THIS WEEK'S GAME:Â The Blue Devils (3-5, 1-4 WIAC) will travel to UW-Platteville (6-2, 3-2 WIAC), Saturday, Nov. 3, at 2 p.m. to face the first of two nationally ranked teams to close out the season. The Pioneers are ranked 20th in the latest AFCA poll and 15th in the D3football.com Top 25 poll. Stout will close out the 2012 season when they host conference champion and sixth ranked UW-Oshkosh, Saturday, Nov. 10.
ON THE AIR: WMEQ 880 AM Radio will provide broadcast coverage for the season. WMEQ will also audio stream the games. UW-Platteville will provide a Live Video stream. At home games, WMEQ will provide the audio portion for Live Video streaming of all home football games, network providing. Live Stats will be available for all home games.
AT THE WATER COOLER: Hang out with UW-Stout coach
Clayt Birmingham at the Water Cooler, on Sports Radio 1400 in Eau Claire. Birmingham will speak with Water Cooler host Jimmie Kaska weekly about the upcoming game and the previous week's game. Birmingham's segment will air Wednesdays during the season at approximately 5:15 p.m. A link to the weekly broadcast is available here.
LAST TIME OUT: UW-Stout:Â UW-River Falls sacked Stout's quarterbacks seven times and scored two TDs in the third quarter to take a 24-14 win over the Blue Devils, Oct. 27 at Williams Stadium. After falling down 3-0 early, a pair of Ricky Marteney first-half field goals gave Stout a 6-3 halftime lead, their only lead of the contest. The Falcons owned the third quarter, scoring two touchdowns, both coming on third down situations. After an Eric Brown touchdown early in the fourth, Stout got the ball back down by three with plenty of time on the clock. Marteney could not connect on a game-tying field goal attempt, handing the ball back to the Falcons. River Falls came up with another big play on third down when Charles Dixon caught a 49-yard pass that set up a game-sealing John Schimenz touchdown run. Tyler Naatz and Spencer Adler continued to pile on the tackles as they had 15 and 14 total tackles, respectively.Â
LAST TIME OUT: UW-Platteville: The Pioneers took a 24-17 win over UW-Eau Claire to get their first win at Carson Park since 1995. Paul Reit caught a touchdown with four seconds remaining in the first half to give Platteville a 14-10 lead going into the break. The Pioneers then scored the first 10 points of the second half, grabbing a commanding 24-10 lead deep into the fourth quarter. Joel Sweeney capped off the scoring with his second touchdown run of the game, but it was not enough as Platteville moved to 6-2 on the season. Sophomore quarterback Bryce Corrigan went 35-47 for 278 yards and two touchdowns, pacing the Pioneer offense.Â
LAST TIME THEY MET: UW-Platteville broke open a 21-3 lead in the first quarter and Stout was unable to mount a comeback, as they fell to the Pioneers, 27-17, Nov. 5, 2011, at Don and Nona Williams Stadium. Platteville got three first quarter scores from Nick Anderson. First, on a third-and-goal from Stout's 13, Anderson threaded the needle and shoved a pass between multiple Stout defenders to get the first points of the game. Later, Anderson hit Paul Reit on a fade route for a 20-yard touchdown. Finally, the quarterback called his own number near the end of the quarter when he ran one in from five yards out. Eric Brown and Ryan Howg handled all of the scoring for Stout. After Howg hit a 34-yard field goal to get the Blue Devils on the board in the first, Brown added a touchdown run in each of the second and third periods. Platteville won the turnover battle, 3-1 as they picked off Ross Carey twice and intercepted a Dusty Parker pass on a Stout trick play gone wrong. Â
THE SERIES: UW-Platteville leads the series, 31-23-1, that began in 1935 with a 25-8 Platteville win. Platteville won last year, but the Blue Devils won the previous four contests. Over the last 10 years, Stout has won six games.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Offense: David Reyes, OL, Jr, Riverside, Calif. (Riverside Polytechnic); Defense: Tyler Naatz, DB, So, Menomonie, Wis.; Special teams: Ricky Marteney, PK, Jr, Greenfield, Wis.; Scout players of the week: Offensive:Â David Koronkiewicz, Fr, Peshtigo, Wis.; Defensive: Josh Archibald, So, Cottage Grove, Minn. (Monona Grove)
