Justin Dade – UWEC Sports Information

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire football team fell to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 28-19 in their homecoming game at Carson Park on Saturday.

Box Score | Opatz Photos | La Barbera Photos

After trailing 14-0, the Blugolds' comeback was not quite enough as they dropped their first Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) game of the season.

Brian Kulaga (So. -  Riverside, IL) cut the 14-0 lead in half in the second quarter on a 35-yard touchdown run with 9:14 left to play in the half.

The Blugold defense buckled down after the opening seven minutes of the game and held the Pointers scoreless to send the game to the half only down 14-7.

UW-Eau Claire made things even more interesting early in the fourth quarter on another Kulaga touchdown run to make it 14-13 after a missed extra point.

The Pointers answered right back with a touchdown of their own 2:34 later, and would add another touchdown two and a half minutes later to extend their advantage to 28-13 with 9:48 to play in the fourth. 

The Blugolds would add a late touchdown pass from JT Denhartog (So. – Hopkins, MN) to Nathan Claflin (Jr. – De Pere, WI) from 19 yards out as time expired.

Wide receiver Matt Knapp (Sr. – Eau Claire, WI) finished the day with eight catches for 112 yards while adding 85 yards in the return game.

Leading the team on defense was cornerback Bo Casper (Sr. – Freedom, WI) who finished with six tackles and four pass breakups.   

The Blugolds (1-3) will look to get their first WIAC win of the season next week at UW-River Falls. Kick-off will be at 12:00 p.m. at Smith Stadium at Ramer Field. 

Follow the action for all sports this season on Blugold Game Day.