By: Jake Krier, UWEC Sports Information
WHO: University of Wisconsin-Platteville vs. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
WHEN: Saturday, October 21 @ 1:10 p.m.
WHERE: Carson Park - Eau Claire, Wis.
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire football team returns home on Saturday for a matchup with No. 10-ranked UW-Platteville. The Blugolds continue to strive for that first Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) win of 2017, and the Pioneers, though a tall task ahead, provide the next opportunity to do just that.
Both teams are coming off a loss in their most recent contests and are itching to return to the win column. Last week, Eau Claire lost 26-3 at UW-Stevens Point, while Platteville was held off by No. 3-ranked UW-Oshkosh (28-14) in a battle of top-ten teams in the nation. The Blugolds dropped to 1-5 on the season, and it was the first defeat for the Pioneers on the year, snapping their regular-season winning streak of eight games.
Further analyzing the seasons for these teams thus far, they share common opponents in George Fox University and UW-River Falls. Though Platteville topped both teams that the Blugolds suffered losses against, they were rather close games for the Pioneers.
Despite Platteville only scoring 14 points last week against the defending national runners-up, they still average 32.7 points per game. Eau Claire is now averaging less than 12 points per game. Further, the No. 10-ranked team in the nation averages 386 yards per contest with 265 yards coming in the passing game to the Blugolds' 266.5 total yards of offense they average per game.
"When you play a team that throws the ball that much, you have to get a hand on it," said Coach Dan Larson. "You have to get a tipped pass, a strip sack, something along those lines."
As Larson alluded, the turnover battle is sure to dictate how the scoreboard reads after four quarters. In search of their first win against the Pioneers since 2009, the Blugolds will need their defense to really step up on Saturday. Sure to factor into the defensive play is outside linebacker Sam Romanski (Jr.-Wausau, WI/Wausau East).
"We go into every game expecting to win," said Romanski. "We recognize they are a top-10 team, but every team has cracks, and we are excited to take advantage of them."
Offensively, a major storyline to follow is what Coach Larson does at the quarterback position this week. Scott Procter (Jr.-Chicago, IL/Saint Rita of Cascia) made his first career start for the Blugolds against UW-Stevens Point last week. Whether Procter gets the nod again, the return of JT DenHartog (Jr.-Hopkins, MN) to the signal-caller role, or a combination of the two players occurs, Eau Claire will need major production from this spot to pull off the upset.
Follow all the action on Blugold Game Day.