WHO'S WHO: UW-Stout: For much of the season, the Blue Devils' offense has revolved around QB Michael Blizel, who has done it through the air and on the ground. Saturday's contest against River Falls was much of the same as Blizel accounted for 219 of Stout's 291 offensive yards, despite being sacked five times. In his first season at the helm for Stout, Blizel has tossed seven TD passes and has completed 130-of-256 passes for 1534 yards with an 85-yard toss to WR Trevor Morning, the longest collegiate pass play at Don & Nona Williams Stadium in the season opener against Jamestown. Blizel's top receiver in terms of receptions is TE Josh Peterson, who has 35 catches for 310 yards and three scores. Wideout Morning has been Blizel's primary deep threat, and now has 27 receptions for 549 yards and two scores. His average reception of 20.3 yards is the second best in the league in that category. TE Austin Schwartz has ten grabs for 51 yards and his first career TD, but his senior season will end there, cut short by a knee injury. Stout's leading rusher, Eric Brown has carried the ball 117 times for 496 yards and an average of 4.2 yards. Kicker Ricky Marteney moved up to ninth on the Stout all-time scoring list. With six points last week, Marteney currently has 155 career points, 44 this season. After coming into this season with 22 field goals, his 10 successful attempts so far this year give him the most field goals in UW-Stout history. He is also a perfect 14 of 14 on point after attempts this season, the only WIAC kicker who boasts a perfect percentage. Defensively, the Blue Devils have 18 sacks. DL Ryan Ericksen, leads the team, and is second in the WIAC, in sacks with 5. DL Jamie Rohrig has 4.5 and DE Jake Johnson has 2.5. DB Damian Guggenbuehl and Jeremy Troupe-Masi each have two interceptions. Safety Tyler Naatz leads the WIAC in tackles with 69, 35 solo, while LB Spencer Adler and DB Collin Laursen have 65 and 62, respectively. Ericksen and LB David Lindell sit atop the league with 10.5, and 10 tackles for a loss, respectively. The Stout defense has allowed only two fourth down conversion in 16 attempts. Stout is losing the turnover battle, 21-14, collectively against their opponents. That margin of minus-7 is tied with Stevens Point for worst in the conference. As a team, Stout is averaging 309.4 yards of total offense, 100.2 rushing, 209.1 passing. The Blue Devils are giving up 334.9 yards, 121.9 rushing, 213.0 passing.
WHO'S WHO: UW-Platteville: John Kelly started the season at quarterback for the Pioneers but an injury has thrust Bryce Corrigan into a starting role, one he has embraced nicely. Corrigan is 153-for-219 for 1460 yards in seven total appearances. Against UW-La Crosse, Corrigan was 37-for-43 for 412 yards and three scores, a performance that earned him NCAA.com Offensive Player of the Week honors. Two weeks later, Corrigan pitched four touchdowns and 377 yards against UW-River Falls, fueling Platteville to a 31-0 mauling of the Falcons. Ryley Bailey leads all receivers in catches (56), yards (681), and touchdowns (8). His eight touchdown catches lead all WIAC receivers. Trevor Whitehead has also had a lot of balls thrown his way, reeling in 46 passes for 627 yards and four scores. Hank McIvor has done most of the work on the ground, carrying the ball 75 times for 375 yards and five scores. Lee Vlasak has gotten less carries, but has scored six touchdowns in four games. Ryan McWethy leads the defense with 65 tackles, 39 of which came unassisted. Nick Snyder has recorded five sacks while Alex Schaefer and Bronzun Kyles each have four.Â
THE MATCHUP: Comparing the numbers:
    Stout   |
WIAC Rank |
|
WIAC Rank |
Platteville |
18.0 |
6th |
PPG |
2nd |
38.1 |
22.4 |
4th |
Opp. PPG |
3rd |
19.4 |
209.1 |
5th |
Pass Yds |
1st |
335.2 |
100.2 |
6th |
Rush Yds |
5th |
112.8 |
-7 |
8th |
Turnover +/- |
5th |
+3 |
After allowing 41 points to Whitewater, and allowing a lackluster La Crosse offense to put up season highs in points (33), rushing (177) and total (443) yards, the Blue Devils' defense got back on track against River Falls, despite a 24-14 loss. In their previous three games, Stout had allowed their opponent over 400 yards of offense in all three games. While not yet in peak form, they took a step in the right direction, allowing the Falcons to cover 321 yards. They will face a tough test this week against one of the league's most prolific offenses, one that does most of their damage through the air. The 15th-ranked Pioneers throw for 335 yards per game, nearly 100 yards more than their nearest WIAC foe (UW-Oshkosh, 241 ypg)...Last week, third down told the tale of the game, as River Falls completed their three biggest pass plays, including two touchdowns, on third down situations. Stout will need to tighten the screws a little this week, as Platteville comes in converting on 47.5 percent of their third downs, the best conversion rate in the WIAC. Even if they do stop the Pioneers on third down they cannot let their guard down, as Platteville converts 70 percent of their fourth down plays as well. Thus far this season, however, Stout has allowed their opponents just two successful fourth down attempts out of 16 tries...One thing Stout will have to capitalize on is their trips to the red zone, as Platteville's red zone defense has been susceptible all season. Of their opponents' 21 trips inside the 20, they have scored 15 touchdowns and five field goals...As it has been the case for much of the season, Stout enters the game as the league's least penalized team, drawing just 37 flags in eight game.
