|
Pointers Produce
Second Straight Overtime Win
Box Score
For the second straight week UW-Stevens Point
pulled out a dramatic overtime victory off the foot of Ryan Graboski as the
Pointers posted a 20-17 comeback win over UW-Eau Claire on Saturday at
Carson Park in Eau Claire.
Graboski kicked a career-long 35-yard field goal
in overtime, coming one week after booting his previous career best with a
32-yarder to beat UW-Oshkosh. The Pointers had trailed 17-3 in the third
quarter, but rallied back with two touchdowns and a stingy fourth quarter
defense to even their overall record at 4-4. It marked the Pointers� fifth
straight overtime victory and the first time they�ve ever played
back-to-back overtime games.
The Pointers, who held UW-Eau Claire to 25 total
yards in the fourth quarter and overtime, stopped the Blugolds on four plays
on its overtime possession as Lincoln Berg had a three-yard tackle for loss
and forced a quarterback hurry on a fourth down play.
Cody Childs then rushed for eight yards on the
first two plays of UW-Stevens Point�s possession. After an incomplete pass,
Graboski delivered with a game-winning kick from the right hash mark that
floated just over the crossbar with the help of a strong wind.
Trailing 17-3 in the third quarter, the Pointers
took advantage of the first of two UW-Eau Claire fumbles to begin the rally.
Jason Barber sped down the field on punt coverage and forced a fumble that
was recovered by Bryan Kelnhofer. Four plays later, Childs ran up the middle
for a touchdown from eight yards out on a third down play to cut the lead to
17-10.
Brett Hirsch recovered another fumble on the
final play of the third quarter and the Pointers drove 14 plays, but missed
a 29-yard field goal to keep the seven-point deficit. UW-Stevens Point�s
defense forced a three-and-out and the Pointers went on a game-tying 10-play
drive that featured two successful fourth down conversions, including a
six-yard touchdown pass from Brett Borchart to Jacob Dickert with 4:08
remaining. For the game,
the Pointers were five-for-five on fourth down conversions after
successfully converting only four in the first seven games and a total of
four all of last season.
UW-Eau Claire drove to the Pointers� 49-yard line,
but punted on a fourth-and-one play with 1:17 left. The Pointers took over
at their own 13-yard line and moved the ball 31 yards before being forced to
punt and send the game to overtime.
UW-Stevens Point scored on its opening possession
of the game with a 30-yard field goal by Graboski before the Blugolds scored
17 unanswered points. They had a 26-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Paulson to
Matt Evensen in the first quarter and a 30-yard field goal by Craig Kolb in
the second quarter. Cory Sartorelli added an eight-yard touchdown in the
third quarter for the 17-3 lead.
The Pointers ran 90 offensive plays for the game
compared to 63 for the Blugolds, outgaining UW-Eau Claire 366-288. However,
UW-Stevens Point had just two plays longer than 20 yards and twice failed to
score inside the Blugolds� five-yard line, getting the missed field goal and
a second quarter fumble.
Dickert had a big offensive day for the Pointers
with 11 catches for 97 yards. Childs rushed for 80 yards on 26 carries and
also caught seven passes for 50 yards. Tight end Adam Spoehr had a
career-high four catches for 36 yards. Borchart was 31-for-54 passing for
268 yards. |
