THIS WEEK'S GAME: UW-Stout (4-2, 2-2 WIAC) will travel to UW-Eau Claire (1-6, 0-4 WIAC) Saturday, Oct. 28 for a 6 p.m. game in a continuation of the "War on 94" game. 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. Stout holds a 5-4 lead since the trophy game begin in 2008. The Blue Devils have won the last two meetings and three of the last four.

WAR ON I-94 SERIES
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
2016 - Stout 30, Eau Claire 7

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. 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 and returned to the "Receiving Votes" category of the AFCA Coaches Poll after a win over UW-Stevens Point.

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: Drew Pearson kicked three field goals, Levi Wolf returned an interception for a 28-yard TD and wide receiver Kevion McDonald caught six passes for 112 yards and rushed for 83 yards (on four carries) as UW-Stout defeated UW-Stevens Point, 23-17, Saturday at Williams Stadium. 

LAST TIME OUT: EAU CLAIRE:  Eau Claire hosted No. 10 UW-Platteville for another Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) match-up on Saturday, with the Blugolds falling short, 34-14. Eau Claire got some nice production out of the running game last week and hope to continue that against the Blue Devils. JT DenHartog finished with 45 yards rushing on top of his 126 yards through the air, while Brian Kulaga had his best game of the year with 93 rushing yards on 18 carries. Another key takeaway from a week ago is that the Blugolds won the turnover battle with a plus-four margin against Platteville. One of those turnovers last week was a fumble recovery by Jalen Thomas  that gave the Blugolds momentum at the start of the third quarter. 

WHEN STOUT AND EAU CLAIRE LAST MET:  UW-Stout was able to secure the War on I-94 trophy two years running as they downed UW-Eau Claire, 30-7, at Don and Nona Williams Stadium, Oct. 15, 2016. The Blue Devils racked up 441 yards of total offense, running for 289 yards and three touchdowns. The defense also stood tall and was able to limit Eau Claire to only 174 yards of total offense. Adolfo Pacheco led the Blue Devils on the ground, returning to a younger form of himself to rush for 119 yards and a TD on 11 rushes, including an 85-yard run up the middle of the field for a touchdown.

THE SERIES: The Blugolds hold a 51-37-6 lead in the series that began in 1917 with a 49-0 Stout win. Stout has won three of the last five meetings, including the last two. Stout holds a 5-4 lead since the trophy game begin in 2008.



UW-STOUT: One of the big reasons for the Blue Devils' turnaround this season has been the play of the defense. The Blue Devils are currently ranked first in the WIAC in total defense, allowing 275.2 yards per contest. UW-River Falls is second at 291.7. The Blue Devils have not allowed more than 315 total yards of offense this season, and that came in the team's 25-22 win over fourth-ranked St. Thomas on Sept. 9. Stout has limited their opponent to less than 300 yards their last three games, allowing UW-Stevens Point 268, UW-River Falls 220 and UW-Whitewater 221. Last season, Stout held only two opponents to less than 300 yards, and four times allowed more than 500 yards. Stout's rushing defense is ranked second (81.3 y/g) in the WIAC and their passing defense is ranked fourth (193.8 y/g). Stout's red zone defense is ranked first in the WIAC. The Blue Devils are second in the WIAC in sacks, with high school teammates Isaiah Hardy (4.5) and Iyen Ogbomoh (4.0) leading the way. Aaron Wisecup has three sacks and Josh Johnson and Luke Wilz each have two. Stout is ranked 29th nationally in total defense, 21st in rushing defense and 22nd in red zone defense.

Offensively, Stout is averaging 320.7 yards per game, 202.7 throwing, 118.0 rushing. The Blue Devils ranks sixth in total offense in the WIAC, sixth in passing, seventh in rushing and seventh in scoring offense. The Blue Devils are outscoring their opponents, 113-103 (18.8-17.2). Stout ranks fourth in scoring defense. 

HOT START: The Blue Devils started the season off guns-a-blazing, 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 won their last two games and their four wins on the season is the most since Stout went 4-6 during the 2013 season.


