Box Score  |
UW-Stout 19, UW-River Falls 18
RIVER FALLS (November 9, 2013) - Wide receiver
Brian Alvarez (Jr, Atwater, Calif) had a hot first half and tailback
Adolfo Pacheco (Fr, South Elgin, Ill) had a hot second half as UW-Stout held off UW-River Falls to capture a 19-18 win over the Falcons Saturday at Ramer Field.
Alvarez tallied 111 receiving yards on seven catches in the first half, and had a 24-yard TD grab with seconds left in the first half to give Stout (4-5, 2-4 WIAC)Â a 13-12 lead into intermission. Alvarez got the majority of his yardage on that drive - 74 yards - including a 43 yard reception to the River Falls 6 to set up his eventual score.
Pacheco totaled 139 yards on the ground in 27 carries, getting 109 of those yards after the halftime break. Pacheco gave Stout a 19-12 lead on a 20-yard scamper at 10:05 in the third period, then ground out tough yards through the remainder of the game.
But the Falcons (0-9, 0-6) weren't done and pulled to to within the final score on a Jesse McKune 1-yard bull run with six minutes left on the clock. But River Falls missed the extra point, one of three missed extra point opportunities.
And Stout gave the Falcons a chance to take the lead. On the ensuing kickoff after McKune's score, the Blue Devils fumbled the ball to the Falcons. River Falls drove to as close as the Stout 19, but the Blue Devil defense forced the turnover on downs.
Stout just about ran the clock out as Pacheco carried the ball six times before Stout punted with 16 seconds left. Three plays later and the Falcons' bid was over.
Stout had the first opportunity of the game after
Grant Miller (Fr, Pleasonton, Calif)Â intercepted a pass and returned it 22 yards to the River Falls 17. But
Ricky Marteney (Sr, Greenfield) missed only his second field goal of the season, pushing the ball left in the strong swirling wins.
Stout recovered, and two drives later, went 80 yards in eight plays as quarterback
Hank Kujak (Jr, Blair) carried over from the 1-yard line. Kujak highlighted the drive with a 45-yard pass play to
Trevor Morning (Sr, Bloomer).
The Falcons scored at 7:44 in the second when quarterback Ryan Kusilek scampered in from 20 yards out, but the conversion failed. The Falcons took the lead when Zach Stuhr returned an interception 38 yards for the score. The two-point conversion failed.
Kujak finished with 224 yards passing, completing 18-of-37 passes. He was intercepted twice. Morning caught four passes for 72 yards. Alvarez finished with 120 yards on 10 receptions. Stout put up 368 yards of total offense, 224 passing, 144 rushing.
Stout held the Falcons to 267 total yards of offense, 157 rushing, 110 passing.
The Blue Devils will close out the season Saturday, Nov. 16 when they host UW-Stevens Point for Senior Day. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.
