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THIS WEEK'S GAME: The Blue Devils (2-3, 0-2 WIAC) will host arch-rival
UW-Eau Claire (1-4, 0-2 WIAC) in the annual War on I-94 contest Saturday, Oct. 15 at 6 p.m.
WAR ON I-94: The War on I-94 Trophy between UW-Stout and UW-Eau Claire started in 2008. Eau Claire won the first contest for the trophy at Don and Nona Williams Stadium, Nov. 15, 2008, the final game of the 2008 season. Each team has won four times.
2008 - Eau Claire 17, Stout 6
2009 - Stout 36, Eau Claire 15
2010 - Stout 37, Eau Claire 28
2011 - Eau Claire 24, Stout 10
2012 - Eau Claire 21, Stout 13
2013 - Stout 35, Eau Claire 27
2014 - Eau Claire 20, Stout 17
2015 - Stout 45, Eau Claire 12
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 speaks with Pete Knutson on 880 WMEQ radio on a weekly basis about the upcoming game and last week's game. A link to the weekly broadcast is available here.
This week's interview |
Weekly Interviews
LAST TIME OUT: UW-STOUT:Â The headline in the Leader-Telegram read "Just one of those days" and that certainly proved to be the case for the Blue Devils against UW-La Crosse Saturday. After posting a 6-0 lead on two
Drew Pearson field goals in the first eight minutes of the game, Stout committed five turnovers and came up very short in converting only 1-of-14 third down attempts. The Eagles would score 42 unanswered points in a 42-6 win on Homecoming Saturday . |
Stats and Story
LAST TIME OUT: EAU CLAIRE: In last week's match-up with UW-River Falls, the Blugolds were able to force a turnover on the first play of the game. The initial drive quickly stalled, but a poor snap on fourth down led to punter Ian Scott rushing for the first down. Eau Claire would struggle to move the ball the rest of the half against River Falls and the Falcons were able to take advantage of some opportunities and score twice in the second quarter to take a 14-0 lead. The slow game continued for Eau Claire as they saw River Falls do the only scoring in the third quarter as well. But the Blugolds came alive in the fourth quarter as Matt Knapp started things off with a huge return and after four plays it was  JT Denhartog running it in for the score. However, the Falcons were able to respond to maintain the lead. Eau Claire found themselves in a lot of third and long situations on offense, which lead to the poor conversion rate for the day. Defensively, the team was not expecting such a strong aerial attack from the Falcons' two-quarterback system. |
Stats and Story
WHEN STOUT AND EAU CLAIRE LAST MET: After spending a year in Eau Claire, the "War on I-94" trophy is came 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 Oct. 17, 2015. Â
Hank Kujak threw five touchdown passes, with seniorÂ
Brian Alvarez on the receiving end of three and freshmanÂ
Kevion McDonald two. The Blue Devils jumped out to a 31-0 halftime lead, running up 328 first half yards and taking advantage of several Eau Claire miscues and missed opportunities. |
Stats and Story
THE SERIES: The Blugolds lead the series 51-36-6, but the teams have split the last eight games since the inception of the War on I-94 trophy.
WHO'S WHO: UW-Stout: The Blue Devils have been using a combination of quarterbacks, starter sophomore
Jay Alston getting the majority of the snaps, but using senior transfer
Danny Farley in special situations and play packages. Alston has been made uncomfortable in the pocket the last few games, sometimes unable to set his feet to throw, completing only 47 percent of his throws. This also has plagued Farley, who is completing a pass only 34 percent of the time. Between the two QBs, only one touchdown has been thrown in the last three games.
