Football Preview: Stout to host Pointers Saturday

BLUE DEVILS REAPPEAR IN RANKINGS: A 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. After the win over UW-River Falls, the Blue Devils reappeared in the receiving votes category, with four votes during Week 7 in the D3football.com poll.

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: With UW-River Falls driving with just over two minutes left in the game, UW-Stout's Jed Schlegel intercepted River Falls quarterback Travon Hearns in the end zone. River Falls, using timeouts, was able to force Stout to punt, but the Falcons got called for roughing the kicker and Stout was able to run the clock out to hold on for a 21-16 Homecoming win on a rainy Saturday at Don and Nona Williams Stadium. | Story and Stats

LAST TIME OUT: STEVENS POINT: Stevens Point took an early lead and cruised past visiting UW-Eau Claire (1-5, 0-3) in a Homecoming victory, 26-3. The Pointers ground game picked up 266 yards in the game, led by freshman ShamaJ Williams, who gained 147 yards on 20 rushing attempts. Stevens Point finished with 375 total yards of offense. The Pointers ran out to a 17-3 lead by halftime. | Story and Stats

WHEN STOUT AND STEVENS POINT LAST MET:  In a game that featured four lead swings, UW-Stout come out on the short end of a shootout with UW-Stevens Point, falling to the Pointers, 35-28, Saturday at Goerke Field. The Blue Devils came back from a deficit twice, only to see the Pointers grab the lead back each time. But Stout came back from bigger deficits both times. | Story and Stats

THE SERIES: The Pointers hold a 51-19-2 lead in the series that began in 1913 with a 24-6 Stout win. The Pointers have won three of the last five meetings.


UW-STOUT WHO'S WHO: The Blue Devils got back on the winning track last weekend and hope to continue the trend through the rest of the season.The Blue Devils are the third-ranked team in total defense, allowing 276.6 total yards, second in rushing defense with 91.2 yards allowed. Stout's rushing defense is ranked 34th nationally. Linebackers Josh Johnson and Nick Schulenburg lead the team in tackles, with Johnson tallying 35 tackles, 19 solo, and Schulenburg with 33 tackles, 16 solo. Johnson has 5.0 tackles for loss and two sacks. Defensive end Iyen Ogbomoh leads the team in sacks (4.0) and tackles for loss (5.5). Ogbomoh's school classmate Isaiah Hardy has 4.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. Ogbomoh is third in the WIAC in sacks. Levi Wolf is tied for third in the conference in interceptions with two.  Tony Blair and Jed Schlegel each have an interception The Blue Devil defense has allowed 276.6 total yards. Stout averages 18.0 points and gives up 17.2. |  Statistics

Offensively, Jay Alston has completed 52-of-106 passes for 736 yards and five TDs. J.Dan Sturgeon has completed 13-of-27 passes and has a TD. Three other players have also completed passes throughout the season.  Kevion McDonald leads the team in receptions with 20 for 274 yards and three TDs, including a 77-yard TD pass on Stout's first play from scrimmage in a 25-22 home-opening win over fourth-ranked St. Thomas, Sept. 9. Brian Sandifer also has three TD catches on 14 receptions for 213 yards. Akema Collins has 13 receptions for 250 yards. Collins was on the receiving end of a two-point conversion. Blue Devil passers have completed throws to 13 different players, including two receptions by Alston. Rayshawn Graham leads the Blue Devils' ground game. The sophomore has a pair of 100-yard games to his credit and has tallied 368 yards on 70 carries, and has not rushed for less than 50 yards in a game this year. Graham is ranked fourth in the WIAC in rushing. Keyshawn Carpenter has 134 yards on 45 carries.   Blue Devil kicker Drew Pearson is currently tied for 15th with Mike Bechtel and Mark Rothwell on the UW-Stout all-time scoring list with 128 points. McDonald is currently 22nd on the all-time receiving list with 990 career receiving yards. 


THROWING THE BALL: Over three games, Jay Alston has completed 52-of-106 passes for 735 yards, five TDs, but seven 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. Three other players, Akema Collins, Mason Sturm and Kevion McDonald have all completed a pass this season.

CATCHING THE BALL: Kevion McDonald has a team-best 20 receptions for 274 yards (13.7 y/catch) and three TDs. McDonald also has a rushing TD, giving four TDs on the season, a team-best.  Akema Collins had a career-game, grabbing six catches for 155 yards against UW-Platteville, the most individual receiving yards in a single game in two years for the Blue Devils. On the season, Collins, who started all 10 games last season, has 13 catches for 250 yards. McDonald, who had a 77-yard TD reception on Stout's first play from scrimmage in a 25-22 win over St. Thomas, Sept. 9, has a team-best 16 catches for 208 yards and two TDs. Brian Sandifer, Stout's touchdowns leader last season, has 11 grabs for 158 yards and one TD. Josh Malone has two catches, including a 12-yard TD reception, the game winner, against St. Thomas. Jaavion Bradley pulled in his first Stout TD reception, a 10 yard grab at UW-Platteville, added another catch against UW-Whitewater and two more against UW-River Falls. Tight end Dustin Rondorf has been on the receiving end of five catches for 54 total yards. fellow tight end Mason Sturm has one reception for 10 yards, but has a pass completion out of a fake punt, good for 15 yards and a first down to defensive back Levi Wolf.

RUNNING THE BALL: Sophomore Rayshawn Graham has had two 100-yard rushing games this season, running for 105 yards against UW-Platteville on 15 carries and for 100 yards against UW-River Falls. On the season, Graham is averaging 5.3 yards per carry and has 368 total rushing yards on 70 carries, ranking fourth in the WIAC. Keyshawn Carpenter has 134 net rushing yards on 45 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.


