Football Preview: Blue Devils, Blugolds battle in annual "War on 94"

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THIS WEEK'S GAME: Oh, it's rivalry time as UW-Stout (2-1, 0-0 WIAC) and UW-Eau Claire (2-1, 0-0 WIAC) face off in the annual "War on 94" game Saturday, Sept. 29 with a 6 p.m. start at Don and Nona Williams Stadium. The Blue Devils have won the last three meetings between the two foes in a series that stretches back to 1917. But the Blugolds, despite a lopsided loss to nationally ranked St. Thomas last weekend, are coming into the game with their best start to the season since 2011. The Blue Devils received three votes in this week's AFCA Division III Coaches Poll. The game is also designated as Youth Day.

ON THE AIR: iHeartRadio's Newstalk WMEQ AM 880 and 106.3FM will provide broadcast coverage for the season with Pete Knutson and Jake Bostrom providing commentary during the games. Game streams are available on wmeq.com or through the iHeartRadio App. For home games, iHeartRadio's Newstalk WMEQ AM 880 and 106.3FM will provide the audio portion for Live Video streaming of all home football games. Live Stats will be available for all home games.

WEEKLY INTERVIEW: UW-Stout head coach Clayt Birmingham will speak with Pete Knutson of iHeartRadio's Newstalk radio on a weekly basis about the upcoming game and last week's game. | This Week's Interview | Weekly Interviews

LAST TIME OUT: UW-STOUT: Whether by the air or on the ground, UW-Stout turned out big plays and went on to a 49-24 win over California Lutheran, Sept. 22, in the Blue Devils' home opener. Freshman quarterback Sean Borgerding was an efficient 10-for-13 with a career-best 273 yards passing and four TD passes and Rayshawn Graham carried the ball 20 times for a career-best 172 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown scamper. Stout finished the day with 547 total yards of offense, 263 running, 284 passing. The Blue Devils had eight plays of 20 yards or more.  The 547 yards of offense is the most for a Blue Devil team since Stout rolled up 556 yards in a 63-0 win over Eureka College, Sept. 10, 2010. Stout punted only once in the game and had eight plays of 20 yards or more.  | California Lutheran Story and Stats

LAST TIME OUT: UW-EAU CLAIRE: Eau Claire football team suffered their first loss of the season on Saturday, falling to the No. 3 ranked University of St. Thomas, 49-0.The Tommies proved their national ranking, taking advantage of Blugold mistakes to mount an early lead and never looked back. UW-Eau Claire still had some highlights, like a leaping catch in the opening drive by Leeshaun Evans from Scott Procter for a first down, but the Tommies would always have an answer. The Blugold special teams came up big early as well. With Eau Claire down 7-0, St. Thomas fumbled a punt that would be recovered by Samuel Ramlow at the UWEC 47 but the offense only managed a first down before the drive stalled. | St. Thomas Story and Stats

WHEN STOUT AND EAU CLAIRE LAST MET: UW-Stout soundly defeated UW-Eau Claire, 55-7, Oct. 28, 2017, at Carson Park. The win is Stout's third consecutive win over the Blugolds, and the 55 points is also the most points Stout has scored against Eau Claire in the 100-year rivalry that dates back to 1917 when Stout won, 49-0. Running back Stout rolled up 433 yards of total offense, their second 400-plus game of the season and a season-high. Stout rushed for 222 yards and gained 211 yards through the air. Stout scored on all four of their trips into the red zone. Carpenter (97 yards) and Alston (77 yards) led Stout on the ground, with Coutier finishing with 47 yards. Collins pulled in four passes for 86 yards and McDonald had 76 yards on three receptions. The Blugolds were held to 250 total yards by the WIAC's top defense. DenHartog rushed 22 times for 65 yards and completed 23-of-35 passes for 151 yards. He was sacked twice. The Blugolds were held to 99 rushing yards.The Stout defense stopped Eau Claire on fourth down five of seven times. Eau Claire was able to convert on third down only four of 18 times.Keyshawn Carpenter and quarterback Jay Alston each scored twice running the ball. Carpenter had a career-night carrying the ball, running 11 times for 97 yards and the two scores. Alston, who also connected on 10-of-21 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns, finished the night running for 77 yards on six carries, which included a 48-yard TD run with about two minutes remaining in the first half. | Game Story and Stats

THE SERIES: The Blugolds lead the series, 51-38-6. Stout has won six of the last 10 meetings.