PROTECTING THE QUARTERBACK: Stout's offensive line needs to keep Michael Blizel upright, after allowing 15 sacks in the last two games. Blizel was harassed for eight sacks against La Crosse, and was sacked five times last week before the fifth one knocked him out of the game. Enter Hank Kujak, who proceeded to be sacked twice in only six dropbacks to finish the River Falls game. Their defensive line has struggled lately as well. After recording 15 sacks in the first four games, they have only managed three in the past four contests. It will be tough to reverse the trend against Platteville, whose offensive line has been nearly impenetrable. They have allowed just three sacks over their eight games this year.
THE COACHES: UW-Stout:Â
Clayt Birmingham (14-14) is in his third year as the UW-Stout head coach. Before coming to Stout, Birmingham coached at Western Michigan, Emporia College and UW-Stevens Point. Birmingham was the UW-Stout defensive coordinator for three years before assuming the head coaching role. Birmingham played his college football at UW-Stevens Point. Â
UW-Platteville: Mike Emendorfer is in his 14th season as the Pioneers' head coach. Since taking over as the head coach, the pass-oriented play caller's teams have set 40 school marks and 10 WIAC records as a prolific offensive group.
THE LEAGUES: UW-Stout and UW-Platteville are members of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). Stout finished fourth last season (5-5, 3-4 WIAC) in league play, while River Falls finished third (7-3, 5-2 WIAC).
QUICK HITS:
- - Protecting the quarterback was again a problem last week for the Blue Devils, who allowed seven sacks by UW-River Falls. A week earlier, Stout gave up eight sacks to UW-La Crosse, all coming in the fourth quarter when La Crosse led 19-10.
- - Stout recorded 15 sacks in their first four games, but have recorded just three in their most recent four.
- - Stout's woes on third down showed up on both sides of the ball against the Falcons. River Falls scored two touchdowns and connected on a game-sealing 49-yard reception, all coming on third down. Stout's third down conversions in past three games: 4 of 18 against River Falls; 3 of 17 against La Crosse; 1 of 15 against Whitewater, their lowest conversion rate in over 10 years.
- - Zak Snell returned eight kickoffs for 234 yards against La Crosse, including a 72 yard return. In all five other games before that combined, Stout had 345 kick return yards.
- - QB Michael Blizel completed passes to nine different receivers vs. Stevens Point. The last time a Stout QB completed passes to nine difference receivers was Oct. 1, 2011, when Ross Carey found nine different players, including offensive lineman Tim Lau who snagged a tipped pass.
- - TE Josh Peterson had 10 receptions vs. Stevens Point, the most receptions by a Blue Devil in a single game since Shawn Korth pulled in 11 vs. UW-Eau Claire, Nov. 10, 2007. Peterson has caught at least two passes in every game this year. Last year, Peterson caught at least one pass in the first nine games of the season, but was blanked in the season finale at UW-Oshkosh
- - Trevor Morning extended his reception streak to 18 games by catching three passes against Whitewater. Last season, Morning caught at least one pass in every game. Morning caught only two passes in a game at Whitewater, but both went for TDs.
