STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point football team (1-3, 0-1) nearly dug out of a three-score deficit in a 22-15 loss to UW-Stout (3-1, 1-0) on Saturday in the Homecoming Game.
 
UWSP quarterbacks Jacob Leair (Cedarburg, Wis./Cedarburg) and Charlie Smith (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) combined for 20 completions with a touchdown pass each. Miles Gallagher (Racine, Wis./William Horlick) was the top target making six catches for a game-high 83 yards and a touchdown. Tyler Lemke (Chicago, Ill./St. Patrick) added five receptions.
 
Brycen Cashin (Plover, Wis./Pacelli) was the UWSP leading rusher with 31 yards on 13 carries.
 
The Pointers' defense was solid, holding the Blue Devils to just one touchdown. Carson Van Ess (Two Rivers, Wis./Two Rivers) had a team-high 10 tackles. Caleb DeJong (Merrill, Wis./Merrill) added nine and a pass break-up. Zander Popp (Two Rivers, Wis./Two Rivers) had a team-best six solo tackles, eight in total.
 
The Blue Devils struck on the first play from scrimmage with a 48-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead just 16 seconds into the game.
 
UWSP's second offensive drive began at midfield. Cashin accounted for the first 10 yards as the Pointers moved the sticks. Three plays later, Leair and Lemke connected for 12 yards and another first down. Leair took a shot at the end zone and Stout intercepted the pass to keep UWSP off the board.
 
The Blue Devils tacked on two field goals late in the second quarter as the Pointers trailed 13-0 at the half. Two more field goals in the third quarter by Stout put UWSP in a 19-0 hole heading to the fourth.
 
Leair hit Gallagher for a 14-yard gain on the first play of the final stanza. Later in the drive, Leair scrambled for a first down on fourth-and-one. A second pass interference penalty on Stout pushed the Pointers into the red zone. Two plays later, Leair connected with Andru Miller (Plymouth, Wis./Plumouth) for a touchdown, the first of Miller's career.
 
Stout tacked on another field goal and the Pointers got back to work. Leair completed four straight passes, each moving the sticks. Smith entered following a sack that knocked Leair out of the game. Smith completed three-straight attempts including a touchdown toss to Gallagher as UWSP got within a score.
 
After the UWSP defense made a stop to get the ball back in the final minute, Smith completed a pass to Austin Phillips (Two Rivers, Wis./Two Rivers) for 21 yards. Two plays later, Smith threw a jump ball to the sidelines and Stout came down with an interception to end the Pointers' rally.
 
UWSP heads on the road to UW-Eau Claire on Saturday (Oct. 12). Kick off against the Blugolds is set for 1:00 p.m.