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Turnovers Cost
Pointers in Loss to UW-La Crosse
Box Score
UW-La Crosse took advantage of seven UW-Stevens
Point turnovers, including four in a decisive second half for a 35-14
victory on Saturday at Goerke Field in Stevens Point.
After the game was tied 14-14 at halftime, the
Eagles scored touchdowns on three of their first four possessions of the
second half, while UW-Stevens Point had four straight drives end in miscues.
The win was UW-La Crosse�s 15th over the Pointers in the last 17 meetings
and boosted the Eagles� all-time series lead to 39-9-4.
UW-La Crosse entered the game ranked third in the
NCAA Division III and UW-Stevens Point was ranked ninth, but the two top 10
teams were hardly mistake-free as they combined for eight turnovers and 21
penalties, including 14 flags by UW-La Crosse.
The Eagles took the opening kickoff and scored on
a third-and-11 play when Steve Tennies dumped a short screen pass to Ben
Dorsey, who broke a tackle and raced 56 yards down the left sideline for a
7-0 lead.
UW-Stevens Point drove to the Eagles� three-yard
line, but fumbled on the next possession. After Dan Heldmann pulled the
Pointers to within 7-3 with a 33-yard field goal later in the quarter,
UW-Stevens Point took its next possession 82 yards to the UW-La Crosse
one-yard line, but were held on third down and forced to settle for a John
Ryan 20-yard field to cut the lead to 7-6.
Robin Finco caught a three-yard touchdown pass
from Tennies with 3:24 left in the half to push the Eagles ahead 14-6,
however, the Pointers tied the game when quarterback Brett Borchart sneaked
in for a touchdown from two yards out and Tony Romano made a diving
two-point conversion catch with 1:53 left in the half.
UW-Stevens Point was forced to punt on its first
possession of the second half and the Eagles used an eight-play, 74-yard
drive capped by a six-yard scamper by Corey Geldernick for a 21-14 lead.
The Pointers had their first of the four straight
turnovers midway through the third quarter, fumbling at midfield to lead to
a one-yard score from Geldernick. Steve Teeples had his second interception
of the game and then recovered a fumble on UW-Stevens Point�s next two
possessions before Dorsey ran 13 yards for a touchdown to put the Eagles
ahead 35-14 with 13:05 left in the game.
UW-Stevens Point drove to the Eagles� 16-yard
line, but Borchart�s pass was intercepted by Deke Stanek, who deflected the
ball and caught it lying on the ground at the one-yard line. The Pointers
were stopped on downs on their final two possessions.
Tennies had a big day with 322 yards on 19-for-31
passing. Senior Scott Burnoski surpassed Craig Chrest as UW-La Crosse�s
all-time leading receiver after making nine catches for 138 yards to give
him 2,310 yards for his career. Dorsey was one of 11 ball-carriers for the
Eagles, posting 15 carries for a team-high 55 yards.
Borchart rushed for 89 yards and was 24-for-37
passing for 231 yards for the Pointers. Cody Childs had seven catches for 67
yards. |