- - TB Eric Brown had two consecutive 100-yard games, rushing for 127 yards at River Falls and 135 yards at Eau Claire. Since then: 51 yards vs. Stevens Point, 2 yards vs. Whitewater, 48 yards at La Crosse, and 24 yards vs. River Falls.
- - WR Trevor Morning's 85-yard pass reception from QB Michael Blizel against Jamestown College was the longest reception for a Stout tandem since Matt Bunyan tossed a 98-yard TD to speedster Jesse Witcraft on Nov. 16, 1997, in the Metrodome. Morning's reception is the longest collegiate reception at Don & Nona Williams Stadium. Morning's reception is the longest Stout play from scrimmage since TB Craig Warminski rolled off an 86-yard run, Nov. 13, 2010, in the final game of the 2010 season against UW-Oshkosh.
- - WR Jordan Nelson scored the first touchdown of his collegiate career, falling on an offensive fumble in the end zone late in the Jamestown game.
- - PK Ricky Marteney matched a career-best when he booted a 43-yard field goal against Jamestown College, then matched that at UW-Eau Claire. Marteney twice last season kicked 43-yarders, in the opening game with Black Hills State and against UW-Eau Claire.
- - WR Zak Snell was pressed into all kinds of duty against North Central. Snell caught two passes for 15 yards, rushed once for three yards, fielded three kickoffs for 72 yards and punted twice. Snell has also completed one pass this year, a 34-yard pass to WR Trevor Morning on the opening play of the UW-Eau Claire game.
- - The Stout defense held Jamestown College to 16 yards rushing, but then allowed North Central to run for 164 yards.
- - Last season: Stout's Eric Brown finished the 2011 season on a bit of tear, running 20 times for 105 yards against Platteville with two TDs, marking his second consecutive game with two TDs. Brown concluded the season by carrying the ball 29 times for 169 yards against Oshkosh....LB David Lindell recovered a fumble and snagged his first collegiate interception, to go along with three solo tackles against River Falls...Punter Mike Scherr punted the ball nine times against LaCrosse, dropping five punts inside the 20, four inside the 10 and three inside the 5...When kicker Ricky Marteney's 38 yard field goal attempt was blocked, it was the first time in his collegiate career he had a field goal attempt blocked in 31 attempts...Adam Smith caught a collegiate best five passes for 36 yards against Whitewater...Mike Gervanek had his longest career reception against Stevens Point, Oct. 8, a 40-yard play, topping a 30-yard play a week earlier against Eau Claire...Stout's David Goebel scored his first collegiate TDs when he scored two early in the 20-17 win over Jamestown, one on a rush, another on a pass reception...the Blue Devils blocked a kick in the first two games of the season, Evan Ludowese a field goal attempt against Black Hills State and Trevor Fiege a punt attempt against Jamestown.
CLIMBING THE LADDER: Kicker
Ricky Marteney continues his climb up the Blue Devil all-time scoring list. Marteney entered the year with 107 points and now has 155, moving to ninth on the all-time scoring list. Marteney also holds the record for most career field goals by any UW-Stout kicker. Entering this year with 22, Marteney has added ten, giving him the record over Clay Vajgrt, who set the previous mark in 1982.
SEASON HONORS: WR
Trevor Morning was chosen as the UW-Stout athlete of the week after catching six passes against UW-La Crosse, Oct. 20…DL
Ryan Ericksen was selected to the D3football.com Team of the Week after recording three sacks and five solo tackles against UW-Eau Claire, Sept. 29...PK
Ricky Marteney was the WIAC special teams player of the week after kicking field goals of 25- and 33-yards against UW-River Falls, Sept. 22. It was the third time in his career that he received the conference honor...LB
Spencer Adler was named the WIAC defensive player of the week after recording 12 tackles in a season opening 31-0 win over Jamestown College...returners earning all-WIAC honors last year were RB
Eric Brown, second team; TE
Josh Peterson, FB David Goebl and C
Joe Gerber were honorable mention selections. PK
Ricky Marteney was a second team pick in 2010.
