Live Stats |
Live Video |
Live AudioTHIS WEEK'S GAME:Â UW-Stout (1-1, 0-0 WIAC) will play their only night game of the season when they travel to Waverly, Iowa, to take on ninth ranked
Wartburg College (2-0, 0-0 IIAC), Saturday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. Stout is coming off a 21-17 win over Loras College, while Wartburg downed seventh ranked Bethel University, 31-14. This will be the first meeting between the two football programs.
Â
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.Â
WMEQ will also audio stream the games. Wartburg is expected to provide Live Stats and live video coverage.
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.
This week's interview. |
Weekly InterviewsLAST TIME OUT: UW-Stout: The Blue Devils held off a late charge by Loras College to take a 21-17 win over the Duhawks in Stout's home opener.
Aaron Jenny had a breakout game at wide receiver. The former Blue Devil all-conference basketball player hauled in three touchdown passes and and caught eight balls for 107 yards. The Blue Devil defense bent throughout the game, but came up big in the final five minutes of the game when
Collin Laursen intercepted a pass on the Stout 17 and, minutes later,
Alec Zoern recovered a Loras fumble in the end zone to seal the win. |Â
Complete Story and Box ScoreLAST TIME OUT: Wartburg College: Ranked ninth in the latest D3football.com Top 25 poll coming into the game, Wartburg College will undoubtedly move up in the rankings after downing seventh-ranked Bethel University, 31-14, in Waverly, Iowa. Bethel took a 7-3 lead into halftime, but the third quarter and most of the fourth quarter belonged to the Knights. Quarterback Logan Schrader scored twice in the final seven minutes of the third stanza and Brandon Donmeyer added a 1-yard run early in the fourth quarter. The Royals made it 24-14 with a score at the nine minute mark. Wartburg put the cap on the game when Schrader hit Taylor Jacobsme with a 55-yard scoring strike with seven minutes left in the game. Schrader was 22-of-38 for 388 yards, 19 short of his career best. | Â Complete Story and Box Score
WHEN THEY LAST MET: The teams have never met. | Complete Story and Box Score.Â
THE SERIES: The teams have never met.
WHO'S WHO: UW-Stout: The Blue Devils will be without the services of quarterback and team captain Hank Kujak (Sr, Blair), who is out for the season after an injury in the opening game at Dakota Wesleyan. Sophomore Aaron Koerner (Colby) will take over under center for the Blue Devils moving forward. 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, all to receiver Aaron Jenny (Sr, Spicer, Minn.)... Jenny, a former All-WIAC selection in basketball, grabbed eight passes for 107 yards last week. He caught touchdowns of 30, six, and three yards, his third coming on an acrobatic, one-handed catch in the 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 n 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 scored three TDSs 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... Stout's receiving corps also features a lot of experience, as seniors Matt Small (Atwater, Calif.), Cody Rosemeyer (Gilman), and Zak Snell (Gastaic, Calif.) have been solid contributors during the course of their collegiate careers. Rosemeyer caught at least three passes in every game last season and has continued that trend into this season as well, catching five passes for 92 yards in the opener and seven for 58 last week. His season totals of 12 receptions and 150 yards are both tops on the team. A year ago, Rosemeyer finished third on the team in yards and receptions, catching 40 passes for 456 yards and a touchdown. Small also started off the year in a strong fashion after filling more of a supporting role last season, setting career-highs in receptions and yards in the season opener with four catches for 72 yards and a touchdown. Snell has stepped right back into his jack-of-all-trades role, helping out wherever the Blue Devils need him... Tight end Reggie Kujak (Jr, Blair) also figures to be a key part of the passing attack. Kujak caught three touchdowns a year ago. Fellow tight end Ben Hall (Jr, North Palm Beach Gardens, Flor.) caught a pass from Koerner for a two-point conversion in the fourth against Loras to put the Blue Devils up by seven... Running back Adolfo Pacheco (So, South Elgin, Ill.) leads the Blue Devil rushing attack, going for 57 yards on 22 carries, including a three-yard touchdown run, against Dakota Wesleyan before rushing for 118 against Loras. Pacheco is averaging 87.5 rushing yards per game. Senior Tanner Kuehn (Fairchild) joins Pacheco in the backfield as a shifty, change-of-pace back, while also handling punt and kick return duties... ... On the defensive side of the ball, Stout welcomes back safety Collin Laursen (Jr, Mondovi), who missed most 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. His fourth quarter interception a week ago helped Stout seal the win over Loras. Joining him in the secondary are safeties Tyler Naatz (Sr, Menomonie) and Austin Ludowese (So, Stewart, Minn.). Naatz, a team captain, is a two-time all-conference honorable mention pick and led the team with six pass breakups last year. He was also third on the team with 62 tackles. Naatz broke up a pass and recorded eight tackles against Dakota Wesleyan and followed that performance up with seven tackles, including one for loss. His 15 total tackles are good for second on the team, right behind fellow defensive captain, senior linebacker Luke Bakkum (Oconomowoc). Bakkum had nine tackles, including 4.5 for loss in the opener. The teams leading tackler from a year ago, Bakkum was a big part of a strong defensive effort by the Blue Devils. He had two of the team's seven sacks and made a seamless transition back to the linebacker position after playing safety for the majority of last season. Last week against Loras, Bakkum led the team in tackles again, recording 10 (seven solo). He also had a sack, bumping his season totals to 19 tackles (15 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks, all tops on the team. The linebacker next to Bakkum is Kyle Hoefft (Jr, Morton, Ill.). Hoefft is third on the team with 13 tackles, seven solo, after recording seven tackles against Loras. Jack Ihrke (So, Plainview, Minn.) also figures to factor in the rotation at linebacker, turning in a strong opening game, with 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks against Dakota Wesleyan. Senior defensive linemen Jamie Rohrig (Owatonna, Minn.) and Alec Zoern (Germantown) each had a sack in the opener, while Zoern also contributed seven tackles. In the teams home opener, Zoern had two tacles for loss, including a sack. He also recovered a fumble in the end zone, ending a late drive by Loras ...Kicker Taylor Pahl (Fr, Hortonville) got his collegiate career off on the right foot, drilling both his field goal attempts from 28 and 34 yards out in the season opener. Against Loras, freshman Clark Riedel (Waukesha) was called on 11 times, getting off eight for 277 yards, with a long of 43 and two being downed inside the 20. Three punts were counted as team punts due to the ball striking the ground before reaching Riedel. The 11 total punts was one short of the team record of 12, set back during the 1939 season against Gustavus Adolphus. Loras punted the ball nine times as well, for a total of 20 punts between the two teams in the Blue Devils home opener.
