Box Score

LA CROSSE – In the last game played at Veterans Field, the UW-Stevens Point football team fell to UW-La Crosse today by a score of 24-21.

Stevens Point didn't help themselves too much by committing a season-high seven turnovers in the loss. The victory gives UW-La Crosse a 5-4 overall record and a 3-4 conference mark.

After the Pointers fumbled the ball on their first play from scrimmage, the Eagles capitalized when Randy Gyllin scored from one-yard out to make the score 7-0 La Crosse. The Eagles, who converted the most fourth downs in the conference coming into today, converted a 4th-and-10 on the drive.

The Pointers answered on the ensuing possession, going 57 yards on eight plays. Jake Swank (Oregon/Oregon) (Fr.-Oregon) connected with Jared Jenkins (Milwaukee/Rufus King) (Fr.-Milwaukee/Rufus King) for a seven-yard touchdown pass to even the score 7-7. Running back Jack Marx (Scandinavia/Iola-Scandinavia) (Jr.-Scandinavia/Iola-Scandinavia) had 36 yards on the ground on the drive.

 
The Eagles regained the lead on their next possession with a Kyle Wojcik 24-yard field goal to make the score 10-7 La Crosse. After a Stevens Point interception, the Eagles extended their lead to 17-7 on a one-yard run by Griffin Moe with 55 seconds left in the first quarter.

Stevens Point cut the lead to 17-14 with 8:55 left in the first half when Marx ran it in from five yards out. Nick Venden (Columbus/Columbus) (Sr.-Columbus) came in at quarterback on the drive and was 4-of-5 for 39 yards. After forcing a fumble, the Pointers looked to be knocking on the door again; however they would give the ball back on a fumble of their own. The Eagles then had a chance right before the half, but Stevens Point stopped them on downs inside the Pointer 20 yard line.

The key drive of the game was La Crosse's opening drive of the second half. After a penalty on the kickoff forced them back to their own eight yard line, the Eagles had the go almost the length of the field and that is what they would do. The key play of the drive was when La Crosse was forced to punt at midfield, but a roughing the punter penalty kept the drive alive. Five plays later Reid Oldenburg scored on a 19-yard touchdown run to give La Crosse a 24-14 advantage. The Pointers had another opportunity inside the La Crosse 30 yard line, but once again would fumble the ball away.

Both teams began the fourth quarter turning over the ball on downs. When the Pointers got the ball back a second time in the quarter, they delivered a 11-play, 75-yard drive, capped off by a Marx two-yard touchdown to make the score 24-21 with 5:17 remaining in the contest.

The Pointers then had two more shots, but got intercepted on both possessions, including one in the end zone as the Eagles hung on to win 24-21.

The Eagles outgained the Pointers 384-299. The Eagles controlled the ball for over 36 minutes in the game. Senior Nick Venden (Columbus/Columbus) came in off the bench in his final game and was 13-of-22 for 142 yards. Jack Marx (Scandinavia/Iola-Scandinavia) had his second consecutive 100-yard rushing game as he went for 125 yards on 26 carries. Aaron Leonhardt (Baraboo/Baraboo) (Fr.-Baraboo) led the Pointers with six receptions for 57 yards. Dustin Robinson (Florence/Florence) (Sr.-Florence) had 16 tackles to lead the Pointer defense in his final game.

The Pointers conclude their season with a 6-4 overall record and a 3-4 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) record. Be sure to check the UW-Stevens Point athletics web site for post season awards and next year's schedule.