CATCHING THE BALL: Senior pass catchers
Jordan Dabney and
Chris Pica-Anderson have been the most consistent for the Blue Devils so far this season. Dabney leads the team in receptions, yards and touchdowns. The two seniors are the only Blue Devils that have been able to catch at least one pass in every game thus far. The have relied on speed, agility and good hands to help their quarterbacks out. Dabney relies on his downfield speed as Stout's deep threat while catching the ball, while Pica-Anderson relies on quick routes and the open field to make plays. Though the passing game is somewhat struggling at this point in the season, these two have stood out. On the season, Dabney has 22 catches for 453 yards and four TDs with a 20.6 yard per catch average. Pica-Anderson has 13 grabs for 139 yards, one TD and a 10.7 per catch average.
Travis Urlaub has caught eight passes out of the backfield. Receivers
Akema Collins and
Kevion McDonald each have seven catches. Tight end
Ben Hall has six grabs and a score.
RUNNING THE BALL: The Stout rushing attack has been down in the last few games, gaining only 56 yards against La Crosse. The running backs have been able to find holes in the defense to scamper through, they have been trapped behind the line, not able to break into the second level. Against La Crosse, Adofo Pacheco led Stout with 39 yards and reserve Lucian Courtier was Stout's second leading rusher, with 16 yards on three carries. The quarterbacks were among the leading rushers in Stout's game against Oshkosh, Farley rushing for 67 yards, and Alston for 25 yards. The leading back against Oshkosh was Urlaub who ran for 54 yards and punched the ball in for a score. The rest of the backs were each held under 10 yards by Oshkosh's tough defense. On the season, Urlaub leads the team with 339 net yards, for a 4.0 per carry average. Urlaub has three scores. Pacheco has 181 yards with a score and has a team-best 5.4 yards per carry average.
PERSISTENT PACHECO: Pacheco has been used in special situations this season, giving other backs quick periods of rest and running the ball on entire drives, playing all three downs at times. In the times he gets the ball during a game, Pacheco has tried to make them count. He averages 5.4 yards per carry on 22 attempts, which leads the team. He has been able to find the end zone once this season, but he has ran his way into Stout's record books. Pacheco now ranks ninth all time in rushing yards, with 1838, surpassing Kyle Gunderson (1804 yards, 1985-88).
O-LINE: A season after giving up six total sacks, the Blue Devil offensive line has given up 10 sacks so far this season. But blitz-happy St.Thomas had a lot to do with, as the Tommies pressed the Blue Devils for four sacks. It has taken a little bit of time to get the offensive line's chemistry back, considering that the team played a variety of different linemen due to injuries. Preseason All-American Kane'ala Atchinson-Keolanui and
Logan Stoa continue to be the biggest contributors for the line, protecting the blindside of quarterbacks Alston and Farley.
DEFENSE: Safety
Tony Blair (Jr, Chippewa Falls) leads the team in tackles with 44 (27 unassisted, 1 assisted) and outside linebacker
Josh Robinson (Sr, Lakeville, Minn.) is just behind him with 34 total tackles (20 solo).Â
Isaiah Hardy leads the team in tackles-for-loss with a total of five, and a total of 35 yards lost. Hardy's high school teammate,Â
Iyen Ogbomoh recorded his first sack of the season in Stout's loss to St. Thomas, he rushed the quarterback on a play-action-pass which resulted in a six-yard loss for the Tommies. He took this momentum to Mayville State, getting in on three sacks against the Comets. Speaking of Ogbomoh, the lanky linebacker has had a streak of blocked kicks. Ogbomoh had three in each of his first two seasons and has one this season, bringing his career total to seven.
BALL HAWKS: Stout safety
Enzo Rosani is second WIAC in interceptions this season, snagging three picks on the year. Safety opposite of Blair also leads the WIAC in tackles with 44. The safety position anchors the team on defense being the eyes of the defense and quarterbacking the defensive team. Senior cornerback
Javauhn Staley is second in the WIAC in pass break-ups an passes defended with eight total. The other corner positon held by Laron Thompson, has also helped the Blue Devils; Thompson recorded his first career interception last week against La Crosse. He was able to rip the ball from the wideout on a long pass down the sideline.
