COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire football team came out scoring right away and never looked back in a 47-19 victory over 25th-ranked Saint John's University (Minn.) at Clemens Stadium today.
The Blugolds (1-1) scored touchdowns on each of their first three possessions to take a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Matt Olson (Sr.-Stratford, Wis.) got the scoring going with a 22-yard touchdown run at 7:47 in the first quarter, and Austin Goetsch (Jr.-Waunakee, Wis.) followed with an eight-yard touchdown catch from Austin Neu (Jr.-Iron Ridge, Wis./Hustisford) with 24 seconds left in the quarter.
At 12:29 in the second quarter, Neu hit Jesse Linsmeyer (Sr.-Cameron, Wis.) with a 52-yard touchdown pass. A week ago, Linsmeyer also caught a long touchdown pass of 65 yards at Bethel (Tenn.).
Before the half was over, Josh Albrecht (Fr.-Eau Claire, Wis./North) nailed a 39-yard field goal to give the Blugolds a 24-0 lead and Neu ran for a six-yard touchdown with 18 seconds to go, helping the Blugolds to a 31-0 halftime lead.
The last time the Blugolds held the Johnnies scoreless in the first half was in 2002 and previously the most points Eau Claire had ever scored against the Johnnies in a game was 30 in a 30-28 win in 2004.
The Blugolds' third quarter started off well as they were driving without much trouble, but a fumble gave the Johnnies the ball at their own 39. Six plays later, the Johnnies struck with a touchdown to make the score 31-7.
The Blugolds answered back on the next drive as Neu hit Ryan Moertel (Sr.-Rochester, Minn./Century) with a 14-yard touchdown but again Saint John's came back with a touchdown of their own to make the score 37-13.
In the fourth quarter, the Blugolds put points on the board again with Albrecht hitting a 42-yard field goal, tying for the 15th longest field goal in program history. After a Kalan Stittleburg (Sr.-Neillsville, Wis.) interception on the Johnnies' following drive, the Blugolds marched 56 yards on 15 plays to score again. This time it was Matt Jaskowiak (Sr.-Pewaukee, Wis.) rushing for a touchdown from two yards out.
Saint John's scored one final time late in the fourth but failed the point after attempt for the second time of the day to make the score 47-19.
The 47 points scored by Eau Claire was the 22nd most they have ever achieved in a game, while it was the most Saint John's has given up since 1993. The Johnnies have only given up 47 or more points five times in the history of the program that dates back to 1900.
The Blugolds dominated on offense, putting up 469 yards (227 rushing, 242 passing) while Saint John's finished with 304, the fewest the Johnnies accumulated since facing the Blugolds a year ago.
Olson led the game with 108 yards of rushing, a career high. Neu finished with 242 yards passing, going 13-for-18, while David Goodman (Sr.-Neenah, Wis.) led the way with 101 yards receiving on five catches. On defense, Kyle Thorpe (Jr.-Stanley, Wis./Stanley-Boyd) finished with a team-high 11 tackles (six solos, five assists) while Sean Graham (So.-Hales Corners, Wis./Whitnall), Andy Neumann (Sr.-Germantown, Wis.) and Pat Hendricks (Jr.-Clintonville, Wis.) all had sacks. Coltan Ellis (So.-Rice Lake, Wis.) finished with a fumble recovery.
The Blugolds have now won two in a row against Saint John's, but the Johnnies still lead the all-time series 7-6. The Johnnies fall to 1-1 on the season.
Eau Claire has next weekend off and will be back in action September 24 against UW-River Falls in non-conference action at Carson Park for the Blugolds' home opener.
-KM-