The official student newspaper of University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire since 1923.

The Spectator

The official student newspaper of University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire since 1923.

The Spectator

The official student newspaper of University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire since 1923.

The Spectator

    Football loses heartbreaker

    Butch McCartney

    The Eau Claire football team went to UW-River Falls on Saturday with revenge on its players’ minds, looking to get some payback for last year’s Homecoming loss to the Falcons. Instead of payback, the Blugolds were handed a frustrating defeat, falling 24-23 in double overtime.

    After the two teams finished regulation tied at 14, the Blugolds got the ball to start the first overtime. Eau Claire was able to move the ball to the 7-yard line before sophomore Nick Diciaula kicked a field goal to give the Blugolds a three-point lead.

    River Falls was unable to move the ball on its first overtime possession, and had to settle for a 40-yard field goal attempt. Falcon freshman Adam Bergdahl banked the ball in off the upright to send the game to the second overtime.

    The Falcons got the ball first in the second overtime, and were able to convert with an 11-yard touchdown run by senior Taylor Hall, his third score of the game. Eau Claire was able to counter with a 1-yard touchdown run by senior Darrell Souhrada.

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    On Diciaula’s extra-point attempt, River Falls senior linebacker Matt Palas got some pressure and was able to block the attempt. The Blugolds recovered, but were unable to get a pass off, and the game ended.

    After the game, coach Todd Hoffner was quick to give credit to the River Falls defense.

    “Their defense did an awesome job,” Hoffner said in an interview with WBIZ radio. “They’ll win a lot of ballgames.”

    One of the strong points for Eau Claire in the game was its defense, which held the Falcons to 14 points in regulation after giving up 65 points to them last year. The Blugolds held River Falls to 294 yards of total offense, all of them coming on the ground.

    “The defense did an outstanding job after last year’s embarrassment,” Hoffner said.

    The Blugold defense even provided the game’s first points, coming when junior defensive back Mike Eubanks recovered a blocked punt in the end zone in the first quarter.

    The defense also did a good job to hold Hall, the Falcon’s leading rusher, to only 81 yards rushing. Hall was able to score on two short touchdown runs in the second quarter, scores that gave the Falcons a 14-7 halftime lead.

    While the defense was responding to the challenge of the Falcons’ wishbone attack, the Blugold offense had trouble trying to move the ball throughout the game. While Eau Claire did have 345 yards of total offense, it could not get into the end zone until Souhrada scored from a yard out with 4 minutes 40 seconds to play in regulation.

    “We just weren’t clicking,” Souhrada said of Eau Claire’s offensive struggles. “The defense played well. The offense just didn’t show up.”

    Senior Brian Rasmussen’s streak of four straight games with a touchdown pass ended Saturday, as he went 12-30 passing for 208 yards and an interception. Junior Chad Crutchley caught six of those passes for 157 yards, including a 45-yard catch in the fourth quarter that set up Souhrada’s first touchdown.

    Souhrada ran for 153 yards on 38 carries for Eau Claire, which fell to 4-1 on the season and 1-1 in the WIAC. River Falls is now alone in first in the WIAC with a 2-0 conference record.

    “The defense only allowed 14 points after giving up 65 last year, and that’s pretty damn good,” he said. “For us to only get 7 on offense in regulation is disappointing.”

    Despite the tough loss, the Blugolds aren’t hanging their head yet.

    “Of course, anytime you lose it’s disappointing,” Souhrada said. “But the game could’ve gone either way. We can’t win them all.”

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