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UW-Stevens
Point Rally Falls Short in Season-Ending Loss to Blugolds
Box
Score
Already having won all six of its victories in the final 16
minutes, the magic ran out for the UW-Stevens Point football team in its
season-ending 21-16 loss at UW-Eau Claire Saturday at Carson Park.
Trailing 10-7 in the third quarter, the Blugolds scored two
touchdowns to build an 11-point lead and the Pointers managed only one
touchdown in four fourth quarter possessions to end their season with a
6-4 record overall and 4-3 WIAC mark. UW-Eau Claire ends its season 8-2
overall and 5-2 in the WIAC for the second straight year.
Defense dominated much of the day and especially in the first half
as UW-Eau Claire had just 84 total yards and UW-Stevens Point had just 28
yards, including seven yards rushing.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Blugolds took the lead early
in the second quarter on a one-yard run by Brian Mitchell, capping a short
19-yard drive that started following a Pointers� fumble.
The UW-Stevens Point defense helped set up the Pointers� first
score as they pinned the Blugolds� to their own 11-yard line and took
advantage of a 29-yard punt to position themselves for a 32-yard field
goal by Dan Heldmann with 3:15 left in the half.
UW-Stevens Point fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half and
the Blugolds looked to take advantage when quarterback Nels Frederickson
lunged forward on a third-and-goal play from the one-yard line. However,
when Frederickson tried to reach the ball over the goal line, it popped
into the hands of Pointers� free safety Dillon Maney, who returned the
miscue 96 yards to the Blugolds� four-yard line before being caught by
Blugolds� receiver Erik Ferguson.
Two plays later, Jason VanderVelden carried the ball into the
endzone from one yard out to give the Pointers a 10-7 lead.
UW-Eau Claire scored on its next two possessions as Frederickson
hit Matt Evensen from 23 yards and Ferguson from 15 yards to take a 21-10
lead.
The Pointers cut the lead on the third play of the fourth quarter
when VanderVelden again scored on a one-yard run. A failed two-point
conversion kept the Blugolds ahead 21-16.
UW-Stevens Point had three more possessions in the fourth quarter,
but started from its own one, nine and 15 yard lines. For the day, the
Pointers had just 161 total yards and 36 yards rushing.
VanderVelden had 34 of the yards on the ground and Kurt Kielblock
caught five passes for 37 yards. UW-Eau Claire�s Brian Mitchell rushed
for 67 yards and Jason Foemmel caught six passes for 56 yards.
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