GIVE IT A BOOT: Punter
Clark Riedel (Jr, Waukesha) has punted the ball 30 times in five games, for a total of 1178 yards, averaging 39.5 yards per kick, ranking second in the WIAC. Riedel has pinned five kicks inside the 20 and has booted two over 50 yards. Quarterback
Jay Alston executed a nearly perfect pooch kick, going 37 yards and rolling the ball out at the 1-yard line against Simpson College.
ON A TEE: Field goal kicker
Drew Pearson has gone 8-for-10 on the season, nailing all of his field goals under 30 yards, and all 12 of his PAT attempts. The longest kick of career weighed in at 52 yards in the waning seconds of the first half against Mayville State, Sept. 17. The kick was only two yards short of the school record. The last time a UW-Stout player kicked a 50-plus yard field goal was Oct. 20, 2007 when Brandon Raciborski gave Stout a 28-27 win over UW-River Falls. Against St. Thomas,
Taylor Pahl kicked off four times and recorded a total of 258 yards (64.5 yds/kick), this total included one touchback. Pearson is one of only a handful of Stout players to kick a 50-plus yard field goal and is likely the only Blue Devil to kick two in the same season. Pearson currently leads the WIAC in field goal percentage (.800) and number of field goals made (8).
Pearson continued his 50-yard field goal ways against Oshkosh. He knocked in a 51-yarder around the 13-minute mark in the second quarter. This was something that hadn't happened since 1996. Since 1996, only six UW-Stout kickers have attempted field goals of 50-yards or longer, and only three kickers have attempted two 50-yards plus in a single season. With Pearson drilling his second 50-yard field goal, a 51-yarder in the first half, he is the only Stout kicker to make two 50-plus yard field goals in a single season since at least 1990. (Additional records are not readily available). Pearson is on the Fred Mitchell Award watch list, a list that consists of kickers on all levels of the NCAA and NAIA.
PRESEASON POLLS: The Blue Devils finished seventh in the competitive WIAC last season and according to a
preseason poll by WIAC football coaches and sports information directors, the Blue Devils are picked to finish sev
enth again this year.
WHO'S WHO: UW-Eau Claire: The Blugolds aren't having the greatest year that they could in a conference that has been a powerhouse for a long time. Last week, Eau Claire faced River Falls on the road; it was a hard fought game, but like other times this season, they were unable to produce points when it counted. They fell 41-21. Quarterback JT Denhartog is fourth in the WIAC this season in passing average per game, with 188.2 per game and eight TDs to his credit. His favorite target is wide receiver Matthew Knapp, who averages 5.2 catches per game and 18.0 yards per catch; Knapp also leads the WIAC in all-purpose yards with 166.0 per game, helping the Blugolds return punts and kicks, as well as rush the ball now and then.
On defense, the Blugolds play defense in the form of committee, not having any big leaders in any categories. One standout on defense is cornerback Bo Casper, who leads the WIAC in pass breakups, averaging almost two per game, and has one more (9) than Stout's Staley.
