EAU CLAIRE, WI (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire football team was back on the field for the first time since 2019. The Blugolds hosted the Luther College Norse in what would be a historic night for the Blugolds on offense.
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The Norse and Blugolds haven't played against each other for almost a century. The last meeting, back in 1936, saw UWEC on the losing side, but the Blugolds looked to write their own history with over 5000 fans in attendance.
Austin Belot (Sr. – Neenah, WI) chose to return for his fifth year in the blue and gold after losing out on his true senior season in 2020. Belot and company wasted no time getting off the racing blocks and getting out to a lead early. His explosive night earned him 365 yards in the ground. That workload set the school record for single game rushing totals by an individual and puts him fourth all-time on the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) single game rushing yards. The record in the WIAC was set at 391 by Andrew Mocadlo from UW-La Crosse in 2003.
After stopping the first Luther drive of the night, the Blugolds took over on offense at their own 20-yard line and hit the ground running. The third play saw Belot took a hand off in the backfield, burst through the middle, and break out into the open field for an 80-yard touchdown. The first Blugold touchdown of the year took only three plays and 1:14 of possession and records as the sixth longest rushing touchdown in UW-Eau Claire history.
The defense would stuff the Norse offense again forcing the second of eight punts on the night. Alex Mashak (Sr. – Lodi, WI) caught the 29-yard punt on the Eau Claire 40, cut up the middle, found a hole to the left, and sprinted down the sideline for the second score of the night. Mashak's 60-yard punt return slots in as the 13th longest return on a punt by a Blugold.
The offense was stifled on their next possession, but quickly returned to form with 2:34 remaining in the 1st Quarter.
With the play call going to the left, Belot found another hole provided by the offensive line and broke loose for his second rushing touchdown of the night. He would outdo himself with an 84-yard run to increase the lead to 21-0. The second rushing touchdown of the night enters the record books as the fifth longest rushing touchdown in Blugold history.
Luther answered on their first possession of the 2nd quarter with a 35-yard touchdown pass. The aerial attack was the only way the Norse could capitalize as the UWEC defense held their opponents to 127 rushing yards all night.
The Blugolds would have an immediate answer. Ivan Ruble (So. – Clear Lake, WI) scored his first collegiate touchdown after an off-tackle call to the right from the 11-yard line to put UWEC back in front by 21. Ruble would add another touchdown to his resume in the 3rd quarter from two yards out to cap a memorable night for the sophomore. He finished his first NCAA contest with 72 yards.
On defense, Vic Martinelli (Sr. – Milton, WI) and Alex Mashak led the team with nine tackles each. They combined for four tackles for losses netting 17 total lost yards. Martinelli added 1.5 sacks himself.
Brady Frantal (Fr. – Appleton, WI/North) was six for six from the PAT spot and added his first career field goal in the 3rd quarter for a dominant performance on special teams.
The Blugolds will return to nonconference action next Saturday, September 11th when they travel to Loras College. Eau Claire is 2-0 all time against the Loras Duhawks and have outscored them 80-16. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 PM from the Rock Bowl Stadium in Dubuque, IA.
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