Blugolds Conquer Titans In Season Finale

The UW-Eau Claire football team totaled 404 yards in a 31-19 victory over UW-Oshkosh in the season finale on Saturday (Nov. 13) in Eau Claire. The Blugolds end the season with a 7-3 record (4-3 WIAC), while the Titans wind up with a 5-5 record (2-5 WIAC), their first non-losing season since 1995.

UW-Eau Claire started out quick, holding UW-Oshkosh to a three-and-out and then scoring on the Blugolds first possession of the game. Nels Fredrickson connected on passes of 21 and 24 yards before hitting Matt Evensen for a nine-yard touchdown strike and a 7-0 lead.

After a turnover on downs by the Titans, the Blugolds appeared to be heading in for another score until Jacob Malzahn (Jr. • Kenosha) recovered a UW-Eau Claire fumble and returned it 82 yards for a game-tying touchdown. The Blugolds regained the lead early in the second quarter on a one-play scoring drive. After a Titan punt, Fredrickson hit Tony Hull on a short crossing pattern but the speedster got the corner and ran it in the end zone for a 67-yard touchdown reception and a 14-7 Blugold advantage.

UW-Oshkosh stayed in the game behind the leg of plaeckicker Lucas Raschke (Fr. • Clintonville), who hit a pair of field goals in the second quarter to make the score 14-13 late in the half. The field goals came from 43 and 23 yards, giving the kicker 19 successful attempts on the season, extending his WIAC record. He finished the season with the second most field goals in a season in NCAA Division III history.

Raschke's 23-yarder came with just 1:04 left in the half and it appeared that the Blugolds were content with a lead as they came out with two consecutive rushing plays. A 15-yard UW-Oshkosh penalty put the Blugolds in scoring range and Fredrickson completed passes of eight and 18 yards to Hull. With six seconds left, UW-Eau Claire lined up for a field goal but holder Jesse Kryzanowski took the ball and threw a deep pass to Don Kahl for a 26-yard touchdown pass and a 20-13 lead with one second left in half.

The Blugolds extended the lead with nine minutes remaining in the third quarter when Eddy Kaiser plunged in from two yards out. The touchdown was set up by a 36-yard pass from Fredrickson to Darin Kryzanowski. The point-after was good for a 28-13 lead.

Neither team added to its' point total until just 3:21 remained in the game, when Andy Schneider kicked a 21-yard field goal to give UW-Eau Claire a 31-13 lead. UW-Oshkosh quartrback Nick Wara (Sr. • Oshkosh) threw a nine-yard touchdown pass in the final minute of the game to finish the scoring a 31-19.

Fredrickson led the way for the Blugolds, finishing the game 23-of-37 for 305 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He finishes his career third on the all-time UW-Eau Claire passing yards list. Darin Kryzanowski led all receivers with six catches for 90 yards while Hull finished with four receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown.

Joe Gast finished the game with just 34 rushing yards, but finishes the year with a team-best 915 yards. He has now led the Blugolds in rushing the last three straight seasons.

Wara finished 23-of-50 for 224 yards and one touchdown.