THE MATCHUP: Comparing the numbers:
| Stout |
WIAC Rank |
|
WIAC Rank |
Eau Claire |
| 21.6 |
7 |
PPG |
8 |
18.6 |
| 37.4 |
8 |
Opp. PPG |
7 |
30.0 |
| 191.4 |
8 |
Pass Yds |
7 |
193.4 |
| 132.4 |
7 |
Rush Yds |
8 |
110.0 |
| -3 (12/15) |
8 |
Turnover +/- |
7 |
-1 (6/7) |
LOTS OF RANKED OPPONENTS: The Blue Devils will play four teams that are ranked In the first D3football.com Top 25 poll, three of them on the road. The Blue Devils were at St. Thomas (No. 4), Saturday, Sept. 10, will be UW-Oshkosh (No. 5), Saturday, Oct. 3, host UW-Platteville (No. 8), Saturday, Oct. 25; Nov. 5 and will host UW-Whitewater (No. 2), Saturday, Nov. 12 to close the regular season. UW-La Crosse and UW-Stevens are both getting votes in the AFCA Coaches poll and the Pointers are getting votes in the D3football.com poll.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Defensive player of the week: Tony Blair, DB, 6-0, 190, Jr, Chippewa Falls, Wis. . Special teams player of the week: Chase Fanelle, DB, 5-10, 165, So, Kenosha, Wis. (Indian Trails); Offensive scout team player of the week: Nathan Janicek, Fr, Franklin, Wis. ; Defensive scout team player of the week: Ted Mark, Fr, Beldenville, Wis. (Ellsworth), Special teams scout team player of the week: Jack Roth, Fr, Chisago City, Minn. (Chisago Lakes)
TEAM CAPTAINS: Captains for the 2016 season include offensive lineman Logan Stoa (Sr, Hawley, Minn), offensive lineman Kane'ala Atchison-Keolanui (Sr, Lodi), defensive back LaRon Thompson (Sr, Modesto, Calif.), and defensive back Joe Hakeem (Sr, Woodbury, Minn). Stoa is the team captain, Atchison-Keolanui is the offensive captain, Thompson is the defensive captain and Hakeem is the special teams captain.
ODDS AND ENDS: The Blue Devils play their first game of the season Saturday, Sept. 3 at home against Simpson College, then are away for more than a month before hosting the annual Homecoming contest Saturday, Oct. 8 against UW-La Crosse.
THE COACHES: UW-Stout: Clayt Birmingham (25-40) is in his seventh 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.
Eau Claire:Â
Dan Larson is in his first year as the coach of the Blugolds. Larson, who spent the 2005 season with Stout as an assistant coach, was previously the offensive coordinator at NCAA Division II University of Minnesota-Duluth where his offensive unit that has ranked among the top 10 NCAA II teams in time of possession (fifth in 2014 and third in 2013) and rushing offense (eighth in 2014 and ninth in 2013). Five of his players also went on to attain All-American status. Larson has also had stops at Macalester College, Colgate University and Marietta College. Larson was an all-WIAC defensive lineman at Eau Claire as a player.
COACHING STAFF Travis Destache returns as the defensive coordinator.. Chase Vogel returns for his third year and will work with the quarterbacks and the passing game.
Derek Branch returned to UW-Stout where he played for two years, earning all-conference honors as an offensive lineman. Branch will work with the offensive line. Luke Pederson joined the staff this year and will work with the linebackers.
Jed Stutzman returns, as does student assistant coach Matt McKone and graduate assistant
Jake Pollock.
Tony Lombardi begins his first year with the Blue Devils and brings 30 years of coaching experience to his work with defensive backs. Jeff Sullivan returns after 11 years. Sullivan coached with the Blue Devils from 2003-05. During the interim, Sullivan was an assistant coach with a number of high school programs.
THE LEAGUES: UW-Stout is a member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). Stout finished seventh in league play last season. A
WIAC preseason poll was released in mid-August, and the Blue Devils are picked to finish seventh. The Blugolds were picked to finish seventh.
SCHOLAR-ATHLETE: Senior offensive lineman
Logan Stoa has been nominated as a National Football Foundation (NFF) scholar-athlete. Stoa, a team captain, is a construction major from Hawley, Minn.
SEASON HONORS: Offensive lineman
Logan Stoa is one of three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) football student-athletes named as semifinalists September 28 for the 2016 William V. Campbell Trophy, presented by Fidelity Investments and hosted at the New York Athletic Club....
