Football Preview: Stout heads to Eau Claire for annual War on 94

THIS WEEK'S GAME: UW-Stout (1-6, 0-4 WIAC) will look to take it's first conference win of the season when they travel to UW-Eau Claire (0-7, 0-4 WIAC) to take on the Blugolds at Carson Park at 1 p.m. The teams will battle for the I-94 Trophy.


ON THE AIR: WMEQ 880 AM Radio will provide broadcast coverage for the season with Pete Knutson and Jake Bostrom providing commentary during the games.  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.  Live Stats will be available for all home games.  

WEEKLY INTERVIEW: UW-Stout head coach Clayt Birmingham will speak with Jimmie Kaska on Sports Radio 1400 in Eau Claire Saturday mornings at approximately 11:15 a.m. about the upcoming game and last week's game. A link to the weekly broadcast is available here. 

LAST TIME OUT: UW-Stout: The Blue Devils were able to move the ball, but were unable to get onto the scoreboard in a 21-0 loss to 13th ranked UW-Platteville, Oct. 25. Quarterback Garrett Peterson had a career day, completing 25-of-45 passes for 205 yards and rushed for 28 yards. Chris Pica-Anderson hauled in eight passes for 94 yards. Tanner Kuehn rushed the ball 16 times for 91 yards. After giving up 21 points in the first half, the Blue Devil defense shut out the Pioneers in the second and held them 12 points under their season average. The Blue Devils recorded five sacks on the day. 

LAST TIME OUT: UW-Eau Claire: While UW-Eau Claire and UW-River Falls were tied 10-10 at halftime, a scoreless second half by the Blugolds gave the Falcons the edge they needed to defeat the Blugolds 20-10 at Ramer Field Oct. 25. The teams were nearly even in offensive production with Eau Claire coming away with 334 yards (79 rushing, 255 passing) while River Falls had 340 yards (182 rushing, 158 passing). The Blugolds had no turnovers while River Falls fumbled the ball three times, losing one. A key difference in the game came on third downs as the Blugolds were 5-for-17 on third-down conversions while River Falls was 9-for-15.

WHEN STOUT AND EAU CLAIRE LAST MET: A second straight 100-yard game for Adolfo Pacheco, three Hank Kujak touchdown passes and five sacks by the defense led the Blue Devils to their first conference win of the season, 35-27 over UW-Eau Claire, Nov. 1, 2013, at Williams Stadium. Despite a late rally by the Blugolds, the defense came up big when it mattered most to reclaim the War on Interstate 94 trophy for the Blue Devils. Pacheco finished with 124 yards on 24 carries, including two touchdowns, both coming in the third quarter. Kujak was 20-36 for 215 yards. He also was the team's second leading rusher, picking up 21 yards on four carries. The Blugolds' Joel Sweeney rushed 33 times for 192 yards. 

THE SERIES: Eau Claire leads the series, 50-35-6, in a series that began in 1917 with a 49-0 Stout win. The teams have split their last 10 meetings Over the last five meetings, Stout has won three times, 2009, 2010, 2013. The Blugolds won back-to-back meetings in 2011 and 2012.

WAR ON 94: The War on 94 traveling trophy between UW-Stout and UW-Eau Claire begin in 2008 with Stout winning the first meeting in Menomonie, then winning it the next two years. Eau Claire claimed the trophy in 2011 for the first time, then kept it in 2012. Stout won the right to display the trophy in 2013.

WHO'S WHO: UW-Stout:   
Since quarterback Hank Kujak (Sr, Blair) was lost to injury in the first game of the season, sophomores Aaron Koerner (Colby) and Garrett Peterson (Menasha) have taken over at the spot. Koerner has started three games for the Blue Devils and has completed 28 of 76 passes for 265 and four touchdowns. In his first collegiate start at quarterback, Koerner led Stout to a 21-17 victory over Loras College, throwing for 173 yards and three touchdowns. Peterson made his season debut against UW-Oshkosh when he came on in relief of Koerner against and went 7-16 for 104 yards and a touchdown. He made his first career start against Whitewater on Homecoming and completed 10 of 19 passes for 156 yards. Against La Crosse, Peterson completed 70 percent of his passes, going 26 of 37 for 155 yards. He also carried the ball 10 times for 25 yards. In the loss last week to Platteville, Peterson set a career-high, throwing for 205 yards. He also was the Blue Devil's second leading rusher, picking up 28 yards on 10 carries. On the season, Peterson has thrown for 628 yards while completing 58.0 percent of his throws...

