The UW- River Falls Falcons are 2-0 in the WIAC for the first time since 2001 after their 10-7 victory over UW- Eau Claire.

The Falcons (3-2, 2-0 WIAC) also have won three straight games for the first time since 1999, where the team finished 5-5 and 5-2 in the WIAC and finished third in the WIAC.

The UWRF defense allowed just 58 yards of rushing on 31 attempts and 241 total yards, with Albert Itula finishing with three of the team's seven tackles for loss on the day.
Senior quarterback Ryan Kusilek and the Falcon offense had a tough day, finishing with just 251 yards of offense and only 76 yards rushing.

The Falcons struck first with Rance Ashley scoring on an 11 yard run with 36 seconds left in the first quarter after UW – Eau Claire botched a snap on a punt play and the Falcons answered with a touchdown in five plays going 38 yards.

Eau Claire began a drive of their own after Ashley's touchdown driving eight plays before Kyle Narges intercepted a pass at the one yard line to give River Falls the ball with a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter.

River Falls punted the ball after going three and out, with the Falcons backed up at their own one yard line, the Blugolds had a short field starting at the Falcons 27 yard line.
The Blugolds took advantage of the short field and in just two plays, tied the game on a JT Denhartog touchdown pass to Lucas Emmerich tying the game at 7-7 with 9:57 in the second quarter.

After the quick touchdown score by the Blugolds, the Falcons stormed back with an 11 play, 72 yard drive that put them in position to kick a field goal with 2:20 in the first half. Kusilek stepped up and nailed a 20 yard field goal to put UWRF ahead 10-7 going in the half.

The second half proved to be a defensive battle, no points were scored and there were a combined three turnovers and three more turnovers on downs.
The Falcons just managed 63 yards in the second half and the Blugolds were held to 127 in the second half.

As the Blugolds began their final drive, they began on their own 41 yard line and found themselves in Falcon territory with less than one minute remaining. Denhartog and the Blugold offense had a huge opportunity when a throw to the endzone was broken up by the Falcons after it seemed like the Blugolds had come up with the ball. The ball was knocked out and ruled incomplete, and the Falcons sealed the victory with a stop on fourth down on the next play.

Kusilek finished with 14 completions on 30 attempts for 175 yards, with one interception on a fourth down throw in the second half.

The receiving core for the Falcons broke open for some big gains, Matt Woller had five catches for 74 yards with a long of 21 yards.

Griff Christenson had a season high three catches for 49 yards with a 31 yard catch as his longest. Nicholas Studer hauled in four catches for 42 yards with his longest being 24 yards.

On defense it was the defensive backs that lead the charge this week with Narges picking off two passes and Tyler Ledbeter grabbing his first interception of the season as well. The Falcon defensive front had three sacks on the day with Jay Robinson having one and a half sacks.

Next for the Falcons is UW – Platteville (4-1, 1-1 WIAC) at Smith Stadium next week with a noon kickoff. The Falcons are 32-24-2 in the series all-time. The Pioneers are ranked number 12 in the nation according the d3football.com and defeated the Falcons in their last matchup by a score of 24-14. The Pioneers won this past week 30-27 over UW – Stevens Point.