Drew Pearson, for the month of September, has been selected for the watch list of the Fred Mitchell award, recognizing the best place kicker of the season. Pearson also was selected to the D3football.com Team of the Week, was the WIAC Special Teams Athlete of the Week and the UW-Stout/DigiCopy Athlete of the Week after making field goals of 42-, 44- and 52-yards in a 23-13 win over Mayville State, Sept. 17...Iyen Igbomoh was named the WIAC Defensive Athlete of the Week after recording 2.5 sacks in a 23-13 win over Mayville State, Sept. 17...Wide receiver
Jordan Dabney was the WIAC Offensive Player of the Week and the UW-Stout/Digicopy Athlete of the Week, Sept. 5, after catching five passes for 223 yards and two TDs in a 45-30 win over Simpson College, Sept. 3...Offensive lineman Kane'ala Atchison-Keolauni was a D3football.com second team preseason All-America selection...returners to the 2016 season that were all-conference selections are offensive lineman Kane'ala Atchison-Keolauni, who was a first team pick. Punter
Clark Riedel, who led the conference in punting average, was an honorable mention selection.
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TOPPERS: The following are career bests for several of Stout's offensive players
Jay Alston - Passing
15 comp, 27 att, 311 yds, 3 TDs vs. Simpson College, Sept. 3, 2016
16 comp, 33 att, 135 yds, 2 TDs, vs. UW-Whitewater, Nov. 14, 2015
10 comp, 20 att, 148 yds, 1 TD, vs. St. Thomas, Sept. 10, 2016
Danny Farley - Passing
6 comp, 14 att, 79 yds, 1 TD vs.UW-Oshkosh, Oct. 1, 2016
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
17 carries, 77 yards vs. Loras College, Sept. 12, 2015
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
Travis Urlaub - Rushing
23 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD vs. Mayville State, Sept. 17, 2016
10 carries, 105 yards, 1 TD vs. UW-River Falls, Oct. 24, 2015
23 carries, 104 yards, 1 TD vs. Simpson College, Sept. 3, 2016
11 carries, 78 yards, vs. UW-Eau Claire, Oct. 17, 2015
17 carries, 70 yards, vs. St. Thomas, Sept. 10, 2016
12 carries, 62 yards vs. UW-Stevens Point, Nov. 7, 2015
KeyShawn Carpenter - Rushing
12 carries, 59 yards vs. Wartburg College, Sept. 19, 2015
Chris Pica-Anderson - Receiving
7 receptions, 126 yards vs. UW-River Falls, Oct. 24, 2015
8 receptions, 94 yards vs. UW-Platteville, Oct. 25, 2014
8 receptions, 60 yards vs. UW-La Crosse, Oct. 10, 2015
4 receptions, 76 yards vs. Wartburg College, Sept. 19, 2015
5 receptions, 70 yards vs. Loras College, Sept. 12, 2015
Kevion McDonald - Receiving
5 receptions, 98 yards vs. Loras College, Sept. 12, 2015
3 receptions, 71 yards, 2 TDs vs. UW-Eau Claire, Oct. 17, 2015
5 receptions, 67 yards vs. UW-La Crosse, Oct. 10, 2015
7 receptions, 72 yards vs. Bethel University, Sept. 3, 2015
Jordan Dabney - Receiving
5 receptons, 223 yards, 2 TDs vs. Simpson College, Sept. 3, 2016
4 receptions,124 yards, 2 TDs vs. Loras College, Sept. 12, 2015
6 receptions, 76 yards, 2 TDs vs. St. Thomas, Sept. 10, 2016
Akema Collins - Receiving
3 receptions, 49 yards vs. St. Thomas, Sept. 10, 2016
2 receptions, 35 yards vs. Simpson College, Sept. 3, 2016
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
85 - Brett Kasper to Sam Mentkowski (UW-Oshkosh), Oct. 3, 2015
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
357 - Hank Kujak vs. UW-River Falls, Oct. 24, 2015
350 - Brett Kasper (UW-Oshkosh), Oct. 3, 2015
349 - Austin Neu (UW-Eau Claire), Oct. 1, 2011
341 - Hank Kujak vs. Bethel University, Sept. 3, 2015
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
THE LAST TIME A STOUT PLAYER...