Aaron Jenny (Sr, Spicer, Minn.), a former All-WIAC selection in basketball for the Blue Devils, has emerged as the top pass catcher for the Blue Devils this season. He currently leads the team in receptions (26) and touchdowns (5) while ranking second in receiving yards (240). His five touchdown catches is tied for second in the WIAC. In Stout' s victory over Loras College, Jenny caught touchdowns of 30, six, and three yards, with his third coming on an acrobatic, one-handed catch in the back corner of the endzone. The last time a Stout player caught  three touchdowns in a game was when tight end Patrick Mengellkoch accomplished the feat against UW-Oshkosh on Nov. 4, 2009. The last time a Stout wide receiver caught three TDs in a game was on Sept. 3, 2005, when Jessie Wendt caught a trio of scores against Upper Iowa. Over the last four years, three players have scored three TDs in a single game: RB Adolfo Pacheco on Oct. 26, 2013 vs. Plattevile, QB Michael Blizel vs. Stevens Point on Oct. 6, 2012, and RB Craig Warminski on Oct. 30, 2010 against La Crosse. Earlier this season, Jenny ran off three straight games in which he caught at least one touchdown pass. After his three TD performance, Jenny caught a touchdown in each of Stout's next two games. In the game against La Crosse, Jenny was second on the team with six grabs for 37 yards...

Also featured in Stout's passing game are seniors Cody Rosemeyer (Gilman), Matt Small (Atwater, Calif.) and Zak Snell (Castaic, Calif.). Small has been the team's most consistent receiver in the last three games, recording three catches for 73 yards against Whitewater, six catches for 45 yards against La Crosse, and four grabs for 40 yards against Platteville. In the season opener, Small caught four balls for 72 yards and a TD. Small has 244 receiving yards, tops on the team, and is averaging 12.8 yards per reception, good for second among Stout players. Rosemeyer has 19 receptions for 199 yards and has the Blue Devil's second longest play from scrimmage this year, a 43-yard reception in the season opener. In the game against La Crosse, Rosemeyer recorded 43 total yards, catching two passes for 12 yards while rushing for 31 yards on five carries. He was Stout's second leading rusher on the day, behind running back Tanner Kuehn. Snell had been relatively quiet in the passing attack up until Stout's match up with Oshkosh, when he set a career high with 46 receiving yards on four catches. He has also performed his usual jack-of-all-trades role this season, helping out wherever the Blue Devils need him. Also emerging in the passing game the last two weeks has been Chris Pica-Anderson (So, Eleva) Pica-Anderson has caught at least five passes in each of the last two games, reeling in five fore 18 yards against La Crosse before exploding with eight catches for 94 yards against Platteville, including a long of 22-yards...

Tight end Reggie Kujak (Jr, Blair) caught three touchdowns a year ago and represents a big target in the passing game. He currently has six catches for 90 yards on the season and has caught a pass in four straight contests. Against Whitewater, Kujak set a career-high with 47 yards receiving on two catches. His 15.0 yard per catch average is tops on the team this year...

Running backs Adolfo Pacheco (So, South Elgin, Ill.)  and Tanner Kuehn (Sr, Fairchild) lead the Blue Devil rushing attack, which has just started to hit it's stride. Over the first two games of the year, Stout averaged just 82 yards on the ground. In the five games since, the team has averaged 117.6 yards. Against UW-La Crosse, five players recorded a carry for the Blue Devils, with Pacheco and Kuehn receiving 19 of the team's 35 carries. Peterson, Rosemeyer and Pica-Anderson received the rest, combining for 63 of Stout's 107 total rushing yards. In last week's game versus Platteville, Kuehn and Peterson received the majority of the carries, combining to rush 26 times for 119 yards...