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 34th in the NCAA DIII in rushing yards allowed (91.2). The Blue Devils have racked up 15 sacks this season, with Iyen Ogbomoh chalking up four and Josh Johnson, Luke Wilz, Isaiah Hardy Nick Schulenburg and Aaron Wisecup each collecting two. Johnson, a linebacker, leads the team in tackles with 35, 19 solo, and the senior has a team-best five pass break-ups. Safety Levi Wolf is third in the conference 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.

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 and an interception in the end zone to put a stop to a late UW-River Falls drive.


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.

Pearson this year is 4-of-7 in field goals, going 4-of-4 under 40 yards, but going 0-of-3 beyond. Pearson is second on the team in points with 20. Pearson is 8-of-9 in PATs. Riedel is averaging 38.0 yards per punt, tied for third in the WIAC.

CLIMBING THE LADDER: Blue Devil kicker Drew Pearson is currently tied for 15th with Mike Bechtel and Mark Rothwell on the UW-Stout all-time scoring list with 128 points. Wide receiver Kevion McDonald is currently 22nd on the all-time receiving list with 990 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.
 

WHO'S WHO STEVENS POINT: The Pointers are one of three teams in the conference averaging more than 400 yards per contest. The Pointers are tallying 410.3 total yards, a conference-second 186.7 yards rushing and 223.7 yards passing. Zach Bosek leds the team in rushing with 356 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry, but Shamaj Williams has earned the starting role, averging 7.0 yards per tote with 286 yards. Quarterback Matt Urmanski has completed 26-of-62 passes for 305 yards, with no interceptions and four touchdown passes. Jerry Williams has been on the receiving end of 29 passes, averaging 20.3 yards per reception, and has scored six TDs. Williams scored three TDs Sept. 23 against Adrian and also finished with 201 receiving yards in the game. Steve Herra has pulled in 21 passes for 347 yards and has four TDs. Herra has also completed one pass this year, for a 75-yard TD to Williams against Adrian.  Defensively, linebacker Tyler Raschke has 33 tackles, 23 solo, and has 4.5 tackles for loss. Defensive lineman Tanner Beaman has 29 tackles and a team-high 24 solo tackles. Defensive end Logan Strang has four tackles for loss and a team-high two sacks. As a team, the Pointers give up 375.7 yards, 185.3 rushing, 190.3 passing. the Pointers have been outscored 27.9-26.8. | Statistics



THE MATCHUP: Comparing the numbers:

Stout	WIAC Rank		WIAC Rank	Stevens Point
18	7	PPG	4	26.8
17.2	4	Opp. PPG	7	27.8
203.6	6	Pass Yds	3	223.7
115.6	8	Rush Yds	2	186.7
-9 (7/16)	8	Turnover /-	5	-4 (5/9)

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. 11) Saturday, Sept. 30, and host UW-Oshkosh (No.3) Saturday, Nov. 11 to close the season. Whitewater is slowly creeping their way through the receiving votes category. Stout and UW-La Crosse are also receiving votes.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Offensive player of the week: Brian Sandifer, Sr, St. Paul, Minn. (St. Bernards) Defensive player of the week: Michael Pierson, Sr, Lino Lakes, Minn. (Centennial). Special teams player of the week: Clark Riedel, Sr, Waukesha, Wis. (West).; Offensive scout player of the week: JaRon Williams, Fr, Milwaukee, Wis. (Nicolet); Defensive scout player of the week: Jake Schmitt, So, Woodstock, Ill.; Offensive lineman of the week: Thomas Roble, So, Carver, Minn. (Chanhassen)


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, but fell out of the Top 25 after consecutive losses to UW-Platteville and UW-Whitewater. The Blue Devils reappeared in the receiving votes category during the Week 7 poll.  The last time Stout received votes in the D3football.com poll was during the 2010 season. Stout often received votes during the 2000s. The Blue Devils appeared in the AFCA Coaches poll during the Sept. 25 poll, ranking 25th. Stout returned to the D3football.com poll, getting votes in Week 7.

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 COACHES: UW-Stout: Clayt Birmingham (29-46) 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-Stevens Point: Now in his 31st year of coaching, Tom Journell (51-45 overall / 29-27 UWSP) is in his sixth season as head coach at UW-Stevens Point.  After UWSP was 2-8 in his first season, his Pointers have been .500 or better in the last four seasons. His Pointers began 2016 with four-straight wins.  Prior to the season-ending loss, his squad was 6-3 with all three losses to the hands of top-10 foes. In 2014, the Pointers opened the season with five consecutive wins, including a victory over No. 5 North Central (Ill.) in the team's Homecoming and Pink Game. After the 5-0 start, UW-Stevens Point was ranked as high as No. 13 in the country, the team's highest ranking since early 2009.

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-Stevens Point 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-Stevens Point tied for fourth last season are predicted to finish fourth 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
10 comp, 21 att, 183 yds. 3 TD vs. UW-River Falls, Oct. 14, 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
19 carries, 100 yards vs. UW-River Falls, Oct. 14, 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
3 receptions, 55 yards, 2 TDs vs. UW-River Falls, Oct. 14, 2017
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 interception 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
 

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 begin a two-game roadstand when they travel to UW-Eau Claire, Saturday, Oct. 28 for a 6 p.m. game in Carson Park. Stout will be at UW-La Crosse, Saturday, Nov. 4, before returning home to close out the regular season, Saturday, Nov. 11 by hosting UW-Oshkosh at 2 p.m.