By Justin Dade - Sports Information
STEVENS POINT, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire football team fell to UW-Stevens Point 26-3 on Saturday afternoon at Goerke Field.
Scott Procter (Jr. – Chicago, IL) made his first career start at quarterback for the Blugolds and led a promising first drive until a fumble on a reverse play turned it over to the Pointers with good field position. Despite the short field, the Blugold defense was able to force a punt to keep the game scoreless with 10:01 left to play in the opening quarter.
Negative plays and penalties stalled UW-Eau Claire deep in their own territory on their next drive that ended in the snap on the punt going out of the end zone to give the Pointers a 2-0 lead after the safety.
The Pointers would add to their lead on their next drive on a one-yard touchdown run from Matt Urmanski. The extra point would be blocked by Victor Martinelli (Fr. – Milton, WI) to make it 8-0 with 1:58 left in the first quarter.
A 39-yard pass from Procter to Antwan Moore (So. – Evergreen Park, IL), and a 21-yard run from the junior quarterback would be the big plays on UW-Eau Claire's next drive that ended in a 23-yard field goal from Brad Goetsch (So. – Schofield, WI). Goetsch's first field goal of the year cut the deficit to five with 13:07 left in the half.
UW-Stevens Point would answer with a field goal of their own a few drives later after the Blugold defense got a key red zone stop. The 21-yard kick from Hayden Neidert extended the Pointers' lead to 11-3 with 4:58 left in the second quarter.
With time winding down in the first half, the Pointers elected to run one more play as time expired. Urmanski finished off the 10-play, 75-yard drive with his second rushing touchdown of the game. A blocked extra point by Ross Curran (Jr. – Lakeville, MN) made it 17-3 after one half of play.
Procter completed three of 10 passes for 55 yards and added 47 yards on 11 carries through two quarters.
The Pointers would add nine more points in the second half behind a 28-yard field goal from Neidert, and a Shamaj Williams nine-yard touchdown run. UW-Stevens Point finished the day with 266 rushing yards on 45 total attempts.
The Blugold passing attack continued their season struggles finishing with just 135 yards through the air. After today, UW-Eau Claire is now averaging less than 12 points per game.
Curran led the team on defense with 10 total tackles followed by Jordan Wollin (Jt. - Eagan, MN) with eight total tackles. Linebacker Kaeleb Stangler (Sr. - Rochester, MN) finished with one sack and three tackles for loss.
UW-Eau Claire (1-5) will return to Carson Park next week to take on UW-Platteville in search of their first win against the Pioneers since 2009. Kickoff is set for 1:10 p.m. in Eau Claire.
Follow all the action on Blugold Game Day.