WAR ON I-94: The War on I-94 Trophy between UW-Stout and UW-Eau Claire started in 2008. Eau Claire won the first contest for the trophy at Don and Nona Williams Stadium, Nov. 15, 2008, the final game of the 2008 season. Stout holds a 6-4 lead in the contest. The teams played for the Little Brown Jug for two brief stints, once during the 1930s and again in the 1950s. Stout is scheduled to host the 2018 contest on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m.
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
2017 - Stout 55, Eau Claire 7
2018 - Eau Claire at Stout, Sept. 29


A LOOK AT THE BLUE DEVILS: . The Blue Devils started off the season with six scoreless periods, but turned that around starting in the third quarter at Gustavus Adolphus and Stout scored 24 points in a little more than a quarter. The Blue Devils built on that with a 49 point effort in their 49-24 win over California Lutheran University last weekend. Freshman Levy Hamer has pulled in three receptions for TDs, averaging 92.0 reception yards per game and 17.2 yards per catch. Stout has gotten receiving TDs from Tyler Seymour, Noel Gonzalez and Parker Fossum. Freshman Sean Borgerding is 23-of-47 with six TDs thrown and has been intercepted once. Borgerding is averaging 147.3 passing yards per game. Last week, he ran for a 28-yard gain to keep a drive alive. On the ground, both Keyshawn Carpenter and Rayshawn Graham have collected two TDs each. bulled in for a ground score. Graham rushed for a career-long 172 yards against Cal Lutheran and has 222 yards on the season, averaging 5.6 yards per rush. Graham was selected the WIAC Offensive Athlete of the Week. Jay Alston has completed 19-of-32 passes for 195 yards. Defensively, Jed Schlegel has a team-best 36 tackles, 10 solo Levi Miller has 31 tackles, 12 solo and Haydon Miller, the reigning WIAC Defensive Athlete of the Week, has 26 tackles, two solo. Miller has two interceptions, while Schlegel and Wolf each have one. Jason Dilly collected an interception and the Blue Devil have five total picks. Dilly and Dylan Peterson each have three sacks. As a team, Stout has nine sacks and have given up four. Stout is averaging 370.3 total yards per game, 158.0 on the ground, 212.3 through the air. The Blue Devils are giving up 337.7 total yards, 120.0 on the ground, 217.7 through the air. | 2018 Statistics


UW-STOUT: On paper, it would look like UW-Stout would have a lot of holes to fill after graduating 24 seniors last year, one of the largest group of graduating seniors in head coach Clayt Birmingham's eight year tenure. And while the Blue Devils will need to replace a lot of players - including nine defensive starters, - Birmingham said his squad returns athletes who have seen considerable time in rugged Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play, but not as a listed starter. This year's senior class, along with a solid junior class, will need to step in while the team develops depth they will need for the schedule which opens Saturday, Sept. 1 with a trip to traditional football powerhouse St. John's University. "We have talent, just not a lot of veteran talent," Birmingham said. "By losing so many seniors (last season), we lost depth." 2017 Statistics

THROWING THE BALL: The Blue Devils return their offensive line nearly intact, losing only one starter. Caleb Adams earned all-conference and all-region honors at guard and has moved out to tackle this year. Starters returning include tackle Thomas Roble, guard Justin Herbst and center Bailey Roux. Curtis Neu and Alex Negoski have gotten starts at guard. The Blue Devils had the same starting lineup at offensive line in all nine games last season. Senior Jay Alston and freshman Sean Borgerding have alternated at quarterback this season, with Borgerding getting the nod against the Blugolds. So far this season, the freshman has acquired the knack for making big play happen. He threw four touchdown passes against California Lutheran, with three TD passes of 20 yards or more. He also found Tyler Seymour open over the middle and the freshman receiver turned the catch into a 75 yard gain. Borgerding also threw the game-tying TD with eight seconds remaining in regulation at Gustavus Adolphus, sending the game into overtime where the Blue Devils would go on to win. Borgerding is currently sixth in the WIAC in passing, completing 23-of-47 for 442 yards and six TDs. At 212.3 yards per game, Stout is ranked fifth in the WIAC. 