THROWING THE BALL:  Jay Alston has completed 66-of-132 passes for 933 yards, six TDs, but eight interceptions. Alston ranks fourth in the WIAC in passing yards per game (186.6). Alston has also caught two passes for 20 total yards. 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 26 receptions for 386 yards (14.8 y/catch) and three TDs. McDonald also has a rushing TD, giving four TDs on the season, a team-best. McDonald is averaging 4.3 receptions per game and is seventh in the WIAC in receiving yards per game (64.3).   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 16 catches for 291 yards, ranking right behind McDonald in yards per game (48.5).  Brian Sandifer, Stout's touchdowns leader last season, has 16 grabs for 229 yards and four receiving TDs, matching McDonald's touchdown totals. Josh Malone has four catches, including a game-winning 12-yard TD reception against St. Thomas, and has 38 total yards.. 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 passes 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 4.5 yards per carry and has 395 total rushing yards on 82 carries, ranking fourth in the WIAC (65.8 y/game). Keyshawn Carpenter has 140 net rushing yards on 50 carries. Receiver Kevion McDonald has 119 total rushing yards on 11 carries.

DOUBLE THREAT: Wide receiver Kevion McDonald has the longest rushing and receiving plays from scrimmage this season. McDonald caught a 77-yard touchdown pass from J.Dan Sturgeon on Stout's first play from scrimmage in a 25-22 win over St. Thomas, Sept. 9. McDonald took off on a 71-yard scamper to the Stevens Point 3-yard line in a 23-17 win over UW-Stevens Point, Oct. 21. Both plays came at Williams Stadium.

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 corner back 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.

EYE FOR THE BALL: Defensively, linebacker Josh Johnson leads the team in tackles with 43, 26 solo, and the senior has five pass break-ups. Fellow linebacker Nick Schulenburg has 36 tackles, 18 solo. Defensive back Levi Wolf has 35 tackles, 15 solo, with three interceptions for 60 yards and four pass break-ups. Linebacker Luke Wilz has 34 tackles, 20 solo and a pair of pass break-ups. Free safety Tony Blair has 33 tackles, 21 solo, and an interception that he returned 17 yards.

WOLF'S INSTINCTS: Safety Levi Wolf is tied for second in the conference in interceptions with three. Wolf had two interceptions against St. Thomas, then stepped in front a UW-Stevens Point, returning it 28 yards for his first career Pick-6. Wolf also blocked a punt against Platteville that teammate Jed Schlegel scooped up and returned 47 yards for his first collegiate score. Wolf also caught a 15-yard pass out of punt formation against St. Thomas.

OPPORTUNITY STRIKES FOR SCHLEGEL: The stat line on defensive back Jed Schlegel isn't overly impressive, but it is what the sophomore has done when he has been near the ball that has been big for the Blue Devils this season. Levi Wolf blocked a punt against UW-Platteville Sept. 30, and  Schlegel scooped up the ball, returning it 47 yards for a score, his first collegiate points. Schlegel has been opportunistic this season. He made his first big play of the year when he broke up a pass on fourth down to clinch the win over nationally ranked St. Thomas, followed that up in the next game in Platteville with the blocked punt return. Schlegel had an interception in the end zone to put a stop to a late UW-River Falls drive.  Schlegel has seven tackles, four solo.

BAT IT AWAY: Senior defensive back Michael Pierson has been tested the last couple of games against UW-River Falls and UW-Stevens Point, and he has passed the test. The 5-foot-9 senior has batted away four passes in each of the past two games, including several in the end zone, bringing his total pass break-ups to a team-high 10.

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 last 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 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. 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, who has not had as many chances this year, broke out for the year in the win over UW-Stevens Point. The junior from Wausau was 3-for-4 in field goals, including a 53-yarder that was one yard short of the school and conference record, earning WIAC special teams player of the week honors. Pearson also booted a pair of PATs, and scored 11 points. The only field goal Pearson missed was a 54-yard attempt. Pearson is one of three kickers in the WIAC to attempt field goals longer than 50 yards, but the only WIAC kicker to succeed when he made the 53 yard boot. Bruce Wesling of La Crosse attempted a 51-yard kick vs. Eau Claire and Wojciech Gasienica of UW-Whitewater attempted a 52-yard boot against Illinois Wesleyan. Pearson is currently 7-of-11 in field goals and 10-of-11 in PATS. Pearson leads the team in points scored with 31. Clark Riedel is averaging 39.5 yards per punt, third in the WIAC. Riedel has had 11 punts fair caught and has put seven inside the 20-yard line.

