Football Preview: Blue Devils to entertain Falcons for homecoming

THIS WEEK'S GAME: The Blue Devils (2-2, 0-2 WIAC) return home after more than a month without a home game to host UW-River Falls (3-2, 1-1 WIAC) for the annual homecoming game, Saturday, Oct. 14 at 2 p.m. This is the 104th meeting of the teams, a series that stretches back to 1911, Stout's first year of football.

Stout students are encouraged to wear any fun/crazy outfit you can think of. Link to Homecoming activities and video

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. | Weekly Interviews

LAST TIME OUT: UW-STOUT: Poor starting field position and turnovers proved costly as the Blue Devils lost a 14-0 decision at UW-Whitewater, Oct. 7.UW-Whitewater held 23rd-ranked UW-Stout scoreless for the first time in two years in a 14-0 win Saturday at Warhawk Stadium and the Warhawks racked up three takeaways to none for the Blue Devils. Whitewater scored twice in the first half - once in each quarter - and that would prove to be enough. The Warhawks also recovered two fumbles and recorded one interception. For the second consecutive week, Stout had no takeaways after recording six in their first two games of the season. The statistics were almost dead-even, with both teams finishing the game with 221 total yards, Stout on 68 plays, Whitewater on 65 plays. The Blue Devils recorded 72 rushing yards and 149 passing yards, while the Warhawks had 80 rushing yards and 141 passing yards.  | Stats and Story

LAST TIME OUT: UW-RIVER FALLS:   River Falls (3-2, 1-1 WIAC) played ninth ranked UW-Platteville tough for three quarters, but the Pioneers (5-0, 2-0 WIAC) took control of the game in the fourth to hand the Falcons a tough 24-14 loss. own 14-0 early in the 3rd quarter the UWRF-Falcons offense went to work.  Donjae Lyons took the a kick-off, and after it appeared he had been brought down burst out to his left for a 43 yard return to the Platteville 44. After that Travon Hearns completed a passes to Trenton Monson for 12 yards.  Patrick O'Leary ripped off an 18-yard run.  Then Hearns found Patrick O'Leary in the back of the end zone to get the Falcons on the board. Michael Diggins led the Falcon rushing attack with 97 yards on 25 carries. The Falcons rushed for 143 yards as a team for the game. Travon Hearns went 12-24 for 110 yards through the air, with a TD and an INT. Trenton Monson was the leading receiver for the Falcons with 5 catches for 69 yards. Defensively the Falcons were led by Alex Wood and Max Praschak with 9 tackles each.  Alex Wood also had an Interception. Platteville the first team to rush for over 100 yards against the Falcon defense, finishing with 135 rushing yards. | Stats and Story

WHEN STOUT AND RIVER FALLS LAST MET: In 2015, UW-Stout and UW-River Falls participated in a shootout and it didn't look like that would happen as Stout trailed by less than a touchdown, 13-7, at halftime in a low scoring affair. But the Falcons found the goal line numerous times in the second half, scoring 37 points after intermission and went on to a 50-28 win at Ramer Field in Smith Stadium Oct. 22, 2016. | Stats and Story

THE SERIES: UW-River Falls leads the series, 69-34, a series that dates back to 1911, Stout's first year of organized football. The Falcons have won the last two meetings and River Falls holds a 3-2 lead over the last five games.


UW-STOUT WHO'S WHO: The Blue Devils started the season off guns-ablazing, blanking Simpson College, 17-0, and then stunned the D3 world with a 25-22 upset over then fourth-ranked St. Thomas at Williams Stadium. The Blue Devils shot to as high as 22nd in the D3football.com poll and had two weeks off before starting the conference season at ninth-ranked UW-Platteville, falling to the Pioneers, 34-27. The Blue Devils returned south the next week and were blanked at UW-Whitewater, 14-0.  Stout has been averaging 336.8 total yards per game, throwing for 205.5 and running for 131.2. Over three games, Jay Alston has completed 42-of-85 passes for 552 yards and a pair of TDs. J.Dan Sturgeon engineered the St. Thomas win and is 13-of-27 for 248 yards and three TDs. Kevion McDonald, Akeem Collins and Brian Sandifer have been the recipient of the majority of passes. McDonald has 16 catches for 208 yards and a pair of scores, Collins has 13 catches for 250 yards and Sandifer 11 grabs for 158 yards. Jaavion Bradley and Josh Malone each have a TD catch. Rayshawn Graham leads the rushing attack, coming off the bench for 268 yards on 51 totes, ranking sixth in the WIAC.

