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NAPERVILLE, Ill (September 20, 2013) - The Blue Devils (2-0, 0-0 WIAC) will take their unbeaten record and undoubtedly face their toughest opponent to this point of the season when they travel to Naperville, Ill, to face sixth ranked
North Central College (1-0, 0-0 CCIW), Saturday, Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. The Cardinals are coming off a 41-24 win at UW-La Crosse last Saturday. The Blue Devils have beaten two NAIA opponents, defeating Dakota Wesleyan 35-20 in the season opener and downing the University of Jamestown, 13-7, Saturday. Stout and North Central met last year in Menomonie for the first time, with North Central coming out on top. The Cardinals last year advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament and are predicted to win their eighth consecutive conference championship.
ON THE AIR: WMEQ 880 AM Radio will provide broadcast coverage for the season.Â
WMEQ will also audio stream the games. At home games, WMEQ will provide the audio portion for
Live Video streaming of all home football games, network providing.Â
Live Stats will be available for all home games. North Central has provided a
Live Stat link and will also provide
Live Video.
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.
This week's interview. |
Weekly Interviews
LAST TIME OUT: UW-Stout: Stout's offense racked up 144 yards on the ground and 237 through the air for 381 yards of total offense in the Blue Devils 13-7 win over Jamestown last Saturday. A pair of Ricky Marteny field goals in the second quarter proved to be the difference in the game. Quarterback Hank Kujak and reciever Trevor Morning continued their hot starts to the season, as Kujak went over 200 yards passing and Morning had over 100 yards recieving for the second straight game. Morning finished with 107 yards on a career-high 10 grabs including an 11 yard touchdown from Kujak on the game's opening drive. On the ground, Tanner Kuehn led the way with 54 yards on 14 carries. Kujak had 45 and Adolfo Pacheco had 44 for Stout. With rain falling throughout the game, the Blue Devils led from start to finish, with Jamestown scoring their lone touchdown mid-way through the third quarter to cut Stout's lead to six. Both offenses traded punts the rest of the game. Defensively, linebacker Luke Bakkum led the way, with 13 tackles, seven solo, including a sack and three for loss. Defensive tackle Jamie Rohrig chipped in seven tackles, one solo, with a sack on the afternoon. Safety Damian Guggenbuehl also had an interception that killed the Jimmies longest drive of the half, leading to the second of Marteney's field goals. |Â Complete Story and Box Score
LAST TIME OUT: North Central College:Â Coming into last week ranked 6th in the nation in Division III, the Cardinals defeated UW-La Crosse handily, setting the school's single game record for total offensive yards with 674. In what was a close game early on, the Cardinal's broke it open in the second half, turning a 21-10 halftime lead into a 41-17 rout before UW-L scored a meaningless touchdown with 1:17 left in the fourth quarter. North Central held the Eagles to only 264 yards of total offense and only two offensive scores. The Cardinals recorded seven tackles for loss and three sacks, including two by lineman John Focosi. Safety Shane Dierking chipped in an interception for North Central's defense. Â Quarterback Spencer Stanek led the way for the Cardinals offensively, passing for 330 yards and a touchdown while adding a team-high 106 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He completed passes to eight different recievers, with Peter Sorenson (8 catches, 142 yards) and Chad O'Kane (9, 105) leading the way. North Central's only miscue of the game came on a fumble early in the third quarter that was returned for a touchdown by La Crosse. Â Â | Complete Story |Â Box Score
WHEN THEY MET LAST YEAR:Â North Central defeated the Blue Devils 37-10 last year when the Blue Devils were unable to get anything going on offense. Despite forcing three turnovers in Cardinal territory, an interception, missed field goal, and a fumble erased any chance Stout had. North Central outgained the Blue Devils 164-9 on the ground and 246-178 through the air. North Central also forced four Stout turnovers. Cardinal kicker Nick Dace hit three field goals of 40+ yards in the game, connecting from 41, 53, and 55 yards.Â
THE SERIES: North Central College leads the series, 1-0, after last year's win.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Offense: Trevor Morning, Sr, Bloomer, Wis.; Defense: Luke Bakkum, Jr, Oconomowoc, Wis; Special teams: Ricky Marteney, Sr, Greenfield, Wis.; Scout players of the week: Offensive:Â Grant Miller, Fr, Pleasanton, Calif (Amador Valley); Defensive: Jared Allen, Fr, Maple Grove, Minn. (Hopkins)