Threw for 400-plus yards
418 - Hank Kujak vs. Loras College, Sept. 12, 2015 (22 comp, 44 att, 3 TD)
457 - Matt Bunyan vs. UW-Stevens Point, Nov. 7, 1998 (31 comp, 58 att, 4 TD)
Threw for 300-399 yards
311 - Jay Alston vs. Simpson College, Sept. 3, 2016 (15 comp, 27 att, 3 TDs)
325 - Hank Kujak vs. UW-Stevens Point, Nov. 7, 2015 (16 comp, 31 att, 3 TD)
357 - Hank Kujak vs. UW-River Falls, Oct. 24, 2015 (23 comp, 48 att, 5 TD)
Ran for 300-plus yards
328 - Luke Bundgaard vs. UW-Platteville, Nov. 15, 2003 (53* carries, x TD)
Ran for 200-299 yards
207 - Craig Warminski vs. UW-La Crosse, Nov. 1, 2008 (32 carries, 2 TD)
Ran for 100-199 yards
104 - Travis Urlaub vs. Simpson College, Sept. 3, 2016 (23 carries, 1 TD)
105 - Travis Urlaub vs. UW-River Falls, Oct. 24, 2015 (10 carries, 1 TD)
Recorded 200-plus receiving yards
223 - Jordan Dabney vs. Simpson College, Sept. 3, 2016 (5 rec, 2 TDs)
241* - Dan Austin vs. UW-La Crosse, Nov. 1, 2003 (9 rec, 1 TD)
Recorded 150-199 receiving yards
159 - Brian Alvarez vs. UW-Eau Claire, Oct. 17, 2015 (10 rec, 3 TD)
Caught 10-plus receptions
10 - Brian Alvarez vs. UW-Eau Claire, Oct. 17, 2015 (159 yds, 3TD)
Scored 4 touchdowns
4 - Craig Warminski vs. UW-River Falls, Oct. 25, 2008 (28 carries, 250 yds)
Scored 3 touchdowns
3 - Brian Alvarez vs. UW-Eau Claire, Oct. 17, 2015 (10 rec, 159 yds)
Successfully Kicked a 50-plus yard field goal
52 - Drew Pearson vs. Mayville State, Sept. 17, 2016 (just before halftime)
52 - Brandon Raciborski vs. UW-River Falls, Oct. 20, 2007 (game winner with 45 seconds remaining)
* school record
FIELD GOAL BLOCK & RETURN: During the 2015 season, Travis Shackleton blocked a 29-yard field goal attempt by UW-La Crosse in La Crosse, Oct. 10, 2015, and Enzo Rosani scooped up the ball on the La Crosse 14, returning it 86 yards for a score. The blocked kick was Shackleton's first career block and the touchdown was Rosani's first collegiate TD. There is no mention in the UW-Stout, the WIAC or the NCAA record books for returning blocked field goal attempts. There will now be a category in the Stout record book. After sending out a request to NCAA Division III sports information directors, the following list of blocked field goals was compiled.
Blocked Field Goal Attempt Returns
95t, Javicz Jones (Mary Hardin-Baylor vs. Lousiana College), 2012
86t, Enzo Rosani (UW-Stout vs. UW-La Crosse), Oct. 17, 2015
82t, Anthony Giuliano (SUNY-Cortland vs. William Paterson), 2010
79t, Ryan Bonheyo (Gallaudet University vs. Becker College), Nov. 2, 2013 (game winning TD)
77t, Jim Smith (SUNY-Cortland vs. SUNY-Brockport), 2007
76t, Rick Mateja (North Central College vs. Wheaton College), Sept. 21, 1985
67t, Justin Baker (St. Norbert College vs. Lake Forest College), Sept. 26, 2009
61, Derek Sulo (North Central College vs. Carthage College), Nov. 10, 2007
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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. | 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 travel to UW-River Falls, Saturday, Oct. 22 for a 1 p.m. contest at the Falcons' newly renovated field.