Defensively, the Blue Devils rank 16th in the NCAA DIII in rushing yards allowed (75.8). The Blue Devils have racked up 14 sacks this season, with Iyen Ogbomoh chalking up three and Josh Johnson, Luke Wilz, Isaiah Hardy and Aaron Wisecup each collecting two. Johnson, a linebacker, leads the team in tackles with 27, 16 solo, and the senior has a team-best five pass break-ups. Safety Levi Wolf shares the conference lead in interceptions with two. Wolf also blocked a punt against Platteville that teammate Jed Schlegel scooped up and returned 47 yards for his first collegiate score. The Blue Devil defense has allowed 290.8 total yards. Stout averages 17.3 points and gives up 17.5.

THROWING THE BALL:  Over three games, Jay Alston has completed 42-of-85 passes for 552 yards, a pair of TDs, but six interceptions. Sophomore J.Dan Sturgeon had himself a game in his first collegiate start, completing his first collegiate pass from scrimmage for 77 yards and a TD to Kevion McDonald in a 25-22 upset over St. Thomas, Sept. 9. Sturgeon was 13-of-27 for 248 yards, three TDs and two interceptions. Sturgeon also caught a two-point conversion to score his first collegiate points.

RUNNING THE BALL: Sophomore Rayshawn Graham had the Blue Devils' first 100-yard rushing game of the season, running for 105 yards against UW-Platteville on 15 carries. On the season, Graham is averaging 5.3 yards per carry and has 268 total rushing yards on 53 carries, ranking sixth in the WIAC. Keyshawn Carpenter has 131 net rushing yards on 38 carries.

IN THE TRENCHES: The offensive line returns the right side in tact with senior Cody Marquardt at tackle and junior Caleb Adams at guard. Thomas Roble, Justin Herbst and Bailey Roux have taken over at tackle, guard and center, respectively.

SCORING: The majority of the Blue Devils' - and their opponents' - has come in the first half this season. Stout has scored 45 first half points and 24 second half points. Stout has allowed 45 first half points and 25 second half points. By quarter, Stout has scored 16, 29, 16 and 8 points respectively. They have given up 21, 24, 18 and 7 points by quarter.

A SENIOR DEFENSE: Defensively, the Blue Devils return seven starters in defensive linemen Isaiah Hardy, Troy Rudesill and Tim Rue; linebackers Iyen Ogbomoh and Josh Johnson and defensive backs Tony Blair and Enzo Rosani. Blair, an honorable mention all-conference selection, was the team's – and the WIAC's - leading tackler with 101 tackles. Blair also had a conference-leading 65 solo tackles and ranked 18th nationally in solo tackles. Blair ranked 47th nationally in total tackles. Playing in a safety spot last year, Rosani led the team in interceptions with three and had 26 tackles and forced a fumble. Rosani played cornerback his first year with the Blue Devils before moving to safety. Rudesill returns as the nose guard where he had 33 tackles, four for loss and his first career interception. Hardy has been active as a defensive end, leading the team last season in sacks with 7.0 for 41 yards. A hard hitter, Hardy forced a team-best two fumbles and finished with 33 tackles. The lanky Ogbomoh trailed only his high school teammate Hardy in sacks, racking up 5.5, with 26 tackles of which 17 were solo. Ogbomoh was the WIAC player of the week last September after a 2.5 sack day against Mayville State. A standout special teams player, Ogbomoh has a penchant for blocking kicks, with seven to his career. Johnson recovered nicely from an early season injury in 2015 to making a statement in 2016. Playing in seven games, Johnson collected 48 tackles – third on the team – and had six tackles for loss. Pierson, who is a physical player, had 53 tackles in 2015, along with three interceptions and nine pass break ups.

