THIS WEEK'S GAME: The Blue Devils (2-2, 0-1 WIAC) will have their 2016 Homecoming this week as they face off against UW-La Crosse (4-0, 1-0 WIAC). Stout was shut down by UW-Oshkosh, 45-17 on the road last week while La Crosse beat River Falls 35-14 at home. This Saturday will be the first time that the Eagles will make the voyage to Menomonie in two years. Due to a scheduling change in 2014, La Crosse hasn't played in Menomonie since the 2013 season.Today's game is sponsored by the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport.
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 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.
LAST TIME OUT: UW-STOUT: The Blue Devils succumbed to the No. 5 team in the nation last week, UW-Oshkosh. They were allowed only 306 yards of total offense on the day, but were still able to score 17 points, more than they had scored in their last two meetings with the Titans. They also were better on defense, allowing 24 less points than the year prior.
Blake Strehlow had a Stout high 12 tackles in the game.
LAST TIME OUT: LA CROSSE: The Eagles are coming off of a win against River Falls last week that opened their WIAC play for the season. The Eagles went up 28-0, scoring 22 points in the second quarter before River Falls could put up points. The three rushing touchdowns came from three separate backs, and the two passing TDs came from Tarek Yaeggi, along with 302 yards.
WHEN STOUT AND LA CROSSE LAST MET: The Blue Devils scored touchdowns by the pass, run and on special teams last time out against the Eagles, but they couldn't muster one more score, as they fell to the Eagles on the road last season. The Blue Devils first got on the board in the second quarter on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Hank Kujak to Jordan Dabney. The Blue Devils then came to play on special teams. Travis Shackleton (So, Baldwin) blocked the kick and Enzo Rosani (So, Gagny, France) scooped up the ball at the 14-yard line and returned it 86 yards for the score. The final Blue Devil score came on a long drive that ended with a two-yard Adolfo Pacheco rush for a TD. Stout was unable to find the endzone one more time before time expired, giving La Crosse the win.
THE SERIES: The Eagles lead the series 69-16-5 to date. The last time the series was tied was way back in 1914 when Stout beat the Eagles 6-0 to tie the series at 1-1. The last time the Blue Devils beat the La Crosse was back in 2011 when they held the Eagles to only 232 net offensive yards. Stout was dominate in the ground game, rushing for 196 yards; three players having 50 yards. Eric Brown rushed for the only TD in the game, a three yard scamper that was set up by Ross Carey and Trevor Morning. Carey hit Morning on a 47 yard bomb that brought Stout to the three yard line. Stout's defense did the rest, sealing the 10-0 victory.
WHO'S WHO: UW-Stout: Sophomore Jay Alston (Rochester, Minn.) added 40 yards and an interception to his season totals last game against Mayville State. The quarterback has looked good for the Blue Devils in his first three starts. He's been completing his passes about 48 percent of the time and has been a good game manager for Stout, showing flashes of experience on long throws, along with extending plays on his feet, he rushed for the TD against Mayville State for the first time in his career. Alston is 39-of-83 for 554 yards with four TDS and five interception. He has a net 39 yards rushing.
Backup and special situations quarterback Danny Farley (Sr, Boonton Township, NJ) saw most of his action against Oshkosh. He played well in the game, throwing the ball for 79 yards and rushing for 57 yards. He recorded his second throwing TD of the season connecting with Chris Pica-Anderson for the 22-yard score. On the season, Farley is 13-of-33 for 169 yards with two TDs and one interception.
CATCHING THE BALL: The Blue Devils had two standout pass catchers against Oshkosh, Chris Pica-Anderson and Jordan Dabney. They both caught 50 yards last week, Pica Anderson had three receptions for 67 yards and a score, while Dabney had six catches and 68 yards total. What could be considered the play of the game, Stout's Ben Hall (tight end) threw a fake punt pass to Pica-Anderson for a 45-yard gain.
Tight end Ben Hall led the Blue Devils in catches against Mayville State; catching the ball four times for 37 yards. Kevion McDonald also snagged the ball four times for 25 yards. Dabney has proven to be Stout's deep-threat receiver this season, averaging 27.8 yards-per-catch; against Mayville State, he caught the ball only once, but it was a 35-yard scamper.
RUNNING THE BALL: 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 was once again Urlaub who ran for 54 yards and punched the ball in for a score. The rest fo the backs were each held under 10 yards by Oshkosh's tough defense.
Travis Urlaub rushed for 100 yards for the third time in his career against Mayville State. Urlaub carried the ball 23 times for the second time this season, but surpassed his season high, gaining 113 yards in the game. Urlaub also found the end zone in the game, bringing his season total to three TDs. Urlaub is currently ranked fourth in the WIAC, carrying the ball 78 times for 333 yards (4.3 y/carry).
PERSISTENT PACHECO: Pacheco has been used somewhat like a secret weapon this season. With Urlaub getting most of the carries, Pacheco has made use of the time that he is getting on the field. In his time, he has been used as the only back on specific drives, getting the ball early and often. Against Simpson College, Pacheco strung together a drive in which he rushed for 57 yards, eventually hitting pay dirt on the final scamper. Against Mayville State, he did much of the same, rushing only tine times in the game, but gained 57 yards. On the season, Pacheco averages a team best (10 carries or more) 5.8-yards-per-carry. The senior is currently 10th on the Stout all-time rushing list, tied with Ron Theis, with 1799 yards.. Pacheco also owns 16 career TDs for 96 points. On the season, Pacheco has carried the ball 25 times for 134 yards (5.4 y/carry) and one score.