WHO'S WHO: UW-Stout: With two games under their belt, the Blue Devils have shown an ability to move the ball well on offense, averaging 444 yards of total offense. Running backs Tanner Kuehn and Adolfo Pacheco have been leading the way on the ground, with 110 and 111 rushing yards, respectively. Leading the way for both backs are guard David Reyes and tackle Devon Greiber, both starters last season. Reyes was a second team all-WIAC selection as a junior and earned preseason honorable mention honors by USA Football. The offensive line, which includes first-year starters Alex Jorgenson, Kevin Russell, and David Koronkiewicz, has also been doing a great job in pass protection, having yet to allow a sack on the season. With time to throw, quarterback Hank Kujak is averaging over 250 yards passing per game. His favorite target, Trevor Morning, is already halfway to his reception and yardage total from a year ago and has already matched last season's touchdown total. He has gone over 100 yards recieving in consecutive games for the first time in his career, with 212 yards in the opener and 107 last week. Cody Rosemeyer also turned in a big game last week, catching seven passes for 98 yards, both career highs for him. Zak Snell has resumed his role as an everyman, filling in wherever the Blue Devils need him. Already this season he has kicked off, punted, kicked an extra point, returned kicks, and caught two passes for the Blue Devils. For his efforts he was the team's week one special teams player of the week. Kicker Ricky Marteney remains perfect on kicks for the season, as he has gone 4-4 on field goal attempts and 3-3 on extra points. He currently sits tied for third on Stout's all-time scoring list. On the defensive side of things, linebacker Luke Bakkum leads the team in tackles with 21, 10 solo. He also has one of Stout's two sacks on the season, with defensive tackle Jamie Rohrig getting the other one. First-year starter Dominque Rhodes (Jr, Milwaukee) came up with an interception in the season opener and safety Damian Guggenbuehl had one last week against Jamestown. Defensive lineman Alec Zoern (Jr, Germantown) has been a force up front, recording 2.5 tackles for loss as well as forcing a fumble in the season opener. Safety Tyler Naatz, the Blue Devil's leading tackler from a year ago, is a constant presence in the defensive backfield. Other notable defenders include linebackers David Lindell and Spencer Adler and defensive end David Goebel, who is making the switch from fullback to the defensive line. Adler has yet to play a snap yet this year as he is recovering from an injury suffered in pre-season play. Goebel will be a four year starter for the Blue Devils and the two-time all-WIAC honorable mention selection has started all 30 games since arriving on campus as a freshman.Stout's total defense finished fourth in the WIAC last season, up from sixth the previous two seasons. Naatz finished second in the WIAC in tackles last year and Lindell finished fifth in tackles for loss (12.0).  | 2012 Stats 2013 Stats
WHO'S WHO: North Central College: North Central boasts a roster that includes 21 seniors this year, including key starters on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Spencer Stanek, who led the conference in passing yards a year ago, came out strong in the Cardinal's season opener, throwing for 330 yards and rushing for 106 more. For his efforts, he was named the CCIW offensive player of the week. North Central's rushing attack came out rolling against La Crosse, as running backs Matt Randolph and Ryan Kent gained 80 and 76 yards respectively. Kent's 308 yards last season were the most of any returning players for the Cardinals.  Captain Ryne Rezac leads a receiving group that returns three of its top recievers from a year ago. Rezac led the team with 40 receptions a year ago. Peter Sorenson and Chad O'Kane round out the group of returners. Both came up big in the opener, with Sorenson catching eight passes and O'Kane pulling in nine. Both players were All-CCIW selections a year ago. Up front, tackles Jace Werkheiser and Greg Whalen were also All-CCIW selections.  On the defensive side of the ball, North Central returns four starters who were named All-Conference selections in 2012. Safety Shane Dierking led the team in both tackles (65) and interceptions (4) a year ago, picked off a pass in the season opener. A strong defensive front, led by captains John Focosi and Alex Tripp, got off to a great start to the season as the Cardinals gave up only 3.7 yards per rush and recorded three sacks, two by Focosi. Josh Beveridge, who led the team with 7.5 sacks a year ago, and Josh Fick round out the rest of the line. Also coming back for North Central is defensive back Connor Douglas, who had two interceptions and ranked fifth on the team in tackles in 2012. Kicker Nick Dace,  who holds the record for the two longest field goals at Don and Nona Williams Stadium (53 and 55 yards), is the all-time leading scorer for the Cardinals, with 289 career points. He set the record last week, going 5-6 on extra points. | 2012 Stats 2013 Stats
THE MATCHUP: Comparing the numbers:
|
    Stout  (2 games)   |
WIAC Rank |
|
Rank |
North Central College(1 game) |
|
24.0 |
n/a |
PPG |
n/a |
41.0 |
|
13.5 |
n/a |
Opp. PPG |
n/a |
24.0 |
|
279.0 |
n/a |
Pass Yds |
n/a |
330.0 |
|
165.0 |
n/a |
Rush Yds |
n/a |
344.0 |
|
+2 |
n/a |
Turnover +/- |
n/a |
0 |
CLIMBING THE LADDER: Kicker Ricky Marteney continues his climb up the Blue Devil all-time scoring list. With two more field goals and an extra point against Jamestown, Marteney increased his career total to 178 points, tied with Scott Frederickson for third on the all-time scoring list. Marteney entered the year with 163 points, and went 2-2 on field goals and added two extra points in the season opening win against Dakota Wesleyan. Marteney also holds the record for most career field goals by any UW-Stout kicker with 39 makes.