Defensively, the Blue Devils rank 16th in the NCAA DIII in rushing yards allowed (75.8). The Blue Devils have racked up 14 sacks this season, with Iyen Ogbomoh chalking up three and Josh Johnson, Luke Wilz, Isaiah Hardy and Aaron Wisecup each collecting two. Johnson, a linebacker, leads the team in tackles with 27, 16 solo, and the senior has a team-best five pass break-ups. Safety Levi Wolf shares the conference lead in interceptions with two. Wolf also blocked a punt against Platteville that teammate Jed Schlegel scooped up and returned 47 yards for his first collegiate score. The Blue Devil defense has allowed 290.8 total yards. Stout averages 17.3 points and gives up 17.5.

PUNT BLOCK: Levi Wolf blocked a punt against UW-Platteville Sept. 30, and Jed Schlegel scooped up the ball, returning it 47 yards for a score, his first collegiate points. Schlegel has been opportunistic this season. Including the blocked punt return, the sophomore broke up a pass on fourth down to clinch the win over nationally ranked St. Thomas.

GIVE IT A BOOT: The kicking game has been one of the Blue Devils' strengths the past couple of years. Junior place kicker Drew Pearson earned national recognition last season. Pearson, who won the place kicking job early in the season, earned All-America status on two separate teams while he set a school record with 16 field goals made during the season. Pearson was 16-of-19 in field goals – including two of more than 50 yards - and made all 27 extra points to lead the Blue Devils in scoring with 75 points. Pearson is 4-for-7 this season in field goals and is 5-for-6 in extra points.  Pearson has earned preseason All-America nods for the 2017 season with D3football.com, Lindy's, Street & Smith and HERO Sports Network, along with returning to the Fred Mitchell Award watch list. Senior punter Clark Riedel was a first team all-WIAC selection and an all-district pick, averaging 39.1 yards per boot and placed 15 punts inside the 20 yard line. This season, Riedel is averaging 38.6 yards per kick, currently third in the league.  Riedel is the holder for Pearson and long snapper Clay Dziekan returns for his third season. Taylor Pahl returns for his senior season and is a back-up to Pearson. Paul has booted nine field goals over his career and is 24-of-27 in extra points.

CLIMBING THE LADDER: Blue Devil kicker Drew Pearson is currently 18th on the UW-Stout all-time scoring list with 125 points. Wide receiver Kevion McDonald is currently 26th on the all-time receiving list with 924 yards.

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.  The Blue Devils' 2-0 start propelled the Blue Devils to 25th on the D3football.com Top 25. Stout moved up to 24th the following week, then jumped two spots to 22nd before the loss to Platteville dropped Stout one spot to No. 23 and the loss to UW-Whitewater put Stout in the receiving votes category.  The last time Stout appeared in the poll was when they received votes for several weeks midway through the 2010 season and the last time Stout cracked the D3football Top 25 was during Week 5 of the 2005 season. Stout received votes in the first AFCA Division III Coaches Poll, then moved up to 25th during the second poll. The Blue Devils fell out of the AFCA's Division III Coach's Poll after the Platteville loss.

 

WHO'S WHO UW-RIVER FALLS:  The rushing attack is heavily based on senior Michael Diggins. He leads UW-River Falls with 117 attempts with 646 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Diggins also leads the WIAC in rushing attempts, yards, and yards per game (129.2). Diggins can catch the ball out of the backfield, hauling in 18 catches for 143 yards (7.9 y/c) and a TD. Diggins leads the team in scoring with 42 points.  Senior Travon Hearns is the primary signal caller for UW-River Falls. He leads the team with 609 yards, going 52-of-92 with six touchdowns and three interceptions. On the receiving end, junior Trenton Monson leads the team with 293 yards and a touchdown on 23 grabs. Defensively, Max Praschak is the team's leading tackler and the second-leading tackler in the league, recording 47, 28 solo. Nick Jacobson ranks third in the conference in both sacks (3.5, 32 yards) and tackles for loss (6.5, 41 yards). Jared Johnson also has 6. tackles for loss. The Falcons allow only 11.8 points per contest and average 20.6 points. The Falcons average 331.4 total yards of offense, 167.0 rushing, 164.4 passing. The defense allows 268.8 yards per outing, a league-best 53.0 rushing, 215.8 passing. The Falcons rank sixth nationally in rushing yards allowed.



