EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (6-2, 3-2) defeated Wis.-La Crosse (3-5, 2-3) 27-10 on Saturday at Carson Park. The game was tied 10-10 in the second quarter before the Blugolds scored the final 17 points. UW-Eau Claire finished with a season-high 351 rushing yards, surpassing its season average of 194.29, and two rushing touchdowns on 55 carries while holding the ball for 37:03. The Blugolds also rushed for 16 first downs, above their season average of 8.29. The defense added three takeaways, recovering two fumbles and intercepting one pass. UW-Eau Claire recorded at least three sacks for the third consecutive game.
UW-Eau Claire leaned on the run in the first quarter, gaining 94 rushing yards, converting 4 of 5 third downs and holding the ball for 10:26. The home team went 2-for-2 in the red zone, with
Ayden Helder's 15-yard touchdown pass to
Nick Kihn and
Connor Radaj's 34-yard field goal helping build a 10-7 lead after the quarter.
The Blugolds leaned on their run game in the second quarter, finishing with 119 rushing yards while the Eagles had 37 on the ground.
Paxton Rothmeier broke for a 77-yard touchdown run, and
Connor Radaj added a 25-yard field goal as time expired to help UW-Eau Claire outscore UWL 10-3 in the quarter and lead 20-10 at halftime.
UWEC did its work on the ground in a scoreless third quarter, rushing for 59 yards and holding the ball for 8:56 while La Crosse finished with 17 rushing yards and went 0-for-3 on third down.
Max Marty forced a fumble that
Connor Durand recovered at the UW-Eau Claire 32, and the Blugolds carried a 20-10 lead into the fourth quarter.
UW-Eau Claire contorlled the fourth quarter and closed out a 27-10 win, with
Ayden Helder's 1-yard touchdown run providing the quarter's only score. The Blugolds ran for 79 yards and held the ball for 11:37 in the quarter, while Wis.-La Crosse threw for 104 yards but went scoreless on two red-zone trips, including a Marty forced fumble and recovery and a
Ryan Spickerman interception, his first of the season.
Rothmeier rushed 45 times for 301 yards and a touchdown and added two catches for 8 yards. His 301 rushing yards and 45 rushing attempts were season highs and now owns the 4th most rushing yards in a single game in program history. Rothmeier has scored at least one rushing touchdown in three consecutive games and has reached the 1,000-rushing-yard milestone with 1,201 this season.
Ayden Helder completed 10 of 19 passes for 68 yards and a touchdown and ran for 50 yards and another score.
Jack Scheldroup led UW-Eau Claire with a season-high 13 tackles and recorded one sack.
Keagan Christy recorded a season-high 10 tackles and has had at least one sack in three consecutive games. Marty added three tackles, forced two fumbles and recovered one fumble.
The Blugolds are 6-2 overall and 3-2 in conference play. UW-La Crosse is 3-5 overall and 2-3 in conference play.
Up next, the Blugolds travel to Menomonie, Wis., to face UW-Stout on Saturday, Nov. 7. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Williams Stadium.
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