TEAM CAPTAINS: Captains include offensive lineman Devon Greiber (Sr, Waunakee), senior fullback David Goebel (Sr, Minnetonka, Minn), quarterback Hank Kujak (Jr, Blair), linebacker David Lindell (Sr, New Richland, Minn), offensive lineman David Reyes (Sr, Riverside, Calif) and wide receiver Trevor Morning (Sr, Bloomer).
THE COACHES: UW-Stout:Â Â
Clayt Birmingham (15-16) is in his fourth 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
North Central College: John Thorne (97-27) is in his 12th season as North Central's head coach. Under his watch, the Cardinals have won or shared seven CCIW conference titles. Thorne is North Central's all-time leader in coaching victories and winning percentage (.783). He was also named CCIW coach of the year three times (2008, 2010, 2011). Prior to becoming the head coach of the Cardinals, Thorne coached 22 seasons as head coach of Wheaton Warrenville South High School, compiling an 181-64 career record, four state championships and two state runner-up finishes.Â
In 2003, Thorne was inducted into the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
COACHING CHANGES: Longtime Blue Devil coaches
Mark Thomas and MIke Bird have left the UW-Stout football program. Thomas will step away from the football program to devote more time with his women's basketball program and Bird is now full-time as the program director of the school's Health, Wellness and Fitness major.Â
Travis Destache and Bodie Reeder return as the defensive and offensive coordinators, respectively. New to the program are: Dane Wardenburg, offensive line;
Chris Morton, defensive line, Del Howard, defensive backs, John O'Grady, running backs and assistant head coach;
Jed Stutzman, offensive line, and Rich Rossi, wide receivers. Student coaches include: Kyle Lenski, defensive line;
Joe Gerber, offensive line; and
Eric Brown, running backs.
THE LEAGUES: UW-Stout is a member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). Stout finished tied for sixth last season (3-7, 1-6 WIAC) in league play. North Central is a member of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). The Cardinals were co-conference champions in 2012, finishing 9-3 overall and 6-1 in conference play.
QUICK HITS:Â Reciever
Trevor Morning built off his career game in the opener by recording a career high 10 receptions for 107 yards against Jamestown. With back-to-back hundred yard games for the first time in his career, Morning has quickly emerged as quarterback
Hank Kujak's favorite target. Last season, Morning totaled 33 receptions for 655 yards and three touchdowns. Through the first two games of this season, he has 17 receptions for 319 yards and three touchdowns... Running backsÂ
Tanner Kuehn and
Adolfo Pacheco are both averaging 55 yards rushing per game, while Kujak has rushed for an average of 46 per game. Kuehn has scored the Blue Devils only rushing touchdown of the season.... Kujak is completing 59% of his passes while throwing for over 230 yards in each of Stout's first two games. Against Dakota Wesleyan, he completed seven passes that went for 20+ yards. His 272 passing yards against Dakota Wesleyan were the most by a Stout QB since Oct. 8th 2011, when Ross Carey threw for 284 yards. Stout's team passing total of 321 yards during the same game was the most by a Stout team since Oct. 30 2004, when Nick Ohman threw for 347 againts UW-La Crosse. Kujak completed passes to 8 different recievers against the Tigers...The 507 yards that Stout put up in the season opener were the most for the Blue Devils since Sep. 18, 2010 when they put up 556 against Eureka College.Â
IN THE MORNING: WR
Trevor Morning extended his reception streak to 22 games by catching 10 passes for 107 yards against the University of Jamestown. Morning caught at least one pass in each game during both his sophomore and junior seasons. His 10 receptions versus Jamestown and his 212 recieving yards in the season opener against Dakota Wesleyan are both career highs for him. His 212 yards in the opener were the most by a Stout reciever since Dan Austin set the school record with 241 on Nov. 1 2003 against UW-Lacrosse...Morning's 85-yard pass reception from QB
Michael Blizel against Jamestown College in the 2012 season opener 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 was 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...