THE MATCHUP: Comparing the numbers:

Stout	WIAC Rank		WIAC Rank	River Falls
17.2	7	PPG	5	20.6
17.5	4	Opp. PPG	3	11.8
205.5	6	Pass Yds	7	164.4
131.2	8	Rush Yds	3	167.0
-7 (6/13)	8	Turnover +/-	4	-5 (5/10)

LOTS OF RANKED OPPONENTS: The Blue Devils play three teams that are ranked In the fifth D3football.com Top 25 poll. The Blue Devils defeated St. Thomas (No. 6), Saturday, Sept. 9, 25-22, lost, 34-27, at UW-Platteville (No. 9) Saturday, Sept. 30, and host UW-Oshkosh (No.3) Saturday, Nov. 11 to close the season.



PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Offensive player of the week: Josh Malone, Sr, Gordon, Wis. (Northwoods) Defensive player of the week: Nick Schulenburg, Sr, Fort Atkinson, Wis. Special teams player of the week: Clark Riedel, Sr, Waukesha, Wis. (West).; Offensive scout player of the week: Kevin Ruechel, Fr, Pulaski, Wis. Defensive scout player of the week: Austin Morreau, Fr, Manitowoc, Wis. (Lincoln); Offensive lineman of the week: Caleb Adams, Jr, Rochester, Minn. (Mayo);


TEAM CAPTAINS: Captains for the 2017 season include linebacker Jared Allen (Sr, Maple Grove, Minn), linebacker Nick Schulenberg (Sr, Fort Atkinson), defensive lineman Troy Rudesill (Sr, Spring Valley) and punter Clark Riedel (Sr, Waukesha).

NATIONAL RANKINGS: When Stout was voted 25th in the 2017 Week 2 Top 25 poll, it was the first time Stout was ranked in the Top 25 since Week 5 of the 2005 season when the Blue Devils were ranked 23rd. During 2017, Stout climbed as high as 22nd in the D3football.com poll in week four. The last time Stout received votes was during the 2010 season. Stout often received votes during the 2000s.

ODDS AND ENDS: Previous to the 2017 season, the last time the Blue Devils were mentioned in the D3football.com Top 25 was when they received votes during the 2010 season...The Blue Devils play their first game of the season Saturday, Sept. 2 at  Simpson College, then are home for the next two non-conference games, facing nationally ranked St. Thomas, Saturday, Sept. 9, then take two Saturdays off before opening the WIAC season by traveling to UW-Platteville, Saturday, Sept. 30 with a 2 p.m. start.

CANCELLATION BUMMER: A couple of weeks before the beginning of the season, the Blue Devils found out that their final non-conference game of the season with Trinity Bible College was canceled. The Lions had fewer than 30 show up for preseason camp, only half as many as they had originally anticipated. The school, located in Ellendale, ND, has a total enrollment around 300 students. The team is still playing a limited schedule, but also cancelled a game with Waldorf College. This is the third football game in the past 25 years that has been canceled, but the first that was canceled just before the season began. In September, 1992, UW-Superior was forced to drop their program due to low numbers the week Stout and Superior were scheduled to tangle. A Sept. 15, 2001, game at Willamette University in Washington state was canceled following the terrorist attack in New York City, Sept. 11, 2011, after all flights were canceled.

THE COACHES:  UW-Stout: Clayt Birmingham (28-46) is in his eighth 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-River Falls:  Matt Walker (39-56, overall / 17-48, River Falls) is in his seventh season as head football coach at UW-River Falls. Walker has coached 49 Falcons to All-WIAC honors. In three of his seven seasons as the head coach, one of his players earned the sport's WIAC Scholar-Athlete award. Greg Klingelhutz won the award in 2011, John Schimenz claimed the honor in 2012 and Ryan Kusilek received the award in 2015. Walker, was the head football coach at DePauw University from 2006-09 and compiled a 22-8 overall record. His teams finished 13-7 in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference and placed second in the final conference standings in 2007 and 2008. From 2000-05 he was an assistant coach with the Tigers and coached running backs and wide receivers.

