defense was
Ryan Kuechle with 12 tackles and
Isaac Runstrom (Fr. – Cumberland, Wis.) with nine.
Brady Hoffner (So. – Mankato, Minn./Mankato East) and
Marcus Banks (Jr. – Cannon Falls, Wis.) each had two tackles for a loss and one sack each.
The Blugolds (1-1, WIAC 0-0) will return home next week as they host #16 ranked Bethel University. Kickoff from Carson Park is scheduled for 1:10 p.m.