MARTENEY, BEST WHEN STIRRED: PK
Ricky Marteney entered the 2013 season with 163 career points, tied for fifth on the all-time scoring list with fellow kicker Kevin McCauley. After two games, Marteney is 4-4 on field goal attempts and 3-3 on extra points, giving him a career total of 178, putting him in a tie for third place on the all-time scoring list...last season, Marteney matched a career-best when he booted a 43-yard field goal against Jamestown College, matching it again later in the season at UW-Eau Claire. Marteney twice kicked 43-yarders during the 2011 season, in the opening game with Black Hills State and against UW-Eau Claire...for his career, Marteney has made 61-of-63 extra point attempts...last season, Marteney was a perfect 17-of-17 in extra points...Marteney has made 39-of-56 field goals over his career.
SEASON HONORS: Hank Kujak was named the WIAC and UW-Stout athlete of the week after throwing for 272 yards against Dakota Wesleyan in the season opener...Returners named to the 2012 All-WIAC second team include: DB
Collin Laursen, OL
David Reyes, and RS
Tanner Kuehn. DB
Tyler Naatz and FB
David Goebel 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
Hank Kujak - Passing
20 comp, 35 att, 272 yds, 3 TD vs. Dakota Wesleyan, Sept. 7, 2013
21 comp, 34 att, 237 yds, 1 TD vs. University of Jamestown, Sept. 14, 2013
Trevor Morning - Receiving
7 receptions, 212 yards vs. Dakota Wesleyan, Sept. 7, 2013 - 2TDs
4 receptions, 155 yards vs. Jamestown College, Sept. 8, 2012
6 receptions, 113 yards vs. UW-La Crosse, Oct. 20, 2012
10 receptions, 107 yards vs. University of Jamestown, Sept. 14, 2013- 1TD
2 receptions, 84 yards vs. UW-Whitewater, Oct. 14, 2011 - 2TDs
4 receptions, 79 yards vs. UW-Oshkosh, Nov. 10, 2012 - 1TD
4 receptions, 61 yards vs. UW-River Falls, Sept. 22, 2012
4 receptions, 58 yards vs. UW-Whitewater, Oct. 13, 2012
Tanner Kuehn - Rushing
19 carries, 56 yards vs. Dakota Wesleyan, Sept. 7, 2013
14 carries, 54 yards vs. University of Jamestown, Sept. 14, 2013
Adolpho Pecheco - Rushing
16 carries, 67 yards vs. Dakota Wesleyan, Sept. 7, 2013
David Goebel - Rushing
3 carries, 51 yards vs. UW-La Crosse, Oct. 20, 2012
3 carries, 27 yards, 1 TD vs. Jamestown College, Sept. 10, 2011
Cody Rosemeyer - Receiving
7 receptions, 98 yards vs. University of Jamestown, Sept. 14, 2013
Zak Snell - Receiving
4 receptions, 44 yards vs. UW-River Falls, Sept. 22, 2012
4 receptions, 32 yards vs. UW-River Falls, Oct. 27, 2012
3 receptions, 25 yards, 1 TD vs. UW-La Crosse, Oct. 20, 2012
Matt Small - Receiving
3 receptions, 54 yards vs. UW-Platteville, Nov. 3, 2012
3 receptions, 32 yards vs. UW-Eau Claire, Sept. 29, 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: 2013 team captains are: offensive linemen Devon Greiber and David Reyes, quarterback Hank Kujak, fullback David Goebel, linebacker David Lindell and wide receiver Trevor Morning.
NATIONAL POLLS: The Cardinals are ranked sixth in the latest D3football.com Top 25 poll.
DON & NONA WILLIAMS STADIUM MARKS
Longest Pass Play
87 - Jon Bane to Anthony Muilenburg (Dakota Wesleyan) Sept. 7, 2013
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
PROMOTIONS PLANNED FOR 2013: The Blue Devils have a full slate of promotions scheduled for 2013, beginning with Dorm Days for the Sept. 7 contest with Dakota Wesleyan University. Oct. 5 vs. UW-Oshkosh is Take a Kid to a Game Day, Oct. 19 is Homecoming, Nov. 2 vs. UW-Eau Claire is both Military Appreciation Day and the annual Hall of Fame game and Nov. 16 vs. UW-Stevens Point 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.
102 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 A 10-week series on Stout football is available.
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 have a bye, Saturday, Sept. 28, then will open the WIAC schedule when they host defending conference champion UW-Oshkosh, Saturday, Oct. 5 at 2 p.m.
