Box Score

The Falcons overcame a 10-point deficit in the final quarter only to watch Zach Litchfield hit a 24-yard field goal with :03 remaining in a heartbreaking defeat.
 
For the first time since 1981, the Pioneers left Ramer Field with a victory as they have been winless in their previous 14 trips to River Falls. It did not come easy as Chad Blair (Oakdale, MN, Tartan) tied the game at 31-31 with just 78 seconds remaining. Backup Pioneer quarterback, Nick Anderson, marched Platteville down the field 59 yards on eight plays to set up the game-winning field goal – Platteville's only three points of the second half.
 
Greg Klingelhutz (Chanhassen, MN, Holy Family) has put his mark in the Falcon, WIAC, and NCAA record books returning kicks. He added to his legacy on the opening kickoff, taking it 92 yards for a score – the third of his illustrious career.  Klinglehutz is just 300 yards away from setting the NCAA Div. III record for career kick return yards. He also needs just 14 more returns to set the mark for most returns in a career.
 
The Pioneers answered with a special teams touchdown of their own in the first quarter. Will Jensen had a punt blocked by the Pioneers and ran in for a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7, with the two teams combining for just 38 yards of offense.
 
Following a Platteville field goal, the Falcons regained the lead as B.J. Letourneau (Falcon Heights, MN, Roseville) found Brady Hannigan (Oakdale, MN, North St. Paul) from 9-yards out, giving the Falcons their latest lead all season, 14-10. The scoring drive was set up by Taylor Edwards (Janesville, WI, Parker) taking the ball six times for 37 yards.
 
Edwards was not finished as he surpassed 100-yards for the 14^th time in his career, rushing 29 times for 168 yards and two scores.  Trailing 17-14, Edwards went 55 yards for the longest rush of his career, putting the Falcons back ahead 21-17. The senior is just 259 yards away from rushing for over 1,000 yards three consecutive seasons – the first Falcon to do so since Chris Krueger (1988-90).
 
Down by 10 in the third quarter, Lincoln Bjorklund (New Sweden, MN, Sibley East) picked off a pass at the 45 yard line, setting the Falcons up in Pioneer territory. Seven plays later and Edwards found the end zone for the second time, cutting the margin to three points early in the fourth quarter.
 
The defense came up big on the ensuing drive with a huge goal line stand. The Pioneers had first-and-goal from the one yard line but the Falcons defense kept pushing them back. David Scaro (Elkhorn, WI, Elkhorn) hit Lee Valsak behind the line on first down, followed by Chris Aeschliman (Downing, WI, Boyceville) picking up his first sack of the year.  Aaron Niemann (Edgar, WI, Edgar) brought down the quarterback on fourth-and-goal halting the Pioneers scoring threat.
 
With 3:18 remaining, Letourneau led the Falcons downfield one final time. Facing a third-and-12, he hit Nate Brandt (Lakefield, MN, Jackson County Central) on a 32-yard pass to set up the Blair game-tying field goal.
 
Plattevile's previous two visits to Ramer Field resulted in overtime wins for the Falcons. In 2007, the Falcons scored with :15 second remaining to send the game into OT. Then again in 2009, the Falcons knotted the score on the final play of the game. On Saturday, they left too much time on the clock as Blair hit the game-tying field goal with 1:18 to play.
 
Letourneau had one of the best statistical games of his career, throwing for over 200 yards for just the third time. Letournau completed over 75-percent of his passes on a 22-29 performance, tossing for 228 yards and a score. His favorite target on Saturday was Brandt, connecting six times for 112 yards – Brandt's second 100-yard receiving game of the season.
 
The Falcons defense created three takeaways, giving them a +2 turnover margin for the season. Ryan Bartsch (Cameron, WI, Cameron) picked up his second sack in as many games, also forcing a fumble which was recovered by Jacob Mandoza early in the second half.
 
Bjorklund and Mike Cano (Glencoe, MN, Glencoe-Silver Lake)each had an interception. While Alex Adams (Brooklyn Park, MN, Park Center) and Scaro had six stops each to lead the team.
 
The Falcons played their best game of the year but came up short, losing their ninth straight game at Ramer Field. The Falcons drop to 0-7 overall and 0-4 in the WIAC, whereas Platteville improves to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in league play.
 
The Falcons are back in action next Saturday as they host Stout at 1 p.m., at Ramer Field.

Box Score