UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio – The UW-Stevens Point football team (0-1) fell behind in the first half and dropped the season-opener at No. 17 John Carroll (1-0) by a 21-7 final.
 
Junior running back ShamaJ Williams (Racine, Wis./Lutheran) scored the Pointers' lone touchdown and led UWSP with 34 net rushing yards.  He also caught five passes on the day.
 
UWSP quarterbacks Max Herro (Dousman, Wis./Kettle Moraine) and Matt Urmanski (Edgar, Wis./Edgar) combined to complete 15 passes for 158 yards.  Senior Jonte Webb (Marinette, Wis./Marinette) hauled in four receptions for a team-high 56 yards.
 
Defensively, Kameron Kryzanski (Thorp, Wis./Thorp) led UWSP with 14 tackles and combined with Matt Piekarski (Beaver Dam, Wis./Beaver Dam) on the only sacks of the day for the Pointers.  Malik Smith (Crystal Lake, Ill./South) added eight tackles with a team-best 2.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
 
Both teams started the game with three-and-outs.  JCU had the first scoring chance, but missed a 28-yards field goal in the first quarter.  Early in the second quarter, UWSP used a nine-play, 48-yard drive to reach the JCU 18 yard line.  However, Victor Ponterio's (Melrose, Wis./Melrose-Mindoro) potential go-ahead 35-yard field goal attempt was no good. 
 
The Blue Streaks followed the missed field goal with a 16-play drive to the end zone for a 7-0 lead.  On their next drive, JCU marched 53 yards on six plays to double the lead to 14-0 going into halftime.
 
The Pointers came out of the half and after forcing a three-and-out from JCU, got the ball on their own 14 yard line.  Eight plays later, UWSP was at the JCU one.  Three plays later, on fourth down, Williams broke into the end zone to get the Pointers on the board.
 
In the fourth quarter, JCU sealed the game with a 49-yard punt return for a touchdown and the 21-7 lead.
 
Next week, the Pointers host Wabash in the home opener.  Kickoff at Goerke Park is slated for 1:00 p.m. and it will be UWSP's 10th annual Pink Game.