COACHING STAFF Travis Destache returns as the defensive coordinator.. Chase Vogel returns for his fourth 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 last season 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 second year with the Blue Devils and brings 30-plus years of coaching experience to his work with defensive backs. Jeff Sullivan returns after 11 years. Jeff Sullivan coached with the Blue Devils from 2003-05, returning last year after an 11 year hiatus from college football. During the interim, Sullivan was an assistant coach with a number of high school programs and is a member of the first class to earn their PhD at Stout.

THE LEAGUES: UW-Stout and UW-Whitewater are members of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). Stout finished seventh in league play last season and the Blue Devils were picked to finish seventh in a WIAC preseason poll released in mid-August. UW-Whitewater finished first (7-0) last season and were picked to finish first in the WIAC preseason poll.

SCHOLAR-ATHLETE: Senior Jared Allen has been nominated as a National Football Foundation (NFF) scholar-athlete for 2017 and has been selected as a semi-finalist for the Cambell Trophy. Allen, a team captain, is a business major from Maple Grove, Minn., graduating from Hopkins High School. Allen has been involved with the Stout Student Association (SSA) senate throughout much of his tenure at Stout.

SEASON HONORS:   2017: Safety Levi Wolf was selected as the WIAC defensive player of the week and was named to the D3football.com team of the week after Stout's 25-22 win over St. Thomas, Sept. 9...Wide receiver Kevion McDonald and safety Levi Wolf were selected as UW-Stout/Toppers Athlete of the Week after Stout's 25-22 win over St. Thomas...Linebacker Luke Wilz was named the WIAC defensive player of the week after notching 12 tackles against Simpson College in the season opener...place kicker Drew Pearson received preseason All-America honors by D3football.com, Street and Smith magazine, Lindy's magazine, and HERO Sports Network. Pearson is also on the watch list for the Fred Mitchell Award, an award he was a semi-finalist for last season.
 

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, 29 att, 289 yds, 4 TDs vs. UW-River Falls, Oct. 22, 2016
18 comp, 33 att, 247 yds, 2 TDs vs. UW-Stevens Point, Nov. 5, 2016
14 comp, 30 att, 235 yds, 1 TD vs. UW-Platteville, Sept. 30, 2017
16 comp, 33 att, 135 yds, 2 TDs, vs. UW-Whitewater, Nov. 14, 2015
13 comp, 28 att, 161 yds, 2 TDs, vs UW-Platteville, Oct. 29, 2016
10 comp, 20 att, 148 yds, 1 TD, vs. St. Thomas, Sept. 10, 2016
J.Dan Sturgeon - Passing
13 comp, 27 att, 248 yds, 3 TDs vs. St. Thomas, Sept. 9, 2017
Jay Alston - Rushing
9 carries, 96 yards, 2 TD vs. UW-Eau Claire, Oct. 15, 2016
Keyshawn Carpenter - Rushing
17 carries, 77 yards vs. Simpson College, Sept. 2, 2017
12 carries, 59 yards vs. Wartburg College, Sept. 19, 2015
Rayshawn Graham - Rushing
15 carries,105 yards vs. UW-Platteville, Sept. 30, 2017
5 carries, 52 yards vs. Simpson College, Sept. 2, 2017
14 carries, 61 yards vs. UW-Whitewater, Oct. 7, 2017
17 carries, 50 yards vs. St. Thomas, Sept. 9, 2017
Lucian Coutier - Rushing
4 carries, 41 yards vs. Simpson College, Sept. 2, 2017
Kevion McDonald - Receiving
7 receptions, 133 yards vs. St. Thomas, Sept. 9, 2017
5 receptions, 98 yards vs. Loras College, Sept. 12, 2015
4 receptions, 94 yards, vs. UW-Stevens Point, Nov. 5, 2016
6 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD vs. UW-Platteville, Oct. 29, 2016
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
Akema Collins - Receiving
6 receptions, 155 yards vs. UW-Platteville, Sept. 30, 2017
3 receptions, 50 yards vs. UW-Whitewater, Oct. 7, 2017
3 receptions, 49 yards vs. St. Thomas, Sept. 10, 2016
3 receptions, 39 yards vs. St. Thomas, Sept. 9, 2017
2 receptions, 35 yards vs. Simpson College, Sept. 3, 2016
Brian Sandifer - Receiving
8 receptions, 101 yards, 1 TD vs. UW-Whitewater, Nov. 12, 2016
5 receptions, 101 yards, 2 TDs vs. UW-Platteville, Oct. 29, 2016
5 receptions, 78 yards, 2 TDs vs. UW-Stevens Point, Nov. 5, 2016
4 receptions, 19 yards vs. UW-Whitewater, Oct. 7, 2017
2 receptions, 64 yards vs. St. Thomas, Sept. 9, 2017
Dustin Rondorf - Receiving
2 reception, 24, yards vs. UW-Platteville, Sept. 30, 2017
2 receptions, 21 yards vs. Simpson College, Sept. 2, 2017