O-LINE: A season after giving up six total sacks, the Blue Devil offensive line has given up six 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. 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: For the first time this season, Stout was unable to tally a sack in the game, the Oshkosh o-line proved to be tough. Stout also recorded the fewest number of tackles in a game this season, with only 59 total. On a brighter note, Stout was able to recover a fumble and pick off a pass against Oshkosh. Defensive back Tony Blair intercepted Brett Kasper early in the second quarter, returning the ball for 21 yards.
The Blue Devils have looked better on defense, giving up less yardage than the Blue Devil offense has produced this season. Safety Tony Blair (Jr, Chippewa Falls) leads the team in tackles with 34 (18 unassisted, 16 assisted) and outside linebacker Josh Robinson (Sr, Lakeville, Minn.) is just behind him with 30 total tackles (18 solo). Isaiah Hardy leads the team in tackles-for-loss with a total of four, and a total of 30 yards lost. Hardy's high school teammate, 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: The defensive backfield continued their route-jumping ways against St. Thomas. Enzo Rosani grabbed his first interception of the season and recorded three solo tackles in the game. Javauhn Staley continued to man his corner position well; against the Tommies Staley broke up four passes, bringing his season total to seven, as well as recording some big hits for a total of three tackles. Rosani has played well at the safety position this season. He added two more interceptions in the win against Mayville and is currently tied for second in the WIAC after the Oshkosh game with three picks. Linebacker Josh Johnson also got in on the action against Mayville, grabbing one pick, bringing his career total to two. Johnson missed almost all of the 2015 season, going down to injury in the first game after his first Stout interception.
GIVE IT A BOOT: Punter Clark Riedel (Jr, Waukesha) has punted the ball 25 times in four games, for a total of 1006 yards, averaging 38.8 yards per kick, ranking third 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 5-for-7 on the season, nailing all of his field goals under 30 yards, and all 10 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 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 seventh again this year.
WHO'S WHO: UW-LA CROSSE: The Eagles received 16 Top 25 votes this week in the American Football Coaches Association poll, they did not make the Top 25 but they are undefeated at 4-0 (1-0 WIAC). They are led on the ground by senior Tyler Jenkins who has 430 yards and four TDs in 63 attempts. Tarek Yaeggi leads the Eagles in passing yards with 946 and six TDs, two of which were to Samuel Zwieg who has 19 receptions for 293 yards. Just behind him, Joel Oxten is second on the team in receiving yards, bringing in 18 balls for 274 yards and three TDs. Overall, their defense has been good too, allowing only 49 total points over four games. They also have been playing defense by committee, having only 144 solo tackles, compared to 164 assisted tackles to date, they also have recorded 33 tackles-for-loss including 14 sacks.
THE MATCHUP: Comparing the numbers:
| Stout |
WIAC Rank |
|
WIAC Rank |
La Crosse |
| 25.5 |
6 |
PPG |
2 |
46.5 |
| 36.2 |
8 |
Opp. PPG |
3 |
12.2 |
| 192.0 |
7 |
Pass Yds |
4 |
266.8 |
| 151.5 |
5 |
Rush Yds |
3 |
239.2 |
| +1 (11/10) |
6 |
Turnover +/- |
5 |
+3 (8/5) |
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;, head to UW-Stevens Point (No. 24) Nov. 5 and will host UW-Whitewater (No. 2), Saturday, Nov. 12 to close the regular season.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Offensive player of the week: Danny Farley, Sr, Boonton Township, NJ (DePaul Catholic) ; Defensive players of the week: Blake Strehlow, LB, 5-10, 205, Sr, Suring, Wis.. Special teams player of the week: Drew Pearson, So, Wausua; Lineman of the week: Kane'ala Atchison-Keolanui, Sr, Lodi, Wis.; Offensive scout team player of the week: Nick Jerred, Fr, Oconomowoc, Wis.; Defensive scout team player of the week: Logan Newton, Fr, Wilson, Wis. (Spring Valley).; Special teams scout team player of the week: Logan LeCaptain, Fr, Waukesha, Wis. (South)
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 (25-39) 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.
La Crosse: Mike Schmidt (4-0) is in his first year as the head coach of the Eagles. Williams Stadium is not an unfamiliar venue for Schmidt. A Menomonie native, Schmidt played his high school ball with the MHS Mustangs, earning a state title in 2002. Schmidt was an all-purpose back for the Eagles during his playing days. Previous to his head coaching assignment at La Crosse, Schmidt was an assistant coach at Minnesota State, Mankato, the University of Dubuque and UW-Platteville.
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. Mayville State plays in the NSAA and finished with a 5-5 record (3-3, NSAA).
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.
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 receptions, 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
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
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. 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 wrap up a two-game homestand when they host UW-Eau Claire, Saturday, Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. in the annual War on I-94 rivalry game.
