EAU CLAIRE, WI (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire football team continued their Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) schedule on Saturday afternoon as they hosted the 9th ranked UW-La Crosse Eagles. A career high two touchdowns and 105 receiving yard performance from Isaac Garside (So. – Bonduel, WI) was not enough as UW-Eau Claire fell 51-21 at home.
An early 20-0 deficit for the Blugolds put them behind the eight ball early as the Eagles found success on three of their first four possessions. Eau Claire found an answer on their fifth offensive drive of the afternoon as Harry Roubidoux (Jr. – Winneconne, WI) found Isaac Garside on the left side of the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown completion. Dan Zeuli (So. – Hudson, WI) knocked home the extra point for his sixth converted extra point of the season.
After the Blugold touchdown, the defense stepped up and forced the Eagles to punt after three plays and -10 yards.
With three minutes left in the second quarter, Jacob Wysocki (Sr. – Milwaukee, WI/South) hauled in his second interception of the year in the Blugold end zone and returned it 24 yards to halt UWL from extending their lead. Wysocki ranks third in the WIAC and first on the team with his two interceptions on the year.
As halftime hit, UWEC found themselves with a 27-7 deficit.
In the third, the Blugolds kept battling with the Eagles as Elliot Nolin (Fr. – Rice Lake, WI) shut down UWL's second offensive drive with his first career interception as a Blugold. Nolin dropped back, secured the tipped ball in the air, and returned it 23 yards before being hauled down to give Eau Claire possession at midfield.
The Eagles answered for their turnover with a 20-yard field goal on their next drive to extend the lead to 37-7.
Isaac Garside continued his career day in the third with a four-yard touchdown reception to cut the lead to 23 points. Garside finished the day with a career high 105 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Blake Christianson (Fr. – Black River Falls, WI) knocked home his fifth consecutive extra point of the season after the Blugold touchdown. Christianson stayed perfect from the PAT spot with a second converted PAT in the fourth quarter.
The points kept coming for both sides as the Eagles answered Garside's second touchdown with a score of their own to make it 44-14. Roubidoux and the Blugold never quit as Harry found Nolan Stans (So. – Spring Valley, WI) on the right side for a 28-yard touchdown completion to make it 44-20. Stans's longest reception of the year tallied as his first touchdown as a Blugold.
UWL tacked on one final score before the end of the game for a 51-21 final.
Behind Garside's career day , Harry Roubidoux completed 22 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns. Ivan Ruble (So. – Clear Lake, WI) finished with 97 rushing yards and Garside added 34 yards on the ground. Defensively, Jake Cochnauer (So. – Farmington, MN) led UWEC with 9 tackles. Sam Schradle (So. – Cumberland, WI), Ryan Kuechle (Jr. – Mankato, MN/East), and AJ Firminhac (Sr. – Stevens Point, WI/Pacelli) all had eight tackles each.
The Blugolds (1-5, WIAC 0-3) will hit the road next weekend and travel to River Falls, WI. Kickoff between UW-Eau Claire and UW-River Falls is set for 1PM.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
