EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (3-0) defeated Carthage College (1-1) 40-0 on Saturday at Carson Park. The defense held Carthage to 89 total yards and five first downs, including 10 rushing yards, while recording four sacks, two blocked punts and a safety. The Blugolds ran for 262 yards and four touchdowns, finished 5-for-5 in the red zone, and controlled possession for 34:52. This marks the first time UW-Eau Claire has shut out an opponent since Oct. 12, 2024.
The Blugolds scored twice in the first quarter, with
Ayden Helder running for a 1-yard touchdown and later throwing a 52-yard touchdown pass to
Levi Pooley to finish the quarter ahead 14-0. The defense held Carthage to 3 rushing yards and 27 passing yards, while adding two sacks, and a 0-for-4 third-down showing. Special teams play was impactful early as
Madden Mahr and
Matt Kuczaj blocked punts on back-to-back Carthage drives.
UW-Eau Claire added nine points in the second quarter, getting a
Deshun Sturdivant sack fumble for a safety and a Helder 5-yard touchdown run on a drive that included
Vince Hanz's 31-yard fourth-down rush. The defense held Carthage to one first down, minus-10 rushing yards, and 0-for-3 on third down in the quarter, then forced a fumble near the goal line that
Jack Scheldroup recovered at the UWEC 4. Those stops helped the Blugolds carry a 23-0 lead into halftime.
UWEC controlled the third quarter with 11:16 of possession, 80 rushing yards and six first downs, finishing 3-for-5 on third down and 1-for-1 on fourth down. The quarter's only scoring came on a 14-play, 72-yard drive that ended with
Paxton Rothmeier's 2-yard touchdown run, moving the score to 30-0. Carthage was held to no first downs, 6 passing yards, 0 rushing yards, and an 0-for-2 mark on third down.
The Blugolds outscored Carthage 10-0 in the fourth quarter, rushing for 63 yards and converting 3 of 4 third downs while Carthage went 1-for-3.
Adam Glynn's 3-yard touchdown run and
Connor Radaj's 22-yard field goal accounted for the scoring, and the defense added four tackles for loss, including
Tyler Cook's 8-yard sack, as UW-Eau Claire finished off a 40-0 win.
Helder completed 10 of 16 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown and rushed 11 times for 52 yards and two scores. Rothmeier carried 16 times for 79 yards and a touchdown and added a 12-yard reception. Pooley caught two passes for 55 yards and a touchdown.
Brady Puls recorded five tackles and 1.5 sacks.
The Blugolds improve to 3-0 overall for a second consecutive season. Carthage drops to 1-1 on the season.
Up next, the Blugolds host UW-Stevens Point on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 1 p.m. at Carson Park in Eau Claire, Wisconsin as the campus celebrates Homecoming.
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