Football Gets Shutout By Second-Ranked Whitewater

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Posted: Saturday, September 30, 2006

EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire football team fell behind big early on its way to losing to second-ranked UW-Whitewater today 34-0 at Carson park.

The last time the Blugolds were shutout was in 1995 when they lost at UW-Stevens Point 17-0. The last time they were shutout at home was a 38-0 loss to UW-Whitewater in 1994. The loss drops the Blugolds to an overall record of 1-3 and a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) record of 0-1. The Warhawks improve to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the WIAC. It was their fourth straight win against the Blugolds and the ninth consecutive win over a WIAC opponent.

In the first half, Whitewater controlled the ball for the most part in Blugold territory. After both teams were forced to punt on their first possessions, the Blugolds went three-and-out and were forced to punt on their second possession deep in their end of the field. The Warhawks Neil Mrkvicka then returned the punt 35 yards to the Blugolds 11-yard-line.

On third down at the Blugolds four-yard-line, the Warhawks were stopped short. However, the Blugolds were called for offsides and on the next play Warhawk quarterback Justin Jacobs hit Derek Stanley for a two-yard touchdown pass to make the score 7-0.

On the first Blugold play following the touchdown, the Blugolds fumbled the ball at their own 12-yard-line and the Warhawks recovered. However, the Blugolds defense would hold Whitewater to a 28-yard field goal and the score was 10-0. The Blugolds went three-and-out on their next possession and the Warhawks took over at the Eau Claire 39-yard-line. On the next play, Jacobs hit Stanley for a 39-yard touchdown pass to make the score 17-0 with 3:26 to play in the first quarter.

After a three-and-out by the Blugolds again, Whitewater took over at the 32-yard-line. Once again, the Warhawks scored on the first play as Jacobs hit Pete Schmitt for a 32-yard touchdown pass to make the score 24-0 with 1:48 to go in the first quarter.

The Blugolds finally got their first, first down of the game on their first drive of the second quarter on a Cory Sartorelli (Fr.-Appleton, WI/North) rush. The score remained 24-0 until Warhawks kicker Jeff Schebler hit a 23-yard field goal as the first half expired to make the score 27-0 at halftime.

The Warhawks had 223 yards of total offense in the first half, compared to just 43 for the Blugolds. Whitewater had 13 first downs in the first half and the Blugolds only had two. The Warhawks had a total of five plays on their three first half touchdown drives.

The Warhawks began with the ball in the second half and drove the ball down the field. Travis Reuland capped the drive off with a one-yard touchdown run to make the score 34-0.

In the middle of the third quarter, with the Blugolds forced to punt deep in their own territory, punter Mitch Schaeuble (Jr.-Wrightstown, WI) hit a booming 83-yard punt down to the Warhawk nine-yard-line. The 83-yard punt breaks a school record previously held by Jay Aldrich, who hit a 74-yard punt against UW-Superior in 1970. It was the second longest punt in conference history. The record is 92 yards held by Warren Becker of Stevens Point in 1933.

The Blugolds got down to the five-yard-line on its final possession of the game, but were intercepted in the end zone and the game ended 34-0 in favor of Whitewater.

The Warhawks finished with 386 yards of total offense, while the Blugolds finished with 137 yards. The Warhawks were 7 of 15 on the third downs. The Blugolds, on the other hand, were just 2 of 15.

Blugold quarterback Kyle Paulson (So.-Amery, WI) was 19 of 35 passing for 105 yards and three interceptions. Paulson along with Eddy Kaiser (Sr.-Duluth, MN/East) led the team in rushing with 17 yards. Scotty Osborn (Jr.-Fall Creek, WI) had four receptions for 38 yards to lead the Blugolds in receiving. Matt Evensen (Sr.-Junct