By Justin Dade - Sports Information
WHITEWATER, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire football team fell to UW-Whitewater 36-3 on Saturday afternoon at Perkins Stadium in their final game of the season.
The Blugolds will finish the season without a win in the WIAC after the Warhawks won their 21st consecutive matchup against UW-Eau Claire behind a strong performance from running back Drew Patterson.
UW-Eau Claire's defense was able to force two Warhawk punts to begin the game, but the offense couldn't put a drive together to take an early lead. UW-Whitewater would find the end zone first adding on to an earlier field goal on a 51-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cole Wilber to Marcus Hudson to make it 10-0 with 2:14 left in the first quarter.
The Warhawks would add two more field goals and the first touchdown of the day from Drew Patterson to take a 23-0 lead late in the first half.
The Blugolds had a great chance to gain momentum before the half, but the Warhawks denied quarterback JT DenHartog (Jr. – Hopkins, MN) on 3rd-and-goal from the one on a quarterback keeper as time expired.
The Warhawks would take the 23-0 lead into the locker room leading 220-149 in total yards on offense.
UW-Eau Claire got the ball to start the second half, but DenHartog was intercepted on third down that would eventually set up another Patterson touchdown run from 23 yards out to make it 30-0 with 12:42 left in the second half.
Outside of a 30-yard field goal from kicker Brad Goetsch (So. – Schofield, WI), the Blugolds were unable to put any more points on the board for the rest of the day falling 36-3 to the Warhawks.
The Blugolds will look to regroup and reload for the 2018 season after finishing 1-9 in Dan Larson's second year as head coach.
