Blugolds Jump out to Early Lead but Can't Hold on at Platteville
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire football team got out to a 14-0 lead but couldn't hang on and ended up falling 31-21 to UW-Platteville at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium today.
The Blugolds scored on both of their first two possessions in the opening quarter.
Jesse Linsmeyer (Sr.-Cameron, Wis.) scored Eau Claire's first touchdown on a 30-yard reception from Austin Neu (Jr.-Iron Ridge, Wis./Hustisford) to cap off a six-play, 75-yard drive at 12:24.
Neu threw another touchdown pass on the next drive, this time to Mike O'Connell (Jr.-Eau Claire, Wis./Regis) for eight yards. After the extra point by Josh Albrecht (Fr.-Eau Claire, Wis./North), the Blugolds found themselves up 14-0.
In the second quarter, Platteville recorded two touchdowns to tie the game up at 14-14 but the Blugolds added a touchdown late to go back up. Alex Plaster (So.-Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH) caught a 29-yard pass from Neu to help give the Blugolds an advantage at halftime.
But it was all Platteville in the second half. They scored two more touchdowns and added a field goal to help in the 31-21 win.
While the Blugolds had a respectable 305 passing yards, 221 of them came in the first half. In the second half the Blugolds managed just 84 yards through the air and had minus-four yards rushing. They finished with 54 yards rushing for the game, the lowest total since Sept. 25, 2010 when North Central (Ill.) held Eau Claire to just 13.
On defense, Andy Neumann (Sr.-Germantown, Wis.) and Sean Graham (So.-Hales Corners, Wis./Whitnall) led the Blugolds with nine tackles. Mitch Olson (So.-New Auburn, Wis./Chi-Hi) picked off one pass while Pat Hendricks (Jr.-Clintonville, Wis.) and Curtis Stypula (Jr.-Webster, Wis./Spooner) each recorded a sack.
Eau Claire falls to 4-4 on the season and 2-3 in WIAC play. Platteville improves to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the conference.
The Blugolds will play their final home game of the regular season next Saturday when they host No. 1-ranked UW-Whitewater. Kickoff at Carson Park is set for 3 p.m.
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