UWSP vs. UW-La Crosse Preview

UW-Stevens Point can clinch a share of its second straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title with a victory Saturday, while UW-La Crosse can put itself in position for the title with a victory as well. The Pointers, who are also looking for their school-record tying 12^th straight win, can gain the WIAC’s automatic berth to the NCAA playoffs with a win and a UW-Platteville loss to UW-Stout. The Pointers are ranked ninth in the latest NCAA Division III poll.

The game can be heard live on WIZD (99.9 FM) with Scott Krueger doing the play-by-play and Ken Kulick providing the analysis.

UW-Stevens Point coach John Miech has a 80-33-2 record in his 12^th season. Miech recorded his first career win over UW-La Crosse last season and is 1-10 all-time against the Eagles.

UW-La Crosse coach Roger Harring is in his 31st season and has a 257-74-7 career record, including a 25-2-3 mark against UW-Stevens Point.

UW-La Crosse has dominated the series with a 34-8-4 all-time record against the Pointers, though UW-Stevens Point won last year’s meeting, 24-14, breaking a 12-game losing streak and 21-game winless streak against the Eagles. Included in the streak, however, was a 23-22 win at UW-La Crosse in 1987 that was later forfeited. Aside from the forfeited victory, UW-Stevens Point hasn’t won at La Crosse since a 13-7 victory in 1962.

Pointer Update:

The Pointers scored 14 fourth quarter points to put away UW-Whitewater 23-7 last week and run their winning streak to 11 games. UW-Stevens Point’s Wally Schmitt rushed 28 times for 108 yards and freshman Dave Berghuis was 18-for-28 passing for 241 yards in his first collegiate start in place of injured senior Ryan Aulenbacher. Berghuis connected six times for 116 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown with former Kimberly High School teammate Chad Valentyne. more

Eagle Insights:

The Eagles forced four turnovers and committed none in a 42-14 victory over UW-Stout last weekend. Joe Rivard rushed for two touchdowns and B.J. McQuillan returned an interception 37 yards for the Eagles’ final score.

Jared Arn missed last week’s game and the second half of the previous week’s game with an injury, but still leads UW-La Crosse in rushing at 104.2 yards per game. Quarterback Josh Boraas has thrown for 228.2 yards per game and Nick Wagner is averaging 5.5 catches for 86.5 yards per game.

The Eagles lost two non-conference games to Division II Washburn (Kan.) and St. Cloud State (Minn.) to open the season before recording wins over UW-River Falls and UW-Whitewater and a loss to UW-Platteville.

Conference Call:

UW-Stevens Point’s 4-0 conference start marks the first time the Pointers have won their first four conference games since 1963. UW-Stevens Point started 5-0 that season before losing to UW-Superior and eventually finishing 6-1. The Pointers were undefeated after four games in both 1967 and 1977 with a 3-0-1 record.

High Stakes:

There’s plenty at stake this weekend for the Pointers, including the possibility of becoming the first team to automatically qualify for the Division III playoffs this season. If UW-Stevens Point gets past UW-La Crosse, the Pointers need UW-Stout to beat UW-Platteville to earn the automatic berth. The Pointers will have clinched a share of the conference title and would then hold tiebreakers over all conference teams with two losses.

Tough "Crosse"ing:

The Pointers can tie their longest winning streak in school history at 12 games with a win Saturday. However, UW-La Crosse has historically been UW-Stevens Point’s toughest obstacle. The 12-game streak came to an end on Oct. 21, 1995 when the Pointers brought a 6-0 record into La Crosse and lost 25-15. The Pointers were also 5-0 in 1996, but then lost their first game to La Crosse. The last time the Pointers were 7-0 was 1961 when they opened the year 8-0 and had an 11-game winning streak before losing the last game of the season to – La Crosse

Get ‘Em While They’re Hot:

The Pointers are facing an opponent coming off a big victory for the fourth straight week and fifth time in six weeks. Last week, UW-La Crosse beat UW-Stout 42-14, marking the third consecutive week the Pointers’ opponent has won by at least 33 points the previous week. The preceding week, UW-Oshkosh was coming off a 16-14 win over UW-Eau Claire, and earlier this season, Drake trounced St. Ambrose 47-3 before its meeting with the Pointers.

Making Them Count:

It seems hard to believe a player could rush for minus-83 yards in two weeks and still run for two touchdowns, but UW-Stevens Point freshman quarterback Dave Berghuis has done exactly that. Of Berghuis’ three rushes for gains this season, two have been quarterback sneaks for one-yard touchdowns. He also has a 10-yard rush on the first drive he played in place of Ryan Aulenbacher.

Run-Stoppers:

The Pointers’ defense has not allowed a rushing touchdown the past three games and has not given up a rushing score from further than one yard out. Northern State scored a one-yard touchdown in the season opener and the only other rushing score came when UW-Stout fumbled the ball into the end zone and recovered it for a score.

UW-Stevens Point’s Wally Schmitt has 496 yards rushing this season, which is more than any Pointer back the past two seasons. Schmitt also has not fumbled in 181 consecutive carries and recovered his only fumble on his eighth carry of the year last season…Chad Valentyne’s 60-yard touchdown catch last week was the Pointers’ longest play from scrimmage this season…

Pointers’ defensive back Andy Palzkill has an interception in three straight games…Valentyne is ranked second in Division III in kickoff returns at 35.1 yards per return. Elliot Turner of Greenville (Ill.) leads the nation at 38.1 yards…The Pointers have converted five of six fourth down attempts this season.

UW-Stevens Point has the fewest penalties in the WIAC this season with 33 for 252 yards. UW-La Crosse is the most penalized team with 42 for 372 yards…UW-Stevens Point leads the league in time of possession with an average of 32:13 per game…UW-La Crosse punter Luke DesJarlais leads the WIAC and ranks 13^th in Division III with a 40.2 punting average…The Pointers are allowing a WIAC-best 3.2 yards per punt return and UW-La Crosse’s Jared Arn ranks 13^th in Division III at 12.2 per return.

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