CATCHING THE BALL: Coming into the season, the majority of the receivers had not caught a collegiate pass but, after three games, six rookie receivers have hauled in pass. Levy Hamer has jumped to the forefront of the Blue Devils receivers. The Chicago native has pulled in 16 passes for 276 years with three TDs and an average of 17.2 yards per reception. Hamer had TD catches of 45- and 40-yards against California Lutheran. Combined with kick returns, Hamer in averaging 140.3 all-purpose yards. Hamer is averaging 30.2 yards per kickoff return and season-long 48 yard return set up one of his receiving TDs against Cal Lutheran.  Hamer is ranked third in the WIAC in reception yardage with 92.0 per game.  Noel Gonzalez got his first collegiate receiving TD, a 20-yard pass from Borgerding against Cal Lutheran. Gonzales, who has seven receptions this season, scored his first collegiate TD on a kickoff return during his sophomore season. Parker Fossum has six receptions and one TD, a one-handed reception against Cal Lutheran. Running back Josh Nitek has three grabs, and Tyler Seymour, Alex Croft and Keyshawn Graham each have two receptions. Seymour had an electrifying 75-yard reception against Cal Lutheran to the five yard line.  

RUNNING THE BALL: Rayshawn Graham and Keyshawn Carpenter have been splitting the rushing duties. Graham has a break-out game against California Lutheran, running 20 times for 172 yards, gaining WIAC player of the week honors. The junior scored two TDs against Cal Lutheran, a two yard run and a 65-yard run, and added a 51-yard run to set up a score by Carpenter. Graham had five runs of 10 yards or more and seven of his runs went for first downs against Cal Lutheran. Graham is averaging 74.0 yards per game, ranking him fourth in the WIAC.  Graham has carried the ball 40 times for 222 yards at a 5.6 yards per carry clip. Carpenter has scored twice this season, including the game winner in overtime with Gustavus Adolphus. Carpenter has 33 carries for 84 yards. At 158.0 yards per game, Stout ranks fifth in the WIAc. 

A NEW DEFENSE: Defensively, the Blue Devils return only two starters - linebacker Luke Wilz (Jr, Manawa) and safety Levi Wolf (Sr, Elmwood). Wolf, one of three 2018 team captains, had a breakout year, matching a conference-high five interceptions, notching six pass break-ups and making 50 tackles, 24 solo. Birmingham said Wolf significantly stepped up his game in rushing defense. "Levi is an athletic player who plays the pass well," Birmingham said, "but impressed me was how well he come up and stopped the run." Wilz has been causing havoc for the opponent during his first two seasons at both outside linebacker and know inside linebacker, where last season he had three sacks, three pass break-ups, forced a fumble that was turned into a touchdown and was second on the team in tackles with 64, 40 solo.

KICKING GAME: Drew Pearson (Sr, Wausau) returns at kicker for his final year. Following an All-American season as a sophomore, Pearson was still the team's leading scorer last season with seven field goals and 18 extra-points. While Pearson's numbers weren't as prolific as the year before, he proved to still have the leg, kicking a 53-yarder against UW-Stevens Point. Pearson appeared on the first Fred Mitchell Award watch list. The award recognizes place kickers within the FCS, NCAA Divisions II and III, the NAIA and NJCAA. Pearson was one of 10 finalists for the award during his sophomore year. Pearson is currently 1-for-5 in field goals and has made all 10 extra points. 

MR. RELIABLE: Also adding stability to the special teams is the return of long snapper Clay Dziekan (Sr, Mondovi) for his final season. Dziekan earned honorable mention all-conference honors last season.

CLIMBING THE LADDER: Blue Devil kicker Drew Pearson is currently eighth on the UW-Stout all-time scoring list with 160 points. Quarterback Jay Alston is currently 10th on the all-time passing list with 3496 yards.

PLAYING THE SAINTS: Both UW-Stout and UW-Eau Claire took their lumps this year from a pair of MIAC teams. The Blue Devils opened their season with a 27-0 loss at nationally ranked St. John's, while the Blugolds were routed by St. Thomas last week, 49-0. Both games were in Minnesota. Last season, both teams faced off against St. Thomas, with the Blugolds falling 47-13 in the season opener. The next week, the Tommies came to Menomonie where Stout earned a 25-22 win. 

