Pointers Rally To Defeat Football In Overtime

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Posted: Saturday, October 28, 2006

EAU CLAIRE - UW-Stevens Point scored 14 unanswered points in the second half and then made a 35-yard field goal in overtime to defeat UW-Eau Claire 20-17 today at Carson Park.

The loss drops the Blugolds to an overall record of 2-6 and a 1-4 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) record. The Pointers improve to an overall record of 4-4 and a WIAC record of 2-3. The Blugolds suffer their second overtime defeat of the season and now have lost the last three overtime games overall. The last overtime loss at home came back in the 1999 season, a triple overtime loss to UW-La Crosse. This was the second overtime game between the two teams as Stevens Point defeated Eau Claire 30-27 in double overtime in 2001.

Stevens Point took their first possession of the game down to the Eau Claire 13-yard-line. Pointer kicker Ryan Graboski connected on a 30-yard field goal to make the score 3-0. The Blugolds responded on their first possession and drove the ball 81 yards on 10 plays. The play that closed out the drive was a 26-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Paulson (So.-Amery, WI) to Matt Evensen (Sr.-Junction City, WI/Auburndale) to make the score 7-3. Evensen broke a couple of tackles on his way to the end zone.

After a Pointer punt at the end of the first quarter, the Blugolds drove the ball down to the Pointer 13-yard-line. Craig Kolb (Fr.-Marshfield, WI) then came on and made a 30-yard field goal of his own to make the score 10-3. Kolb's field goal was his 10th of the season, which ties a school record for most field goals in a season. Mitch Schaeuble (Jr.-Wrightstown, WI) set the record last season.

Stevens Point then took the ball on the ensuing possession and drove the ball all the way down deep into Eau Claire territory. With the ball at the Blugold 11-yard-line, Brett Borchart completed a pass to tight end Adam Spoehr, but the Blugolds Ryan Schulz (Sr.-Maple Grove, MN) stripped the ball from Spoehr at the two-yard-line and the ball was recovered by Chris Below (Jr.-Antigo, WI/Bemidji State, MN) and the Blugolds took over.

The Pointers put a drive together at the end of the first half, but had to settle for a 49-yard field goal attempt, which fell short as the teams went into the locker rooms with the score 10-3 Eau Claire. The Pointers out-gained the Blugolds 194 to 140 in the first half.

On the Pointers first possession of the second half, Brett Borchart's pass was intercepted by Jake Siegert (Jr.-Onalaska, WI) and returned 11 yards down to the Pointer 28-yard-line. Freshman tailback Cory Sartorelli (Fr.-Appleton, WI/North) carried the ball four straight times and scored from eight yards out on his fourth carry to make the score 17-3. It was Sartorelli's first collegiate touchdown.

The Pointers had to punt on their next possession, but the Blugolds fumbled the punt and Stevens Point recovered at the Blugolds 34-yard-line. After a 23-yard pass completion, Cody Childs scored on a seven-yard touchdown run three plays later to make the score 17-10.

After another Blugold fumble at the end of the third quarter, the Pointers drove the ball down to the Blugold 11-yard-line. The Pointers then missed their second field goal of the game wide left as the score remained 17-10. The Blugolds then went three-and-out on their next possession and the Pointers took over at the Blugold 38-yard-line. Stevens Point then converted a fourth-and-five to keep the drive alive. Then on fourth-and-three at the six-yard-line, Borchart found Jacob Dickert in the back corner of the end zone to tie the game 17-17 with a little over four minutes to play in regulation. Both teams then had to punt and the game went into overtime.

The Blugolds got the ball first in overtime and their first two plays went for negative yards. After an incomplete pass the Blugolds went for it on fourth down, but that pass also fell incomplete and Stevens Point had their chance in overtime.

After getting down to the Blugold 17-yard-line, the Pointers attempted a 35-yard field goal to win the game. Ryan Graboski's attempt just cleared the crossbar as the Pointers rushed the field with a 20-17 victory. It was the second consecutive game that the Pointers won on a field goal in overtime.

The Pointers out-gained the Blugolds 366-288 in the game. The Pointers were 5-5 on fourth downs and had 27 first downs, compared to 17 for the Blugolds.

Kyle Paulson went 20-for-37 and threw for 175 yards and one touchdown. Paulson also led the team in rushing with 40 yards. Scotty Osborn (Jr.-Fall Creek, WI) led the Blugolds with a collegiate-high seven receptions for 59 yards. Matt Evensen had six catches for 70 yards and one touchdown. Jared Roeker (Sr.-Mauston, WI) had 12 tackles to lead the Blugold defense.

The Blugolds will have their final home game of the season next Saturday when they face UW-Oshkosh. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Carson Park.

Eau Claire-Stevens Point Box Score

- JR -