Box Score: UW-Stout 29, UW-River Falls 19
RIVER FALLS - Freshman running back Craig Warminski (Stanley) ran for 250 yards and a school-record four touchdowns, Saturday, to help his team get back on track with a 29-19 win at UW-River Falls.
After a scoreless first quarter of play featuring a missed field goal from each team, Warminski started the scoring halfway through the second quarter with a nine yard touchdown run, capping a 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive on which he racked up 67 yards on seven touches. A successful two-point conversion gave Stout (4-3, 2-2) an 8-0 lead.
River Falls (3-4, 2-2) took advantage of the out-of-bounds ensuing kickoff by marching the remaining 55 yards into the end zone on a Storm Harmon 22-yard run. River Falls' attempt to tie up the score was a failure, and the Blue Devils took that 8-6 lead into halftime.
After compiling 98 yards in the first half, Warminski's number was called early and often in the second. He was given the ball five times on Stout's opening drive, rushing for 55 yards including a four-yard touchdown.
After Stout's defense forced a three-and-out, the Blue Devils' run-heavy offense took the field. After Kyle Provos (Jr, Brooklyn Park, Minn.) ran for 18 yards on a scramble, then passed for seven to Patrick Mengelkoch (So, Champlin, Minn.), he fed the ball to Warminski again, who took it 49 yards for his third touchdown of the afternoon. A successful extra point attempt gave the Blue Devils a 22-6 lead with six minutes remaining in the third quarter.
After another kickoff crossing the sideline, the Falcons set up shop at their own 40 yard line. Harmon completed a 15-yard pass to Michael Woodward on first down, and hooked up with him again a few plays later for a 40-yard touchdown. Another unsuccessful two-point conversion attempt left the Falcons down two scores.
Trevor Fiege (Fr, Menomonie) was the running back of choice on Stout's next drive. He was given the ball three consecutive times, resulting in a fumble on third down that was recovered by Stout, but forced a punt.
In the fourth quarter, with the offense struggling, Kendall Wade (Jr, Milwaukee) gave the Blue Devils a lift with his second pick of the season, setting the offense up in River Falls territory. Three runs and 49 yards later, Warminski was in the end zone for his fourth touchdown of the game, tying a school record shared with four other players.
As the Falcons seemed to do all day, they answered the score on their ensuing drive, keyed by a Harmon-to-Woodward 34-yard pickup, setting up a two-yard Joel Yogerst touchdown run.
The defense then did their job the rest of the game by protecting a 10-point lead, giving Stout their first win in three games, and jumping back above .500.
Warminski's 250 yards on 28 carries marked the first time a Blue Devil had run for 200 yards since Andy Reese ran for 210 on 38 carries against Platteville in 2005.
Provos was also much more efficient than in recent weeks. He threw for 127 yards on 13-for-16 passing, and managed to protect the ball all game, as Stout had no turnovers.
Because of the freshman's great day on the ground, the defense was overlooked. They got to the opposing quarterback for five sacks and caused two turnovers. Marcus Ball (Jr, Austin, Minn.) was credited with three and a half sacks to accompany two forced fumbles. Also, a blocked punt by Adam Churchill (So, Plum City) just before halftime marked the fourth straight game in which Stout has blocked a punt.
Woodward caught five balls for a game-high 109 yards and a touchdown, filling in well for River Falls' number one receiver, Michael Zwiefel, who sustained an injury in pre-game warm-ups.
Stout will return home next weekend to face UW-La Crosse in a 1 p.m. game on Saturday, Nov. 9 at Don and Nona Williams Stadium.