Pacheco, who has been dealing with injury issues over the past two games, leads Stout in rushing, with 370 yards and two touchdown on the year. He is currently averaging 52.9 yards per game, good for sixth in the conference. A year ago, Pacheco ran off a late season run of four straight games with over 100 yards rushing. He scored his second touchdown of the season against La Crosse, a one-yard run in the third quarter to tie the game at 7. Pacheco has been Stout's leading rusher in four out of seven games this season, rambling for a season-high 118 yards in the victory over Loras. In the other three games, Kuehn has been the Blue Devil's leading gainer on the ground. He set a career-high last week versus Platteville, carrying the ball 16 times for 91 yards, including a long of 23. He was also Stout's second leading receiver in that game, catching six passes for 44 yards, also a career high for him. Kuehn is seventh in the WIAC in rushing yards and yards per game with 291 and 41.6, respectively. The past two weeks, Kuehn has led the team in all-purpose yards with 168 against Platteville and 147 against La Crosse. In addition to his 32 yards rushing, Kuehn picked up 32 yards receiving, 49 on kick returns, and 34 on punt returns. After a slow start to his senior season, Kuehn has come on strong as of late. Over the first two games of the season, Kuehn rushed for just 13 yards. In the five games since, he has gone for 278 yards, an average of 55.6 yards per game. On the year, Kuehn has 291 rushing yards, 96 receiving, 43 punt return and 329 kick return for a total of 759 all-purpose yards. His 108.4 all-purpose yards per game is second in the WIAC...

Stout is averaging 266.6 yards of total offense, 107.4 rushing, 159.1 passing.

Senior linebacker Luke Bakkum (Oconomowoc) has been Stout's leader on the defensive side of the ball all year. He hasn't recorded less than eight tackles in any game and has led the team in tackling on five different occasions this year. He leads the team with 67 tackles, including 42 solo. Bakkum is second in the WIAC in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks. Bakkum has 6.5 sacks on the year to go along with 11.5 tackles for loss of 46 yards. He started off the season on a tear, recording at least one sack in each of Stout's first four games including multi-sack games against Dakota Wesleyan, Wartburg and Oshkosh. The linebacker next to Bakkum is Kyle Hoefft (Jr, Morton, Ill.). Hoefft recorded a big game against La Crosse, in which he had a sack and a forced fumble. Hoefft is second on the team with 52 tackles, 32 solo. He also has 9.5 tackles for loss and two sacks after recording a half sack and two tackles for loss against Platteville. In Stout's match up versus Oshkosh, Hoefft had 12 tackles, eight solo and two tackles for loss, which he followed up with a 10 tackle game against Whitewater. On the season, Hoefft has recorded double digit tackles twice and recorded less than five tackles just once...

Free safety Tyler Naatz (Sr, Menomonie) is the leader in the secondary for the Blue Devils. Naatz, a team captain, is a two-time all-conference honorable mention pick. This year, Naatz has had at least six tackles in every game except the Platteville game and is third on the team with 50 tackles, 25 solo. He is also first on the team lead in pass breakups with four and has a fumble recovery on the year. Strong safety Collin Laursen (Jr, Mondovi) has bounced back in a big way after missing nearly all of last season with an injury. In 2012, he was a second team All-WIAC selection when he recorded 78 tackles, including 9.5 for loss. This year, Laursen is tied for the team lead with one interception and has defended three passes while also ranking fourth on the team with 47 tackles, 25 solo. Laursen recorded his first sack of the season against La Crosse. In the Whitewater game, Laursen recorded 13 tackles, including eight solo, to lead the team. He also had two tackles for loss in the game. James Van Thiel (So, Hilbert) has taken over at the weak safety position. After not seeing much action over the first two games, Van Thiel has seen his playing time increase over the past three contests. Against Oshkosh he recorded eight tackles, including seven solo. Making his first collegiate start against Whitewater, Van Thiel had five tackles, three solo. He recorded his first collegiate interception against La Crosse. At corne rback, Grant Miller (So, Pleasonton, Cali.) has an interception on the season and is tied for second on the team with three passes defended. Fellow corners Mike Bond (Sr, Milwaukee) and LaRon Thompson (Jr, Modesto, Calif.) have also defended three passes apiece this season...

On the defensive front, senior defensive linemen Jamie Rohrig (Owatonna, Minn.), Alec Zoern (Germantown) and Josh Archibald (Cottage Grove, Wis.) provide punch at the point-of-attack. Joining them on the line is freshman Iyen Ogbomoh (Olympia Fields, Ill.), who has taken over for an injured Kevin Houts (Sr, Bloomington, Minn.). Against Oshkosh, Rohrig had four tackles, two solo, and forced a fumble. Archibald also has forced a fumble this year. Ogbomoh is second on the team with 3.5 sacks, while Zoern has three on the year. Ogbomoh is tied for ninth in the WIAC in sacks. Rohrig has 2.5 sacks this season as well... 