PRESEASON POLLS: The Blue Devils finished fifth 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 fifth this year. UW-Oshkosh is picked to finish first, UW-Whitewater second, UW-Platteville third, UW-La Crosse fourth, UW-Stout fifth, UW-River Falls sixth, UW-Stevens Point seventh and UW-Eau Claire eighth. | WIAC Preseason Poll
 

WHO'S WHO: UW-EAU CLAIRE: The Blugolds are off to their best start since the 2011 season when they started off at 3-1. Eau Claire opened the season with a 43-13 romp over Loras College, then needed overtime to down St. Norbert College, 30-23. A 49-0 loss to St. Thomas last week brought the Blugolds to 2-1, matching the 2011 start.Brian Kulaga is second in the WIAC in rushing, gaining 283 yards and averaging 5.4 yards per carry on 52 attempts. Kulaga has found the end zone three times this season. Kulaga rushed for 109 yards against Loras, had 113 yards against St. Norbert and tallied 61 tough yards against St. Thomas. Austin Belot has carried the ball 30 times for 102 yards. Scott Proctor has stepped into the quarterback role and has completed 26-of-54 passes for 343 yards at a 114.3 yards per game. Procter has thrown one TD, a 35-yard strike to Leeshaun Evans against Loras. Procter has been intercepted four times, three times by St. Thomas. Procter has connected with nine different receivers, with Evans pulling down nine passes for 102 yards. Brycen Froehlich has four catches for 666 yards and Antwan Moore four receptions for 54 yards. Defensively, Sam Romanski has 18 tackles, of which five are sacks. Eau Claire has eight total sacks and have given up seven. Sam Burzynski has 14 tackles, 11 solo. Alex Mashak scored the team's first TD of the year when he took an interception 20 yard to the house against Loras College. Joey Esposito has the team's other pick. The Blugolds are averaging 301.3 yards per game, 175.3 rushing, 126.0 passing. They are giving up 354.7 yards, 137.3 rushing, 217.3 passing.     | 2018 Statistics

UW-Eau Claire, Saturday, Sept. 29, 6 p.m.
Head Coach: Dan Larson, 3rd (5-18)
2017 Record: 1-9 (0-7 WIAC, 7th)
Series Record: UW-Eau Claire leads, 51-38-6
Last Meeting: Stout 55, Eau Claire 7 (2017)
First Meeting: Stout 49, Eau Claire 0 (1917)

2018 Schedule
Sept. 1 at Loras (Iowa), W 45-13
Sept. 8 St. Norbert, W 30-23, ot
Sept. 22 at St. Thomas, L 49-0
Sept. 29 at UW-Stout, 6 pm
Oct. 6 UW-Stevens Point, 1:10 pm
Oct. 13 UW-Whitewater, 1:10 pm
Oct. 20 at UW-Platteville, 1 pm
Oct. 27 at UW- River Falls, 1:05 pm
Nov. 3 UW-Oshkosh, 1:10 pm
Nov. 10 UW-Lacrosse, 11:30 am

2017 Results
Sept. 2 at St. Thomas, L 47-13
Sept. 9 Wisconsin Lutheran, W 34-20
Sept. 23 at George Fox, L 44-0
Sept. 30 UW-River Falls, L 30-7
Oct. 7 at UW-La Crosse, L 45-14
Oct. 14 at UW-Stevens Point, L 26-3
Oct. 21 UW-Platteville, L 34-14
Oct. 28 UW-Stout, L 55-7
Nov. 4 at UW-Oshkosh, L 42-7
Nov. 11 at UW-Whitewater, L 36-3


THE MATCHUP: Comparing the numbers:

Stout	WIAC Rankings		WIAC Rankings	Eau Claire
24.3	7	PPG	6	25.0
24.7	4	Opp. PPG	5	28.3
212.3	5	Pass Yds	7	126.0
158.0	5	Rush Yds	4	175.3
+2 (6/4)		Turnover /-		-2 (7/9)

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Week Three: Offensive athlete of the week: Rayshawn Graham, Jr, Blue Island, Ill. (Eisenhower)/Sean Borgerding, Fr, Spring Valley, Minn; Defensive athlete of the week: Haydon Miller, So, Zimmerman, Minn./Jason Dilly, Sr, Andover, Minn. Special team athlete of the week: Levy Hamer, Fr, Chicago, Ill (St. Laurence) Offensive lineman of the week: Thomas Roble, Jr, Carver, Minn. (Chaska) Offensive scout athlete of the week:  Nick Prokosch, Fr, Willmar, Minn. Scout team defensive player of the week: Dylan Gluck, Fr, Waconia, Minn.


