STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point football team (4-4, 1-4) got its first conference win with a 39-36 nail-biter over UW-Eau Claire (3-5, 0-5) on Saturday.
 
Gregory Westemeier made a game-clinching interception at the UWSP 10 with 18 seconds left to halt a potential game-winning drive by UWEC. It was UWSP's second interception of the second half.
 
Brycen Cashin (Plover, Wis./Pacelli) led the UWSP ground game with 157 yards on 25 carries. He scored two touchdowns. Quarterback Charlie Smith (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) ran for 64 yards on three carries, including a 56-yard jaunt to the endzone. He completed 10 passes and connected with Austin Phillips (Two Rivers, Wis./Two Rivers) for a touchdown through the air.
 
Joe Berens (Wausau, Wis./West) led all players with 13 tackles. He had a sack and 2.0 tackles for loss. Jack Luedtke (Plymouth, Wis./Plymouth) added 10 tackles. Westemeier led the way with three pass breakups in addition to his interception. Tanner Mrotek (Manitowoc, Wis./Lincoln) made two tackles, racking up 1.5 tackles for loss, and had an interception. Zander Popp (Two Rivers, Wis./Two Rivers) had 1.0 sacks.
 
The Blugolds found the endzone on their second possession of the game to put UWSP at a 7-0 deficit.
 
Cashin ran the ball three times on the ensuing possession, including a 55-yard run for a game-tying touchdown.
 
UWEC began the second quarter with a safety after blocking a UWSP punt in the endzone and a field goal for a 12-7 lead.
 
The Pointers took their first lead of the game with 2:40 remaining in the half. Smith connected with Elijah Mott (Two Rivers, Wis./Two Rivers) for 19 yards to start the drive. Smith caught a pass from Phillips for an 11-yard gain and another first down. Zack Lynch (Brussels. Wis./Southern Door) capped the drive with a 19-yard TD run for a 14-12 lead.
 
As the half hit the final minute, the Pointers started another scoring drive. Cashin gained 11 on the ground and Smith hit Phillips for 18 to get the ball in UWEC territory. Smith and Phillips connected again for 25 yards and the duo scored a 20-yard touchdown with one second remaining before halftime.
 
The Blugolds came out in the second half and put up a field gold and a touchdown on their first two possessions as UWSP trailed, 22-21.
 
On the ensuing drive, Smith capped a five-play scoring drive with a 56-yard run to pay dirt as UWSP regained the lead a 29-22.
 
Mrotek made his first career interception three plays later and the Pointers' offense got back to work. Cashin gained 23 yards and a pair of first downs as the third quarter came to an end. Cashin picked up five more yards and the drive stalled at the nine. Tyler Sodemann (Waukesha, Wis./West) kicked a field goal as UWSP took a 32-22 lead.
 
The teams alternated touchdowns and UWSP held a 39-36 lead with 1:38 remaining. The Pointers recovered an onside kick, but a three-and-out gave the Blugolds the ball with 1:08 left. Six-straight completions by UWEC quarterback Ayden Helder put the Blugolds at UWSP's 30 with 29 second left.
 
Two plays later, Westemeier atoned for a couple penalties earlier in the quarter with the game-sealing interception.
 
The Pointers travel to UW-Oshkosh on Saturday (Nov. 8) for the final road game of the season. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.