As a unit, the Blue Devil defense ranks third in the WIAC with 22 total sacks on the season. Nine players have recorded at least a half a sack for Stout and the team has recorded at least two sacks in every game except against Whitewater. The defense recorded five sacks last week against Platteville. The Blue Devils have forced six fumbles this season, recovering five...

The Blue Devils are giving up 413.9 total yards on defense, 152.4 on the ground, 261.4 through the air.

Kicker Taylor Pahl (Fr, Hortonville) has converted 2 of 7 field goal attempts and 6 of 8 extra point tries this year. Against Loras and Wartburg, freshman Clark Riedel (Waukesha) was called on to punt 11 times. Against Wartburg, Koerner also punted once for team total of 12, which tied a Blue Devil team record set during the 1939 football season against Gustavus Adolphus. Riedel is currently third in the conference in average yards per punt, with 39.4. 
 
WHO'S WHO: UW-Eau Claire:  The Blugolds have struggled to score points this season, averaging just 5.7 per game. Eau Claire's offense has been better through the air than on the ground, as quarterbacks Mark Munger and Joel Newman have handled nearly all of the passing duties. Munger has played in all six games, completing 80 of 150 passes for 607 yards and two touchdowns. Newman has played in four games and has completed 55.7 percent of his passes (68-122) for 565 yards and a touchdown on the year. Newman is also team's fourth leading rusher, picking up 54 yards on 18 carries. Running back Riley Gebelein leads a three-headed backfield for the Blugolds, with a team-high 175 yards on 42 carries, an average of 4.2 yards per carry. Also receiving carries are freshman back Jake Neis and sophomore Bo Casper. Neis has 55 carries for 161 yards and Casper has 116 yards on 38 carries. Neis has scored Eau Claire's only rushing touchdown on the year, a two-yard run in the season opener against St. Thomas (Minn.). Three Blugold pass catchers have caught at least 15 passes this year, with receiver Korey Jacobson pacing the team with 30 receptions for 216 yards. Tight end Lucas Emmerich is also a favorite target in the passing game, with 26 grabs for 194 yards. Receiver Chris Cummings leads the team in receiving yards with 248. He has 23 catches on the year and is averaging a team-high 10.8 yards per catch. Gebelein and receiver Cody Gerver have caught 12 passes apiece this year and both have caught a touchdown pass... On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Erik Hulman is first on the team and sixth in the conference with 59 tackles, including 45 solo. He also has two forced fumbles and three tackles for loss on the year. Fellow linebacker Jayden Hobbs is tops on the team with 7.5 tackles for loss to go with 36 tackles, 32 solo. Senior defensive end Jake Safstrom is tops on the team with four sacks, good for seventh in the WIAC, while also recording seven tackles for loss. In the secondary, Jake Weber, a sophomore safety, has two interceptions on the year. As a unit, Eau Claire has recorded 10 sacks, forced nine fumbles (recovering two) and intercepted three passes. The team is giving up 383.1 yards per game (197.6 passing, 185.6 rushing). 

THE MATCHUP: Comparing the numbers:

Stout	WIAC Rank		WIAC Rank	UW-Eau Claire
9.7	7	PPG	8	5.7
28.0	7	Opp. PPG	8	31.6
159.6	7	Pass Yds	5	167.4
107.4	6	Rush Yds	8	83.0
-8 (8-16)	6	Turnover +/-	7	-10 (6-16)

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Garrett Peterson was named the offensive player of the week...Iyen Ogbomoh was named defensive player of the week. Clark Riedel was selected as special teams player of the week...Brandon Seiffert was selected as the defensive scout team player of the week...Jared Allen was selected as offensive scout team player of the week.

TEAM CAPTAINS: Captains for the 2014 season include quarterback Hank Kujak (Sr, Blair), defensive back Tyler Naatz (Sr, Menomonie) and linebacker Luke Bakkum (Sr, Oconomowoc).

ODDS AND ENDS: Quarterback Hank Kujak threw for 2183 yards – the most yards by a Stout quarterback since Matt Bunyan threw for 3220 yards during the 1998 seasons – and tossed 11 touchdown passes last season...Alec Zoern led all WIAC defensive linemen in tackles with 48 a year ago...Zak Snell is a jack-of-all-trades. In addition to playing wide receiver where he caught nine passes and a TD, Snell is a key performer on special teams and is utilized all over the field on offense. Snell is one of the few players in Blue Devil history who, throughout the course of his career, has completed a pass, rushed for yardage, caught passes, returned punts, served as a punter, returned kickoffs and served as the place kicker on the kickoff team....Sophomore running back Adolfo Pacheco recorded 965 rushing yards - the most by a Blue Devil freshman since Luke Bundgaard ran for 1,366 yards in 2000 (as a red-shirt freshman)...Last season, senior linebacker Luke Bakkum was fourth in the WIAC with 94 total tackles...The Blue Devils play just four home games in 2014 and have nearly a one month gap from their first home game to their second (Sept. 13 to Oct. 11).

