MENOMONIE (November 1, 2013) - A second straight 100-yard game for Adolfo Pacheco (Fr, South Elgin, Ill), five quarterback sacks by the defense and three Hank Kujak (Jr, Blair) touchdown passes led the Blue Devils to their first conference win of the season, 35-27 over UW-Eau Claire.
Despite a late rally by the Blugolds, the defense came up big when it mattered most to reclaim the War on Interstate 94 trophy for the Blue Devils.
Pacheco finished with 124 yards on 24 carries, including two touchdowns, both coming in the third quarter. Kujak was 20-36 for 215 yards. He also was the team's second leading rusher, picking up 21 yards on 4 carries.
The Blue Devils (3-5, 1-4) staked out an early 7-0 lead, as they drove 63 yards on their opening drive, capped off by a Trevor Morning (Sr, Bloomer) touchdown reception from seven yards out. Morning finished with 4 grabs for 43 yards on the day.
A short punt by Eau Claire early in the second quarter set the Blue Devils up in great field position. Starting from the Blugolds 38, Stout needed a little over a minute to make up the difference, as Kujak found his brother Reggie Kujak (So, Blair) in the middle of the enzone for a 6-yard scoring strike.
Two drives later, Kujak found Kujak again, this time in the corner, with the younger Kujak making an acrobatic one-handed catch to put the Blue Devils up 21-3.
A Joel Sweeney touchdown run with under a minute to go in the half cut the lead to 21-10 going into the break.
Stout's defense was able to force a punt on the Blugolds first drive of the second half, but an interception by Luke Hoyord gave Eau Claire the ball back with a short field in front of them.
Three plays later, Sweeney took it in from 18-yards out to cut the lead to 21-17.
From there, Pacheco took over. For the third quarter, Pacheco carried the ball 10 times, racking up 65 yards and both of his touchdowns. His first came from 2-yards out midway through the period and extended the lead to 28-17.
On Stout's next drive, an offside penalty on a Ricky Marteney (Sr, Greenfield) 49-yard field goal try gave the Blue Devils a first downand they took advantage, as Kujak found Cody Rosemeyer (Jr, Gilman) for 15 yards down to the Eau Claire five. Pacheco punched it on the next play for a 35-17 Stout lead.
Rosemeyer finished with 4 grabs for 41 yards. Brian Alvarez (Jr, Atwater, Cali.) led teh Blue Devils with 5 catches for 54 yards.
Sweeney would do his best to lead the Blugolds back with a 70-yard touchdown run to start the fourth quarter, but the Blue Devils defense was able to clamp down and preserve the victory.
A field goal with just under two minutes to go put the score at 35-27 and that would be as close as the Blugolds would get. An onside kick on the ensuing kick-off was recoverd by Stout and the Blue Devils were able to run out the clock.
Stout's defense had five sacks and 11 tackles for loss on the afternoon, as Kevin Houts (Jr, Bloomington, MInn), Spencer Adler (Sr, Little Chute), and Mike Bond (Jr, Milwaukee) each recorded a sack. David Lindell (Sr, New Richland, Minn), Josh Archibald (Jr, Cottage Grove) Jamie Rohrig (Jr, Owatonna, Minn), and Chris Biederman (Fr, Plum City) all had a half sack on the afternoon.
Biederman also had a forced fumble that was recovered by cornerback Dominque Rhodes (Jr, Milwaukee) that led to the second of Reggie Kujak's touchdown receptions.
Lindell tied for the team lead with 14 tackles, 4 solo. Luke Bakkum (Jr, Oconomowoc) also had 14, 6 solo. Adler finished with 9 tackles, 4 solo and Tyler Naatz (Jr, Menomonie) had 9, 2 solo.
Next week, the Blue Devils will travel to River Falls (0-8, 0-5) to take on the Falcons. It will be the 100th meeting between the teams.
Don Williams a major contributor to the recreation athletic complex passed away this week. Don and Nona Williams Stadium is named after him and his wife.
Blue Devils Triumph 35-27 in Battle for I-94
/seasons/2013/boxscores/20131102_u753.xml
2013
UW-Eau Claire
27
UW-Stout
35
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UW-Eau Claire (1-7) | 3 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 27 |
| UW-Stout (3-5) | 7 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 35 |
Nov 02, 2013