EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire football team was back at home on Saturday for 23rd matchup of the War on 94 series. After a high scoring first half, the Blugolds fell just short after a last-minute touchdown by UW-Stout gave UWEC their second loss on the season in a 34-38 defeat.
Harry Roubidoux (So. – Winneconne, WI) got his first start of his Blugold career after leading the Blugolds to a 25-15 victory a week prior. Roubidoux picked up right where he left off as he threw for 306 yards and three touchdowns. His long pass of the night was the first tally for the Blugolds on a 76-yard touchdown pass to Darius Jones (Sr. – Ramsey, MN/Anoka) in the first quarter to tie the game at 7-7.
After back-to-back touchdowns by the Blue Devils, UWEC began to chip away at the 7-21 deficit.
Brady Frantal (Fr. – Appleton, WI/North) tallied his sixth field goal of the year with a 35-yard attempt with just over five minutes remaining in the first half. Frantal was two for two for his field goals and continued his extra point streak with four successful attempts to improve the streak to 24 straight kicks made.
Stout answered the three-point score with a 79-yard touchdown pass to increase the deficit to 18 with under five minutes in the 2nd quarter.
The Blugolds wouldn't go quietly though, as Roubidoux tossed a 55-yard touchdown pass to Will Adair (Sr. – Ashwaubenon, WI) for Adair's first career TD as a Blugold. With a little over two minutes left in the half, the Blugolds forced a Stout three and out to setup their chance at making it a one score game.
Joe Swanson (Sr. – Osceola, WI) led the Blugold receiving core with four catches on the night. One of those came right before the half after Roubidoux found Swanson in the middle for a 15-yard touchdown pass to bring the Blugolds within five points after 30 minutes of play. Frantal's completed extra point sent both teams into the locker rooms with a four-point difference in score.
In the second half, both defenses seemed to buckle down forcing a combined total of three turnovers in the latter half.
An interception by Sam Burzynski (Sr. – Stanley, WI/Stanley-Boyd) on a deep ball by Stout gave Eau Claire prime position to eliminate the four-point deficit.
Harry Roubidoux once again rose to the occasion capping off the ninth UWEC drive of the game with a one-yard QB sneak to give Eau Claire the lead. The initial three-point lead was short lived as Jack Meyer (STOUT) hit a 51-yard field goal to tie everything at 31 a side in the final minutes of the third quarter.
The home squad would once again find life in the fourth quarter as their second to last drive of the evening accounted for 8:31 on the clock during 15 plays and 73 yards: ending in a field goal and a three-point lead.
A costly defensive pass-interference on 3rd down gave UW-Stout new life in the UWEC redzone, setting them up for a three-yard touchdown run and the final tally of the evening with a little over two minutes left in the game.
With one opportunity left for the Blugolds to respond, an unlucky interception by Roubidoux sealed Eau Claire's fate I the 34-38 loss at home. UW-Eau Claire falls to 3-2 on the season and is now 1-1 in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play.
The Blugolds will be back at home on Saturday, October 16th, when they host the 2021 Homecoming game at Carson Park. UWEC will face WIAC opponent UW-River Falls for a 1:10 PM kickoff.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