THE COACHES: UW-Stout:   Clayt Birmingham (19-28) is in his fifth 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.   UW-Eau Claire: Todd Glaser (52-67, overall / 39-50, Eau Claire) is in his ninth year as the head coach at Eau Claire. A former Blugold player, Glaser coached four seasons at Marietta College in Ohio before taking over for his alma mater in 2006. Glaser was the WIAC coach of the year in 2007 after leading the Blugolds to their second NCAA appearance in program history.

COACHING STAFF  Travis Destache returns as the defensive coordinator along with Chris Morton, defensive line, Jed Stutzman, running backs,  First year coaches are: Pat McAvoy, offensive line and run game coordinator; Chase Vogel, quarterbacks and pass game coordinator; Kody Morgan, cornerbacks; and Bob Lichty, linebackers. (Lichty actually returns to the Blue Devil coaching staff after more than 30 years. Lichty coached under Sten Pierce in the 1970s) Joe Gerber returns as a graduate student coach working with the tight ends; Student coaches include:.Ricky Marteney, kickers; Jake Schiff, defensive backs; David Reyes, offensive line; Trevor Morning, receivers.

THE LEAGUES: UW-Stout and UW-La Crosse are members of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). Stout (4-6, 2-5 WIAC) and finished sixth in league play. In a conference preseason poll, Stout is predicted to finish sixth. The Eagles (3-7, 3-4 WIAC) were picked to finish fifth.

SEASON HONORS: Tyler Naatz is a semi-finalist for the National Football Foundation William Campbell Trophy...Aaron Jenny was named the UW-Stout/Northwestern Mutual player of the week after catching three TD passes against Loras College...Returners to the 2014 season that were 2013 All-WIAC selections include: Jamie Rohrig, Adolfo Pacheco, Tyler Naatz, Luke Bakkum...Bakkum is a 2014 D3football.com preseason All-American second team selection...Bakkum, Rohrig, Tyler Naatz, and Hank Kujak were 2014 USA Football Division III preseason honorable mention All-America selections.

