Alvarez has three TD passes, McDonald two as Stout downs Eau Claire, 45-12

UW-Stout 45, UW-Eau Claire 12 | WEAU TV-13 Highlights | WQOW TV-18 Highlights

EAU CLAIRE (October 17, 2015) – After spending a year in Eau Claire,  the "War on I-94" trophy is coming back to Menomonie after UW-Stout rode a big first half lead to to a 45-12 win over UW-Eau Claire at Carson Park Saturday night.

Hank Kujak threw five touchdown passes, with senior Brian Alvarez on the receiving end of three and freshman Kevion McDonald two.
 
The Blue Devils (2-4, 1-2 WIAC) jumped out to a 31-0 halftime lead, running up 328 first half yards and taking advantage of several Eau Claire (0-6, 0-3 WIAC) miscues and missed opportunities.
 
Stout took advantage of two Eau Claire turnovers - an interception and a fumble - and stopped the Blugolds twice on downs in the first half.
 
In the first half alone, Stout's  Kujak completed 13-of-20 passes for 240 yards and three touchodwns, with two going to Alvarez and another to McDonald.
 
McDonald would serve up Stout's first touchdown of the night, a 25-yard pass from Kujak at the 2:49 mark of the first quarter,  McDonald's first collegiate touchdown.
 
Stout would roll up 24 points in the second quarter. Kujak would go up the middle at the 14:04 mark of the second quarter, then would hit Alvarez for a 14-yard pass at 6:30 and minutes later, an 11 yard pass at 3:55.  Drew Person would connect on a 24 yard field goal with four seconds left in the half to close out the scoring and Stout went into intermission with a 31-0 lead.
 
The Blugolds would get on the board in the third quarter. After stopping Stout, Eau Claire would go 50 yards in nine plays with Toure Wallace scoring from one yard out. The extra point failed, and Stout led 31-6.
 
The Blue Devils would get good field position on the ensuing kickoff when Isaac Tuttle took the ensuing kickoff to the Eau Claire 36. Following an end-around for 14 yards by Jordan Dabney, Kujak found Alvarez for the third time, this time from 12 yards out.
 
Eau Claire added their second score in the fourth when Wallace scored his second TD, a one yard plunge after an 88-yard drive, but the two-point conversion failed. Stout drove and appeared to answer, but were stopped short and a field goal attempt was aborted from a low snap.
 
Eau Claire turned the ball over on the ensuing drive when Kevin Houts forced a fumble and Tim Rue collected the ball at the Eau Claire 20. Kujak would find McDonald for the freshman's second score of the game and Stout led by the final score, 45-12.

Kujak finished the night completing 21-of-35 passes for 319 yards, five TDs with no interceptions and added a rushing TD. Alvarez had a career night, hauling in 10 passes for 159 and three TDs. McDonald caught three passes for 73 yards and two scores.

The Blue Devils would roll up 469 yards of total offense, 319 through the air, 150 on the ground. Travis Urlaub had his best rushing game as a Blue Devil, tallying 78 yards on 11 carries. Urlaub got the majority of that in the first half, carrying the ball four times for 62 yards, including one 38 yard romp.

The Blue Devil defense held Eau Claire to 378 total yards, 184 by passing, 194 by rushing. Quarterback JT Denhartog 18-of-31 passes for 184 yards with no TDs and one interception, that coming by defensive back Michael Pierson in the second quarter. Wallace carried the ball 25 times for 93 yards and the two scores. Denhartog ran 16 times for 84 yards. Matthew Knapp had seven receptions for 106 yards.

Stout returns to Don & Nona Williams Stadium, Saturday, Oct. 24 when they host UW-River Falls in the annual Hall of Fame game beginning at 1 p.m.