EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire football team defeated UW-Oshkosh 28-7 on Saturday in front of a packed house at Carson Park. It is the first time UW-Eau Claire has recorded five wins in a season since 2011, and the Blugolds' 5-1 start is their best in program history since 2007.
The Blugolds scored 28 unanswered points across four scoring drives, including a 59-yard touchdown run by
Paxton Rothmeier late in the first quarter. UWEC finished with 236 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns, added 284 passing yards and a touchdown, surpassing its season average of 151.8 passing yards, and recorded four sacks, a season-high five quarterback hurries and an interception defensively. The Blugolds also achieved 24 first downs, above their season average of 18.2.
The Blugolds ran for 85 yards in the first quarter, highlighted by
Paxton Rothmeier's 59-yard touchdown run that put UW-Eau Claire ahead 7-0. The Titans threw for 71 yards but managed only nine rushing yards, while the Blugolds converted three of four third downs and held the visitors scoreless in the quarter.
UWEC kept the second quarter scoreless, with the defense stopping Oshkosh on fourth down at the WEC 2 and later getting a 17-yard sack from
Jack Scheldroup to end the half. The Blugolds converted three of five third downs and totaled 43 rushing yards and 47 passing yards in the quarter, while UWO went 1 of 5 on third down and finished with 29 rushing yards and 30 passing yards.
In the third quarter, the Blugolds controlled the statistics, posting nine first downs with 116 passing yards and 47 rushing yards while the Titans managed two first downs, 21 passing yards and 22 rushing yards. The quarter's only points came on
Paxton Rothmeier's 7-yard touchdown run and
Connor Radaj's PAT, and UWEC held Oshkosh to 0-for-2 on third down to take a 14-0 lead into the fourth.
UW-Eau Claire scored 14 fourth-quarter points on 157 yards, with
Ayden Helder completing all four passes for 96 yards and an 11-yard touchdown to
Madden Mahr before Rothmeier added a 30-yard rushing touchdown. It was Mahr's first receiving touchdown of the season and first receiving touchdown in a Blugold jersey. UWO held the ball for 10:21 and totaled 11 first downs, but the Blugolds recorded two sacks and
Vince Lenzy's touchback interception before finishing a 28-7 win.
Rothmeier rushed 25 times for 211 yards and three touchdowns, added two catches for seven yards and returned two punts for 27 yards. The 211 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns were both career highs for Rothmeier. Helder completed 20 of 36 passes for 284 yards and one touchdown, exceeding his season average of 148.6 passing yards, and added 25 rushing yards.
Mason Sullivan caught seven passes for 91 yards.
Jake Gregorio recorded a team-high 14 tackles, his season high.
The Blugolds are 5-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play, while the Titans fall to 2-4 overall and 0-3 in conference play.
Up next, the Blugolds travel to River Falls, Wis., to face UW-River Falls on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Smith Stadium at Ramer Field.
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