TEAM CAPTAINS: Captains for the 2018 season include running back Keyshawn Carpenter (Sr, Evergreen Park, Ill), offensive lineman Caleb Adams (Sr, Rochester, Minn) and safety Levi Wolf (Sr, Elmwood).

LOTS OF RANKED OPPONENTS: The Blue Devils play four teams - three in consecutive weeks - that are ranked In the D3football.com Top 25 poll. The Blue Devils faced St. John's University (9th), Sept. 1; UW-La Crosse (23rd) Oct. 6; UW-Whitewater (11th) Oct. 27; and UW-Oshkosh (12th) Nov. 10. UW-Platteville was ranked in the top 25, but is now receiving votes, Nov. 3.

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. 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.

KICKOFF FAIR CATCH (AND OTHER RULE CHANGES): Beginning with the 2018 season, a kickoff returner can signal a fair catch inside the 25-yard line, technically resulting in a touchback. The ball will be brought out to the 25-yard line to start the ensuing drive. | 2018 NCAA Rule Changes

THE COACHES: UW-Stout: Clayt Birmingham (33-49) will begin his ninth season in 2018 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 (5-18) is in his third year at UW-Eau Claire. 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. The Baldwin, Wis. native worked as the running backs coach and special teams coordinator at Colgate University, from 2006 to 2007. During his final year with the Red Raiders, he tutored running back Jordan Scott, the 2007 FBS (NCAA IAA) national rushing yardage leader. In 2005, Larson was a UW-Stout assistant coach and oversaw the Blue Devil wide receivers and special team units

COACHING STAFF: Head coach Clayt Birmingham works with the defensive backs.Travis Destache returns as the defensive coordinator and also works with the linebackers. Destache was named the WIAC assistant coach of the year by the WFCA in 2017. Destache is in his 12th season with the Blue Devils. Chase Vogel returns for his fifth year and is the offensive coordinator, working with the quarterbacks and the passing game. Derek Branch is in his fifth season with the Blue Devils. An all-conference offensive lineman with the Blue Devils during his playing years, Branch will work with the offensive line. Jed Stutzman is in his fifth year with the Blue Devils and will again work with the running backs. Jeff Sullivan was an assistant coach with the Blue Devils from 2003-05, returning in 2016 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. Sullivan works with the defensive line. Jake Schiff begins his third year with the Blue Devil coaching staff. Schiff played defensive back for the Blue Devils and was a student assistant coach in 2014 and 2015. Schiff works with the defensive line. Wade Smethers begins his first year as a Blue Devil assistant coach and works with the wide receivers. Jake Shaw and Thor Daley are in their first years as Blue Devil assistant coaches. Shaw works with the linebackers and Daley with the offensive linemen. After an all-conference and all-region career as a Blue Devil punter, Clark Riedel enters his first year as an assistant coach and will work with the special teams.

THE LEAGUES: UW-Stout and UW-Eau Claire are members of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). Stout finished fifth in league play last season and the Blue Devils were picked to finish fifth in a WIAC preseason poll released in mid-August. The Blugolds were picked to finish eighth.

SCHOLAR-ATHLETE: Senior Caleb Adams has been nominated as a National Football Foundation (NFF) scholar-athlete for 2018 and has been selected as a semi-finalist for the Campbell Trophy.

SEASON HONORS: 2018: Running back Rayshawn Graham was selected WIAC offensive athlete of the week after gaining 172 yards against California Lutheran, Sept. 22...Linebacker Haydon Miller was selected WIAC defensive athlete of the week after making eight tackles and getting an interception against California Lutheran, Sept. 22...Defensive lineman Scott Gustafson was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week after he blocked an extra point attempt that gave the Blue Devils a 24-23 overtime win over Gustavus Adolphus, Sept. 8...Place kicker Drew Pearson has been named to the Fred Mitchell Award watch list...Caleb Adams has been nominated as an NFF scholar-athlete for 2018.