TOPPERS: The following are career bests for several of Stout's offensive players
Michael Blizel - Passing
20 comp, 34 att, 210 yds, 1 TD vs. UW-Stevens Point, Oct. 6, 2012
18 comp, 42 att, 264 yds, 1 TD vs. UW-La Crosse, Oct. 20, 2012
17 comp, 29 att, 169 yds, 2 TDs vs. UW-River Falls, Sept. 22, 2012
15 comp, 29 att, 262 yds, 2 TDs vs. Jamestown College, Sept. 8, 2012
MIchael Blizel - Rushing
11 carries, 68 yards (no negative yards), 3 TDs vs. UW-Stevens Point, Oct. 6, 2012
Paul Bernier - Rushing
17 carries, 96 yards vs. UW-Stevens Point, Oct. 8, 2011
21 carries, 95 yards vs. UW-Oshkosh, Sept. 22, 2011
Eric Brown - Rushing
32 carries, 127 yards vs. UW-River Falls, Sept. 22, 2012
29 carries, 169 yards vs. UW-Oshkosh, Nov. 12, 2011
20 carries, 105 yards vs. UW-Platteville, Nov. 5, 2011
17 carries, 135 yards vs. UW-Eau Claire, Sept. 29, 2012
16 carries, 94 yards vs. Jamestown College, Sept. 8, 2012
16 carries, 73 yards vs. Black Hills State, Sept. 3, 2011
15 carries, 60 yards vs. Jamestown College, Sept. 10, 2011
Michael Gervanek - Receiving
6 receptions, 78 yards vs. UW-Stevens Point, Oct. 8, 2011
3 receptions, 66 yards vs. UW-Eau Claire, Oct. 1, 2011
Josh Peterson - Receiving
5 receptions, 110 yards vs. UW-Stevens Point, Oct. 8, 2011
8 receptions, 86 yards vs. UW-Oshkosh, Nov. 12, 2011
10 receptions, 80 yards vs. UW-Stevens Point, Oct. 6, 2012
5 receptions, 50 yards vs. Jamestown College, Sept. 8, 2012
6 receptions, 53 yards vs. UW-River Falls, Oct. 27, 2012
5 receptions, 47 yards vs. UW-Whitewater, Oct. 14, 2011
7 receptions, 47 yards vs. UW-River Falls, Oct. 29, 2011
Trevor Morning - Receiving
4 receptions, 155 yards vs. Jamestown College, Sept. 8, 2012
6 receptions, 113 yards vs. UW-La Crosse, Oct. 20, 2012
2 receptions, 84 yards vs. UW-Whitewater, Oct. 14, 2011 - 2TDs
4 receptions, 61 yards vs. UW-River Falls, Sept. 22, 2012
4 receptions, 58 yards vs. UW-Whitewater, Oct. 13, 2012
Adam Smith - Receiving
5 receptions, 36 yards vs. UW-Whitewater, Oct. 14, 2011
Ricky Marteney - Field Goals
43 yards vs. UW-Eau Claire, Sept. 29, 2012
43 yards vs. Jamestown College, Sept. 8, 2012
43 yards vs. UW-Eau Claire, Oct. 1, 2011
43 yards vs. Jamestown College, Sept. 10, 2011
TEAM CAPTAINS: Quarterback Michael Blizel, center Joe Gerber and tight end Josh Peterson are team captains. All three are seniors.
NATIONAL POLLS: The Pioneers are ranked 20th in the latest AFCA poll and 15th in the D3football.com Top 25 poll. UW-Stout has not received any national poll votes.
DON & NONA WILLIAMS STADIUM MARKS
Longest Pass Play
85 - Michael Blizel to Trevor Morning vs. Jamestown, Sept. 8, 2012
Longest Run from Scrimmage
86 - Craig Warminski vs. UW-Oshkosh, Nov. 13, 2010
Longest Field Goal
55 - Nick Dace (North Central College), Sept. 15, 2012
53 - Nick Dace (North Central College), Sept. 15, 2012
Longest Punt Return
80 - Craig Warminski vs. Eureka College, Sept. 18, 2010
Longest Kickoff Return
90 - Carlos Concepcion vs. UW-Eau Claire, Oct. 23, 2010
Most Rushing Yards in a Game
328 - Luke Bundgaard vs. UW-Platteville, Nov. 15, 2003
207 - Taylor Edwards (UW-River Falls), Oct. 3, 2009
207 - Justin Biever (UW-Whitewater), Nov. 5, 2005
Most Yards Passing in a Game
446 - Tom Stetzer (UW-Platteville), Sept. 29, 2001
358 - Brett Borchert (UW-Stevens Point), Oct. 16, 2004
349 - Austin Neu (UW-Eau Claire), Oct. 1, 2011
Most Yards Receiving in a Game
243 - Max Boe (Jamestown), Sept. 11, 2010
Most TDs Scored in a Game
4 - Luke Bundgaard vs. UW-Platteville, Nov. 15, 2003
SEEING DOUBLE TO END IN 2012: The WIAC instituted a cost-cutting procedure last season where, in one instance, conference teams will play each other twice, with the first meeting set up as a non-conference meeting. Stout last year played UW-Oshkosh twice and this year will face UW-River Falls twice, first a non-conference night game at River Falls, Saturday, Sept. 22, then in Menomonie, Saturday, Oct. 27. The meetings will be the 98th and 99th meetings in the two teams' long-time rivalry. Stout will be at UW-River Falls next year for the 100th meeting of the two teams. The conference's double meetings will end this year.