CLIMBING THE LADDER: Blue Devil kicker Drew Pearson is currently 13th on the UW-Stout all-time scoring list with 139 points. Wide receiver Kevion McDonald is currently 19th on the all-time receiving list with 1102 career yards. Quarterback Jay Alston is currently 11th on the all-time passing list with 2761 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 EAU CLAIRE: The Blugold offense is led by QB Junior JT DenHartog. Denhartog is averaging 110.3 yards per game through the air and a total of 662 yards this season. DenHartog also has three touchdowns to his three interceptions. The quarterback also has 322 yards on the ground with six touchdowns, and leads the team in rushing. His long rushing touchdown of 73 yards came against UW-River Falls on Sept. 30. Junior Brian Kulaga leads all running backs on the Blugold squad with 269 yards and one touchdown. LeeShaun Evans has hauled in 13 catches for 235 yards and a score. Freshman Victor Martinelli leads the Blugolds in sacks with four and junior safety Ross Curran is the leader in tackles with 41. Ryan Amers has a pair of interceptions. 



THE MATCHUP: Comparing the numbers:

Stout WIAC Rank WIAC Rank Eau Claire
18.8 6 PPG 8 12.1
17.2 4 Opp. PPG 8 35.1
202.7 6 Pass Yds 8 138.6
118.0 7 Rush Yds 6 127.4
-8 (9/17) 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. 4), 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. 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: Kevion McDonald, Jr, Hopkins, Minn. Defensive player of the week: Levi Wolf, Jr, Elmwood, Wis / Isaiah Hardy, Sr, Olympia Fields, Ill. (Rich Central). Special teams player of the week: Drew Pearson, Jr, Wausau, Wis. (West); Clark Riedel, Sr, Waukesha, Wis. (West).; Offensive scout player of the week: Mason Graetz, Fr, River Falls, Wis.; Defensive scout player of the week: Holden Timm, So, Hudson, Wis. Offensive lineman of the week: Cody Marquardt, Sr, Onalaska, Wis.

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 Receiving Votes category in the AFCA poll Oct. 24.

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 (30-46) 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-Eau Claire: Dan Larson (3-14)  is in his second year as head coach of the Blugolds. Larson 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. Prior to joining the UMD staff, Larson was Macalester College's offensive coordinator. Under Larson's watch, the Scots set school records for both scoring (34.2 points per game) and passing yards (215.1 ypg) in 2012 while going 6-4 on the year. Two years earlier, Macalester rolled up a program-best 423.2 yards of total offense per game and had the unique distinction of averaging over 200 yards rushing and 200 yards passing during the course of the season. Larson was an assistant coach at UW-Stout in 2005. 

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-Eau Claire 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-Eau Claire was predicted to finish eighth 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: Wide receiver Kevion McDonald was selected as the UW-Stout/Toppers athlete of the week after recording six catches for 112 yards and running four times for 83 yards against UW-Stevens Point, Oct. 21...Kicker Drew Pearson was selected the WIAC special teams player of the week after kicking three field goals, including a 53-yarder, and added two PATs in Stout's 23-17 win over UW-Stevens Point, Oct. 21...Wide receiver Kevion McDonald was the UW-Stout/Toppers athlete of the week after catching six passes for 112 yards and running the ball four times for 83 yards...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
14 comp, 26 att, 198 yds, 1 TD vs. UW-Stevens Point, Oct. 21, 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
Kevion McDonald - Rushing
4 carries, 83 yards vs. UW-Stevens Point, Oct. 21, 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
6 receptions, 112 yards vs. UW-Stevens Point, Oct. 21, 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 - Drew Pearson (UW-Stout), Oct. 21, 2017
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
53 - Drew Pearson vs. UW-Stevens Point, Oct. 21, 2017
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
Levi Wolf, 28 yards vs. UW-Stevens Point, Oct. 21, 2017
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. 

UP NEXT: The Blue Devils wrap-up a two-game road trip when they travel to UW-La Crosse, Saturday, Nov. 4 at 1 p.m.
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