EAU CLAIRE, WI (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire football team was back at home on Saturday as they hosted UW-Stevens Point at Carson Park. With both teams looking for the first Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) win of the year, UW-Eau Claire tallied a season high 48 points and seven touchdowns, earning them a 48-26 victory over the Pointers.
A hot start for Eau Claire set the tone early during the afternoon affair as the offense converted on their opening two drives. After receiving the opening kickoff, UWEC drove 65 yards down the field in just 11 plays for the first lead of the afternoon. Joe Swanson (Sr. – Osceola, WI) caught a 10-yard pass from Harry Roubidoux (Jr. – Winneconne, WI) on the left side to open the scoring for Eau Claire.
After the Pointers converted on their first drive, the Blugold offense kept rolling as Ivan Ruble (So. – Clear Lake, WI) punched in his first touchdown of the day from the three-yard line to put UWEC up 13-6. Blake Christianson knocked home both extra point attempts he saw in the first quarter to make it 14-6, Eau Claire.
The UW-Eau Claire defense broke the scoring chain with under two minutes left in the opening quarter as JP Wolterstaff (So. – Eau Claire, WI/Regis) snagged his first interception of the year off a tipped pass in the middle of the field. Wolterstaff returned the turnover 35 yards to the Stevens Point 30-yard line with seconds left in the quarter. The momentum would be short lived as the Pointer defense forced a turnover in their own end zone on the first play to take possession as the quarter ended.
Stevens Point capitalized on the Blugold turnover to start the second half with a passing touchdown, but a missed extra point kept the Blugold lead at 14-12.
The rushing attack continued for Eau Claire as Ivan Ruble capped off a 70-yard drive with his second touchdown of the afternoon from the two-yard line to extend the lead to 20-12. The momentum started to grow for UWEC as the defense held the Pointers to four plays and stuffed the visitors on a 4th and 2 to regain possession. Ruble added to his career day on the following drive with a two-yard touchdown run to make it 26-12. Dan Zeuli (So. – Hudson, WI) connected on his first of four extra points during the game to extend the lead to 15 points.
The rush heavy offense continued in the second half after the UW-Eau Claire defense forced a three and out. Isaac Garside (So. – Bonduel, WI) tallied his first rushing touchdown of the afternoon on a jet sweep to the right to make it 34-18.
UWEC's special teams found their magic on the very next play as Nate Baranek (Sr. – De Pere, WI) forced a fumble during the UWSP kickoff return allowing Ryan Kuechle (Jr. – Mankato, MN/East) to recover the loose ball and give the offense in the red zone. Three plays later, Garside found the end zone for a second time on another rush to the right to extend the lead to 41-18.
The Blugolds would score once more in the third after an interception by Brady Underwood (Sr. – St. Cloud, MN/St. Cloud Technical) was returned into the Stevens Point red zone again, allowing Harry Roubidoux (Jr. – Winneconne, WI) to rush in from the five-yard line, making it 48-18.
An answer by UWSP on the next drive and a scoreless fourth quarter resulted in a 48-26 final tally of the day and a Blugold victory.
Ivan Ruble led the rushing game for Eau Claire with 117 yards on 32 carries and three touchdowns. Isaac Garside and Nate Baranek combined for 93 rushing yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns. Harry Roubidoux finished the day with 169 passing yards and one touchdown along with his rushing touchdown. Will Adair (Sr. – Ashwaubenon, WI) tallied 106 all-purpose yards.
On defense, Ryan Kuechle led the way with 13 tackles. Ryan Porebski (Sr. – Chicago, IL/Taft), Sam Schradle (So. – Cumberland, WI), and AJ Firminhac (sr. – Stevens Point, WI/Pacelli) combined for 22 tackles.
The Blugolds (2-6, WIAC 1-4) will play their final WIAC road game of the year next Saturday, November 5th in Platteville, WI. UW-Eau Claire and UW-Platteville are set to begin at 1PM.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
