EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Football team (0-9, 0-6 WIAC) fell to the No. 14 ranked University of Wisconsin-Platteville Pioneers (7-2, 4-2 WIAC) 50-26 on Saturday afternoon at Carson Park.
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The Blugolds looked good out of the gates, playing the nationally ranked Pioneers toe-to-toe for most of the game. The score was tied 23-23 to start the fourth quarter, but a fourth-down defensive penalty followed by an offensive turnover cost the Blugolds a chance to steal their first win of the season on Senior Day.
Quarterback JT Denhartog (Fr. – Hopkins, MN) led an attack that totaled 436 yards of total offense, as the Blugolds would score a field goal on their first possession of the game to take an early lead. The Pioneers would respond with two straight touchdown drives but early in the second quarter is when momentum shifted heavily in the Blugolds favor.
Down 14-3 in the second quarter, Eau Claire's special teams blocked a punt which would be returned 48 yards for a touchdown by linebacker Carl Lightfoot (So. – Chicago, IL). The Blugolds would keep it going by putting together a 12-play, 61 yard touchdown drive capped off by a 17-yard touchdown pass from Denhartog to Matthew Knapp (Jr. – Eau Claire, WI) with 17 seconds to spare before halftime.
"We've developed a lot of chemistry, starting since he was new coming in here," said Knapp who totaled 2 catches for 29 yards and the touchdown. "Week-by-week we've grown together and it's been great."
The Blugolds were able to keep their momentum alive, despite starting the second half on defense, by forcing the Pioneers to turnover on downs. Denhartog would take over and lead an impressive 15-play, 83 yard touchdown drive to give Eau Claire the lead in the third quarter. The drive featured a fake-punt and a one-yard touchdown run from Denhartog on fourth down. The Pioneers would tie it however, blocking Eau Claire's extra point and returning it for two points.
Platteville broke the tie a few minutes later, and would continue to outscore the Blugolds 27-3 in the fourth quarter. This put the game out of reach as the Pioneers handed Eau Claire their ninth loss of the season in their final game at home.
Denhartog would finish 12-24 with 190 yards through the air, adding one touchdown and one interception. He was also effective in the run game, collecting 136 yards rushing with a touchdown.
"The last three games he's run the ball pretty well," said Blugold Head Coach Todd Glaser about Denhartog. "We've found his niche with the read option, found some things he can do with it and we're still getting better at it."
Gerald Childs (So. – Brookfield, WI) got the start at running back and rushed 21 times for 46 yards. Tight End Lucas Emmerich (Sr. – Eau Claire, WI) led the Blugolds with seven catches for 68 yards in his last game at Carson Park.
"I thought offensively we did a good job, played really well on special teams getting that blocked punt," said Glaser. "We just got to put it all together."
Kaeleb Stangler (So. – Rochester, MN) led all defensive players with 17 total tackles, including one for a loss.
"We played pretty well for three quarters, but then the wheels fell off after that penalty," said Glaser. "You know, we just got to bounce back from that.
The Blugolds have one more chance to earn a victory this season when they travel to take on the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh at Titan Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 14. The Titans are currently ranked No. 3 in Division III according to d3football.com. That game is set for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff.