WHO'S WHO: Wartburg College: After reeling off back-to-back wins to start the season, the Knights are ranked No. 9 in the most recent d3football.com Top 25 poll. They knocked off then-No. 7 Bethel College 31-14 last week after opening the year with a 40-3 rout against Augsburg College. The Wartburg passing attack has been the focal point of the offense, with junior quarterback Logan Schrader leading the way. Schrader has thrown for 603 yards and three touchdowns while completing 66.7 percent of his passes (36-54). Taylor Jacobsme has been his favorite target, grabbing 13 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown. Three Knight receivers are averaging more than 20 yards per reception: Will Ebert (29.5 yards per catch), Jake Holsteen (26.5), and Mitch Rahm (21.0). Ebert is second on the team with 118 yards receiving and also has a touchdown on the year. Robbie Anstoett has five grabs for 89 yards and two touchdowns. The Knight's rushing attack has been very balanced, with three players over 70 yards on the season. Running back Brandon Domeyer has carried 28 times for 91 yards and three touchdowns. Back-up Jake Haberman leads the team with a 4.3 yard per carry average, carrying the ball 18 times for 78 yards and a TD. Shrader is the final Knight with over 70, with 72 yards and a pair of rushing scores on the year... Linebackers Gunner Tranel and Drew Kool are the leading tacklers for Wartburg, with 12 apiece. Up front, defensive end Zach Twedt has four sacks and 10 tackles. As a team, the Knights have gained 11 more first downs than their opponents (27-16) while also winning the time of possesion battle (32:53-27:07 minutes per game). They are also outgaining their opponents in yardage, both on the ground (162.5 ypg-35.0 ypg) and through the air (320-167), for a 482.5-202 overall advantage. Season Preview
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Wide receiver Aaron Jenny was named offensive player of the week, ldefensive end Alec Zoern was named defensive player of the week and kicker Taylr Pahl was selected as special teams player of the week. Quarterback Cory Kuepper was the offensive scout team player of the week and defensive back Joe Hakeem was the defensive 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...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)...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:Â Â
Clayt Birmingham (19-23) 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. Â
Wartburg College: Rick Willis (130-34) is in his 16th year as the coach of the Knights. His teams have won seen IIAC titles and three times have led the Knights to unbeaten regular season records (1999, 2003, 2010). Seven times the his Knights have reached the NCAA playoffs and reached the quarterfinals in 2008. His coaching acumen hasn't been limited to between the goalposts, either. He led the Wartburg softball program into national prominence during the 2003 season in an interim role, guiding the Knights to a 38-10 record, an NCAA regional title, and a tie for fifth at the Division III College World Series.
COACHING STAFFÂ
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 is a member 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. Wartburg College is a member of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) and are picked to win the league.
SEASON HONORS: 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...The following honors were for the 2013 season...
Brian Alvarez was named the UW-Stout Northwestern Mutual athlete of the week after catching 10 passes for 120 yards against UW-River Falls...
Ricky Marteney was named to the D3football.com and the Beyond Sports Network teams of the week after booting two PATS and going 4-for-4 in field goals against UW-Oshkosh. He was also the UW-Stout Northwestern Mutual athlete of the week...
Luke Bakkum was named the UW-Stout athlete of the week after recording 15 tackles against Jamestown...
Hank Kujak was named the WIAC and UW-Stout athlete of the week after throwing for 272 yards and three touchdowns against Dakota Wesleyan in the season opener...Returners named to the 2012 All-WIAC second team include: DB
Collin Laursen 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
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
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
Adolpho 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
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
Zak Snell - Receiving
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
4 receptions, 72 yards vs. Dakota Wesleyan, Sept. 6, 2014
3 receptions, 54 yards vs. UW-Platteville, Nov. 3, 2012
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
3 receptions, 26 yards, 2 TDÂ 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
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
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. |Â A 10-week series on Stout football is available.
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.
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 have the bye week, Saturday, Sept. 27, but then will open WIAC play when they travel to UW-Oshkosh, Saturday, Oct. 4.