TOPPERS: The following are career bests for several of Stout's offensive players
Garrett Peterson - Passing
25 comp, 45 att, 205 yds vs. UW-Platteville, Oct. 25, 2014
10 comp, 19 att, 156 yds vs. UW-Whitewater, Oct. 11, 2014
26 comp, 37 att, 155 yds vs. UW-La Crosse, Oct. 18, 2014
7 comp, 16 att, 104 yds, 1 TD vs. UW-Oshkosh, Oct. 4, 2014
Aaron Koerner - Passing
16 comp, 31 att, 173 yds, 3 TD vs. Loras College, Sept. 13, 2014
Hank Kujak - Passing
20 comp, 35 att, 272 yds, 3 TD vs. Dakota Wesleyan, Sept. 7, 2013
24 comp, 43 att, 262 yds 2 TD vs. UW-Platteville, Oct. 26, 2013
23 comp, 45 att, 250 yds vs. UW-Whitewater, Oct. 12, 2013
19 comp, 42 att, 243 yds, 1 TD vs. UW-Oshkosh, Oct. 5, 2013
21 comp, 34 att, 237 yds, 1 TD vs. University of Jamestown, Sept. 14, 2013
18 comp, 37 att, 224 yds, 1 TD vs. UW-River Falls, Nov. 9, 2013
20 comp, 36 att, 215 yds, 3 TD vs. UW-Eau Claire, Nov. 2, 2013
Tanner Kuehn - Rushing
16 carries, 91 yards vs. UW-Platteville, Oct. 25, 2014
18 carries, 88 yards, 1 TD vs. Wartburg College, Sept. 20, 2014
17 carries, 65 yards vs. UW-Oshkosh, Oct. 5, 2013
19 carries, 56 yards, 1 TD vs. Dakota Wesleyan, Sept. 7, 2013
14 carries, 54 yards vs. University of Jamestown, Sept. 14, 2013
10 carries, 44 yards, 1 TD vs. North Central College, Sept. 21, 2013
Adolfo Pacheco - Rushing
28 carries, 194 yards, 3 TD vs. UW-Platteville, Oct. 26, 2013
25 carries, 143 yards, 1 TD vs. UW-Stevens Point, Nov. 16, 2013
27 carries, 139 yards, 1 TD vs. UW-River Falls, Nov. 9, 2013
24 carries, 124 yards, 2 TD vs. UW-Eau Claire, Nov. 2, 2013
35 carries, 118 yards vs. Loras College, Sept. 13, 2014
13 carries, 94 yards, 1 TD vs. UW-Oshkosh, Oct. 5, 2013
13 carries, 85 yards, vs. Wartburg College, Sept. 20, 2014
16 carries, 67 yards vs. Dakota Wesleyan, Sept. 7, 2013
14 carries, 65 yards vs. UW-La Crosse, Oct. 19, 2013
8 carries, 65 yards vs. North Central College, Sept. 21, 2013
Cody Rosemeyer - Receiving
7 receptions, 98 yards vs. University of Jamestown, Sept. 14, 2013
5 receptions, 92 yards vs. Dakota Wesleyan, Sept. 6, 2014
5 receptions, 75 yards vs. UW-Oshkosh, Oct. 5, 2013
7 receptions, 58 yards vs. Loras College, Sept. 13, 2014
4 receptions, 55 yards vs. North Central College, Sept 21, 2013
3 receptions, 42 yards vs. UW-Stevens Point, Nov. 16, 2013
Aaron Jenny - Receiving
8 receptions, 107 yards, 3 TDs vs. Loras College, Sept. 13, 2014
4 receptions, 57 yards, 1 TD vs. UW-Oshkosh, Oct. 4, 2014
6 receptions, 37 yards vs. UW-La Crosse, Oct. 18, 2014
Chris Pica-Anderson - Receiving
8 receptions, 94 yards vs. UW-Platteville, Oct. 25, 2014
Zak Snell - Receiving
4 receptions, 46 yards vs. UW-Oshkosh, Oct. 4, 2014
3 receptions, 45 yards, 1 TD vs. North Central College, Sept. 21, 2013
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, 73 yards vs. UW-Whitewater, Oct. 11, 2014
4 receptions, 72 yards vs. Dakota Wesleyan, Sept. 6, 2014
3 receptions, 54 yards vs. UW-Platteville, Nov. 3, 2012
6 receptions, 45 yards vs. UW-La Crosse, Oct. 18, 2014
4 receptions, 40 yards vs. UW-Platteville, Oct. 25, 2014
3 receptions, 37 yards vs. UW-Eau Claire, Nov. 2, 2013
3 receptions, 33 yards vs. UW-La Crosse, Oct. 19, 2013
3 receptions, 32 yards vs. UW-Eau Claire, Sept. 29, 2012
Reggie Kujak - Receiving
2 receptions, 47 yards vs. UW-Whitewater, Oct. 11, 2014
3 receptions, 26 yards, 2 TD vs. UW-Eau Claire, Nov. 2, 2013
3 receptions, 23 yards, 1 TD vs. UW-Platteville, Oct. 26, 2013


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
381 - Dylan Jones (Loras College), Sept. 13, 2014
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
238 - Nate Even (Loras College), Sept. 13, 2014
Most TDs Scored in a Game
4 - Luke Bundgaard vs. UW-Platteville, Nov. 15, 2003

PROMOTIONS PLANNED FOR 2014: The Blue Devils have a full slate of promotions scheduled for 2013, beginning with Dorm Days for the Sept. 13 contest with Loras College. Oct. 11 vs. UW-Whitewater is Homecoming, Oct. 25 vs. UW-Platteville is both Military Appreciation Day and the annual Hall of Fame game and Nov. 8 vs. UW-River Falls 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.

STOUT FOOTBALL HISTORY: 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 during the 2011 season.

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. This fall, the Blue Devils had a coach from Germany into preseason camp for a couple of days. Enzo Rosani is a freshman corner back from France on the 2014 roster.  Feature Story  The Blue Devils have consistently welcomed European coaches to their training camp. In 2011 it was 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 did 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 out the home portion of their schedule when they host UW-River Falls, Saturday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. It will be the 101st meeting between the two programs. The day will also be senior day. The Blue Devils have won seven of the last eight meetings, with the Falcons getting a win in 2012.