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
85 - Adolfo Pacheco run for TD vs. Eau Claire, Oct. 15, 2016
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, 4 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
105 - Rayshawn Graham vs.UW-Platteville, Sept. 30, 2017 (15 carries)
105 - Travis Urlaub vs. UW-River Falls, Oct. 24, 2015 (10 carries, 1 TD)
119 - Adolfo Pacheco vs. UW-Eau Claire, Oct. 15, 2016 (11 carries, 1 TD)
104 - Travis Urlaub vs. Simpson College, Sept. 3, 2016 (23 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
155 - Akama Collins vs. UW-Platteville, Sept. 30, 2017 (6 rec)
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)
Returned a kickoff 90-plus yards
96t - Noel Gonzalez at UW-Stevens Point, Nov. 5, 2016
90t - Carlos Concepcion vs. UW-Eau Claire, Oct. 23, 2010
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)
Recorded two interceptions
2 - Levi Wolf vs. St. Thomas, Sept. 9, 2017
2 - Enzo Rosani vs. Mayville State, Sept. 17, 2016
Successfully Kicked a 50-plus yard field goal
51 - Drew Pearson at UW-Oshkosh, Oct. 1, 2016
52 - Drew Pearson at Mayville State, Sept. 17, 2016 (just before halftime)
52 - Brandon Raciborski vs. UW-River Falls, Oct. 20, 2007 (game winner with 45 seconds remaining)
Returned a blocked punt for a score
Jed Schlegel, 47-yards vs. UW-Platteville (Levi Wolf block), Sept. 30, 2017
Returned a blocked field goal for a score
Enzo Rosani, 86 yards vs. UW-La Crosse (Travis Shackleton block), Oct. 10, 2015
Returned an interceptiof for a score
Iyen Ogbomoh, 5 yards vs. Simpson College, Sept. 3, 2016
* school record

BIG KICKOFF RETURNS: Noel Gonzalez returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown against UW-Stevens Point, Nov. 5, 2016 at Stevens Point. The return was the longest return since Mike Bechtel returned a 98-yard kickoff return against UW-Whitewater, Oct. 14, 1995 on the Blue Devils' homecoming. Carlos Concepcion returned a kick 90 yards against UW-Eau Claire, Oct. 23, 2010. Jesse Wendt, who holds the school single season record for kickoff return average, returned a kickoff 90 yards in 2004. Tony Beckham did not have any 90-plus yard returns, but in back-to-back seasons, the future NFL draftee returned an 88-yard kickoff and an 89-yard return in 2000 and 2001, respectively.

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

PROMOTIONS PLANNED FOR 2017: The Blue Devils will welcome students back when they host Dorm Days, Saturday, Sept. 9 when St. Thomas comes to town for a 1:10 p.m. contest. The Blue Devils will host their annual Homecoming game Saturday, Oct. 14 at 2 p.m. vs. UW-River Falls. The Blue Devils will have Youth Day, Saturday, Oct. 21 when UW-Stevens Point comes to town for a 1 p.m. contest. Stout will hold a Military Appreciation Day, Saturday, Nov. 11 when they meet UW-Oshkosh at 2 p.m. The seniors will be recognized Saturday, Nov. 11.

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 stay at home for the second consecutive week when they host UW-Stevens Point, Saturday, Oct. 21 at 1 p.m.