Anna Nelson
All season, the Eau Claire football team won games by coming up with a big play right when it was needed.
On Saturday, it was UW-Stevens Point that made the big play.
Senior kicker Ricardo Vega made a 21-yard field goal in the second overtime to give the Pointers a 30-27 win over the Blugolds.
The win allowed Stevens Point to tie Eau Claire for the WIAC title and Stevens Point earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Div.. III playoffs, while Eau Claire’s season ended at Goerke Field.
Eau Claire finishes the season with an 8-2 overall record, 5-2 in the WIAC. Both of Eau Claire’s losses came on the road in double overtime.
“It would be a shame to lose two games in overtime, be ranked all year, and not be in the playoffs,” Eau Claire coach Todd Hoffner said in an interview with WBIZ radio on Saturday. “There’s a reason we’re tied with (Stevens Point). They’re a good ballclub.”
The Blugolds almost didn’t make it to overtime against Stevens Point. Vega attempted a 27-yard field goal with 41 seconds left in regulation, but Eau Claire senior lineman Bob Schmidt blocked the kick to preserve the 20-20 score.
In overtime, Stevens Point got the ball first, and capitalized right away, getting a one-yard touchdown run from senior Lance Gast.
Eau Claire got the ball next, and senior Brian Rasmussen was sacked on the first play. Three plays later, the Blugolds were facing a 4th and 13 from the 28. Rasmussen found junior Jason Foemmel for an 18-yard gain to keep the Blugolds drive, and season, alive.
Two plays later, Rasmussen hit junior Brad Newton for the game-tying touchdown.
Eau Claire got the ball first in the second overtime, but was unable to move the ball. Rasmussen was sacked on 3rd and 10 and fumbled, which was recovered by Stevens Point.
The Pointers gave the ball to Gast five straight times before lining up for the game-winning kick.
For senior running back Darrell Souhrada, who played in his final game on Saturday, it was tough to see the Pointers line up for the final field goal.
“There were a lot of things going through my mind,” he said. “I thought that we could have blocked it, like we blocked the one in the fourth quarter. I also thought that the season could be over right there, after all the time we put into this season.”
Souhrada gained 162 yards on 37 carries on Saturday, scoring two first-half touchdowns that helped the Blugolds to a 20-10 halftime lead. He finished the season with 1,038 yards and 10 touchdowns in only seven games.
Souhrada finished his career as the all-time leading rusher in WIAC history with 4,373 yards.
Rasmussen also finished his career in the game against Stevens Point. He finished 17 for 32 passing for 208 yards and two touchdowns, bringing his season totals to 2,156 yards and 18 touchdowns.
There were 13 seniors who played their final game for Eau Claire on Saturday, including defensive lineman Adrian Wilson, defensive back Jay Hoyord, fullback Josh Stieler and receiver Jeremy Bergeron.
Hoyord finished the Stevens Point game with 19 tackles, ending up with 101 on the season. He also had six interceptions and recovered three fumbles this year.
Bergeron caught two passes for 21 yards against the Pointers, finishing the season with 21 catches for 434 yards and seven touchdowns.
Souhrada said that it hasn’t sunk in yet that his college football career is over.
“It’ll take time,” he said. “When football starts up again in the fall and I’m not playing, that’s when it’ll probably hit me.”
The shared conference title gives Eau Claire its ninth conference title in history. Stevens Point will host Bethel College (Minn.) in the first round of the playoffs.
