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STEVENS POINT-The UW-Stevens Point (2-2, 1-0) football team got its first conference victory of the year by defeating the UW-Eau Claire Blugold (2-2, 0-1) 48-33 this afternoon at Community Stadium at Goerke Field.

Podcast Recap courtesy of UWSP's Scott Bembenek


In the 23rd annual Spud Bowl the Pointers got on the scoreboard first after the teams traded three and outs. With 5:09 remaining in the first quarter quarterback Jared Beckwith (Baraboo) took it in himself with a two yard touchdown run to put the Pointers up 7-0.

Beckwith completed 28 of 39 passes for 447 yards and five touchdowns.  His five touchdowns also marks a career-high.

UWSP was not done scoring in the first quarter and added to their lead with a 15 yard run by Garrett Medenwald (Green Bay) with 1:28 remaining in the quarter and put them up 14-0. Mendenwald finished with seven carries for 43 yards, a 6.1 average and one touchdown.

The Pointers got on the board early again in the second quarter when Beckwith found Jared Jenkins (Milwaukee) for a three yard score to make it 21-0.

Jenkins had a career best 243 yards receiving on eight catches and four touchdowns with a long of 61.

With 8:08 remaining in the second quarter UW-Eau Claire got on the board with a two touchdown run by Cory Sartorelli to make it 21-7. Sartorelli led the Blugolds rushing attack with 52 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns.

After that touchdown UWSP came right back with an 11 yard pass from Beckwith to Jenkins to put the Pointers up 28-7 with 5:52 remaining in the second quarter.

UW-Eau Claire answered with 3:18 left in the quarter when quarterback Kyle Paulson ran for 14 yards to make it 28-13. Paulson finished the day 38 of 59 for 320 yards and one touchdown on the ground and one through the air

But the Pointers struck with under a minute remaining in the half when Beckwith found Anthony Aker (Milwaukee) for a 17 yard touchdown reception to go up 35-13. Aker finished with 11 catches for 95 yards and one touchdown.

The third quarter was not as action packed as the first half with only one score coming from the Blugold. Paulson found Spencer Kehoe from five yards out to bring them closer at 35-19. Kehoe finished with nine receptions for 84 yards and one touchdown.

Sartorelli came back for Eau Claire with a three yard run that brought them within 35-27. On the ensuing drive for the Pointers Beckwith was intercepted by Bryant Dorsey and returned for a touchdown to make it a two point game at 35-33. The Blugold tried for two but failed and the Pointers held a on to a two point lead.

The Pointers answered quickly as Beckwith found Jenkins for a 61 yard touchdown catch to put them up 42-33 with 11:30 left in the game.

Beckwith and Jenkins weren't done as they hooked up again for a 56 touchdown reception to make it 48-33.

On the ensuing possession Mike Krueger (Wauwatosa) picked off a Paulson pass deep in Pointer territory ending the scoring threat and sealing the win.

Bryan Blum (Baraboo) led the Pointer defense with 20 tackles. As a team the Pointers put up 547 yards of total offense and were 8 of 16 on third down conversions.

The Pointers return to action next Saturday on October 11 when they host UW-Stout for the homecoming game. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.