PROMOTIONS PLANNED FOR 2012: The Blue Devils have a full slate of promotions scheduled for 2012. The Sept. 8 game will be Dorm Days, while the Sept. 15 game will be Take a Kid to a Game Day. Oct. 6 is Homecoming and Oct. 13 is the annual Hall of Fame Game. The UW-Stout Dance Team is hosting a youth clinic that day and those youngsters will perform at halftime. The Oct. 27 game is Military Appreciation Day and the season home finale, Nov. 10 is Senior Day.
MAX SPARGER: UW-Stout dedicated the Don & Nona Williams Stadium press box in honor of former UW-Stout athletic director and coach Max Sparger September 11, 2010. Sparger led the Blue Devil football team to the 1965 WSUC championship. After leaving Stout in 1972, Sparger served as the WSUC commissioner. Sparger is a member of the UW-Stout Hall of Fame, as well as the WIAC Hall of Fame.
101 YEARS OF STOUT FOOTBALL: Stout Institute played their first game on Nov. 4, 1911, when they lost to River Falls Normal School, 13-11. Walter Anderson scored Stout's first touchdown, an 85 yard kickoff return. A week later, Stout won their first game, 30-2, against LaCrosse Business School as Harvey Tice scored four touchdowns. The predecessor to the WIAC began in 1913 and Stout has won five conference titles - 1921, 1941, 1949, 1965 and 2000. Stout became the Blue Devils during the late 1920s or early 1930s. Football was not played during the war years of 1918, 1943, and 1944. Along the way, the school has gone through a number of name changes - Stout Institute, Stout State College, Stout State University and the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Stout celebrated 100 years of football with a season-long celebration and alumni reunion.Â
TAILGATING RETURNED IN 2009: UW-Stout has adopted a formal tailgating policy for Blue Devil football games. The south end of the parking lot by the Don and Nona Williams Stadium has been designated as a tailgating area known as the "Tailgate Zone." Fans will be able to participate in the Blue Devil Walk. Tailgating is permitted three hours before the game, and tailgating activities will cease at game time. Only propane grills are permitted, no open flame grills. Alcohol or tobacco is not permitted.
EUROPEAN FLAVOR: UW-Stout coach Clayt Birmingham has been active in raising the popularity of American football in Europe and has made several trips to Europe to participate in workshops and coaching clinics. The Blue Devils have also welcomed European coaches to their training camp and 2011 was no exception with Nico Teichert and Johannes Fiebig from Germany getting an up close look at American football. The Blue Devils also had Antti Kurenniemi, a native of Finland, on their roster last season. Kurenniemi saw action in several games. In 2012, the Blue Devils, for the first time in several years, did not host a European coach, but do have an international player, Jan Andre Millemann from Germany.
DON & NONA WILLIAMS STADIUM: The Blue Devils' home stadium - Don & Nona Williams Stadium - got a facelift during the summer of 2008 when the original Astroturf-type surface was replaced with ProGrass, a surface that more closely resembles natural grass. Don & Nona Williams Stadium was only the second artificial playing surface in the state of Wisconsin when it opened in 2001. Only the Wisconsin Badgers played their games on artificial turf. The Green Bay Packers had an artificial surface in their practice facility. Now, nearly every WIAC school either has or is planning an artificial surface, and many high schools in the state have followed suit.
UP NEXT: The Blue Devils will close the 2012 season when they host UW-Oshkosh, Saturday, Nov. 10, at 2 p.m.