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, 203 yds, 2 TD vs. UW-Eau Claire, Oct. 28, 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
Sean Borgerding - Passing
10 comp, 13 att, 273 yards, 4 TDs vs. California Lutheran, Sept. 22, 2018
8 comp, 16 att, 108 yards vs. St. John's University, Sept. 1, 2018
5 comp, 18 att, 61 yards, 2 TDs vs. Gustavus Adolphus, Sept. 8, 2018
Jay Alston - Rushing 
9 carries, 96 yards, 2 TD vs. UW-Eau Claire, Oct. 15, 2016
6 carries, 77 yards, 2 TD vs. UW-Eau Claire, Oct. 28, 2017
KeyShawn Carpenter - Rushing
11 carries, 97 yards, 2 TD vs. UW-Eau Claire, Oct. 28, 2017
20 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD vs. Gustavus Adolphus, Sept. 8, 2018
17 carries, 77 yards vs. Simpson College, Sept. 2, 2017
12 carries, 59 yards vs. Wartburg College, Sept. 19, 2015
Rayshawn Graham - Rushing
20 carries, 172 yards, 2 TDs vs. California Lutheran, Sept. 22, 2018
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
Levy Hamer - Receiving
4 receptions, 143 yards, 2 TDs, vs. California Lutheran, Sept. 22, 2018
7 receptions, 80 yards vs. St. John's University, Sept. 1, 2018
5 receptions, 53 yards vs. Gustavus Adolphus College, Sept. 8, 2018
Dustin Rondorf - Receiving 
2 receptions, 24, yards vs. UW-Platteville, Sept. 30, 2017
2 receptions, 21 yards vs. Simpson College, Sept. 2, 2017
Noel Gonzalez - Receiving
2 receptions, 39 yards, TD, vs. California Lutheran, Sept. 22, 2018
3 receptions, 44 yards vs. Gustavus Adolphus, Sept. 8, 2018


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), vs. UW-Stevens Point, 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
172 - Rayshawn Graham vs. California Lutheran, Sept. 22, 2018 (20 carries)
100 - Rayshawn Graham vs. UW-River Falls, Oct. 14, 2017 (19 carries)
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 - Akema 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 (or more) interceptions in a single game
2- Levi Wolf vs. UW-La Crosse, Nov. 4, 2017
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
Returned a fumble for a score
Michael Pierson, 15 yards vs. UW-Eau Claire, Oct. 28, 2017
* school record

THE LAST TIME A STOUT TEAM...
Played an overtime game
Sept. 8, 2018 - at Gustavus Adolphus, W 24-23 (OT)
Sept. 3, 2010 - at Black Hills State, L 14-13 (OT)
Oct. 3, 2009 - vs. UW-River Falls, W 13-12 (OT)
Sept. 6, 2008 - at Menlo College, W 13-10 (OT)
Sept. 18, 1999 - at St. Ambrose, L 34-28 (OT)
Nov. 17, 1996 - vs. Winona State, W 50-43 (OT) at Metrodome

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 was no mention in the UW-Stout, the WIAC or the NCAA record books for returning blocked field goal attempts. There is now 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. Louisiana 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 2018: The Blue Devils will host Community Day, Sept. 22; Youth Day, Sept. 29; Homecoming, Oct. 6; Military Appreciation Day, Oct. 27; and Senior Day, Nov. 3.

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.

TAILGATING: UW-Stout has adopted a formal tailgating policy for Blue Devil football games. The south end of the parking lot by the Don and Nona Williams Stadium has been designated as a tailgating area known as the "Tailgate Zone." Fans will be able to participate in the Blue Devil Walk. Tailgating is permitted three hours before the game, and tailgating activities will cease at game time. Only propane grills are permitted, no open flame grills. Tobacco is not permitted.

DON & NONA WILLIAMS STADIUM: UW-Stout's Don and Nona Williams Stadium got a facelift this summer with the installation of an updated surface. FieldTurf will installed the FieldTurf Revolution 360. FieldTurf promotes this surface as having "optimal durability, resilience, and feel." A padding/drainage mat will be added, as well as flushing the current drainage system to make sure the field sheds water as designed. The field's layout will be similar to the previous markings and will again include markings for high school hash marks. The S logo at midfield will be replaced by the new Blaze head logo. The stadium, which was opened during the 2001 season, last had the stadium turf replaced during the summer of 2008 when the original Astroturf-type surface was replaced with ProGrass, a surface that more closely resembled natural grass. Don & Nona Williams Stadium was only the second artificial playing surface in the state of Wisconsin when it opened in 2001. At the time, the Wisconsin Badgers were the only Wisconsin college team that played their games on artificial turf. The Green Bay Packers had an artificial surface in their practice facility. Now, every WIAC school has an artificial surface, and many high schools in the state have followed suit.

UP NEXT: It's homecoming when the Blue Devils host UW-La Crosse, Saturday, Oct. 6 at 2 p.m.