Football Suffers A Tough Overtime Loss At Alma

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Posted: Saturday, September 16, 2006

ALMA, MI - The UW-Eau Claire football team never trailed until the first series of overtime when Alma quarterback Josh Brehm ran it in for the winning score as the Alma (MI) Scots defeated the Blugolds 33-30 in overtime today at Bahlke Field.

The loss drops the Blugolds to 1-2 overall and are now 0-5 all-time on the road in overtime games. Alma improves to 1-1 overall.

The Blugolds special teams struck first in this game as Alma had their punt blocked by Sam Cummings (Jr.-Rochester, MN/John Marshall) on their first possession and it was recovered by Zach Paul (Jr.-Edgar, WI) in the end zone to give the Blugolds a 7-0 lead. Alma was then forced to punt on their next possession and Craig Polifka (So.-Kewaunee, WI) returned the ball 16 yards to the Scots 25 yard line. However, the Blugolds were unable to punch the ball into the end zone and kicker Craig Kolb (Fr.-Marshfield, WI) came on and hit a 31-yard field goal to make the score 10-0 Blugolds.

Alma got on the scoreboard at the end of the first quarter when Brehm connected with Matt Brown for a 64-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was blocked by Sam Cummings and the score was 10-6. On the next Blugolds possession, tailback Eddy Kaiser (Sr.-Duluth, MN/East) would bust out a 52-yard touchdown run to make the score 17-6 with 14 minutes to go in the first half.

Alma would return the ensuing kickoff 53 yards to the Blugolds 31 yard line. On fourth-and-eight, Brehm connected with Joe Cline for a 29-yard touchdown pass. Brehm was then stopped on the two-point conversion attempt and the score was 17-12 Blugolds. On the next drive, the Blugolds Kyle Paulson (So.-Amery, WI) was intercepted by Caleb Barnes and it was returned to the Blugolds 26 yard line. However, the Blugolds would hold and Alma missed the 21-yard field goal attempt and the score remained 17-12.

With just under six minutes to play in the first half, Alma fumbled the ball inside their 20 yard line and the fumble was recovered by Brad Alexejun (Sr.-Green Bay, WI/Ashwaubenon) at the Scots seven yard line. Once again the Blugolds were unable to move the ball and Craig Kolb came on and connected on a 33-yard field goal to make the score 20-12 and that's what score would be at the half.

On the Scots second possession of the second half, Alma would drive 80 yards culminating on a Joe Cline seven-yard touchdown reception. Brehm then ran it in for the two-point conversion to tie the game at 20-20. Late in the third the Scots had a 76-yard touchdown pass called back due to holding. The Scots were then forced to punt and the Blugolds would block their third kick of the game when Chris Hull (Jr.-Blaine, MN/Spring Lake Park) came through to block the kick.

The Blugolds took over at the Alma 30 yard line. Four plays later on the second play of the fourth quarter Eddy Kaiser scored his second rushing touchdown of the day from six yards out to make the score 27-20. After Alma turned it over on downs deep in Blugold territory halfway through the fourth quarter, the Blugolds were forced to punt.

The Scots returned the punt 43 yards down to the Blugold 28 yard line. Five plays later Brehm ran it in from three yards out and the point after was good to tie the game 27-27 with 4:37 to play in regulation.

The Blugolds drove the ball to midfield on their next possession and then were forced to punt. A penalty by Alma made it fourth-and-two and the Blugolds then decided to go for it. However, Kyle Paulson rolled out and was stopped short of the first and the Scots took over at their own 43 yard line.

The Scots drove the ball to the Blugold four yard line with one second to play. Alma then lined up for the game-winning field goal and the Blugolds special teams came through again. Brian Larson (Sr.-York, WI/Whitehall) got hand on the ball for the fourth blocked kick of the game to send the game into overtime.

The Blugolds got the ball first in overtime. After converting one first down they were stopp