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Fifteen Falcons played their final collegiate game Saturday at Carson Park as they fell 28-7 to Eau Claire. The Blugolds' Joel Sweeney ran for a career-best 281 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead Eau Claire to victory on the final Saturday of the season.

Amidst the 15 Falcon seniors playing their final game, they were guided by freshman quarterback Ryan Kusilek throwing for 315 yards – his second 300-yard passing game of his career. Kusilek finished his rookie season with 2,127 yards passing – only the second Falcon to ever do so. He was just 36 yards shy of setting the school record. His 423 attempts is the seventh best in WIAC history.

In his final game, Nathan Brandt matched a career-high 11 catches and set a career-best with 146 yards. Brandt led the WIAC in receptions and finished in the top 20 in all of NCAA Div. III. His 75 catches is the third most in school history.

The Falcons defense forced a three-and-out to start the game, but handed the ball right back as the Falcons second offensive play was intercepted.  Eight plays later and Eau Claire was on the board with a 7-0 lead.

Trailing 14-0, Alex Adams kept the game close by picking off a pass in the end zone with just a minute remaining in the half. Adams' seventh interception of the season is the most by any Falcon since Dennis Hurum in 1984.

The Blugolds scored on each of their first two possessions of the second half, increasing their lead to 28-0.

The Falcons added their lone score in the fourth quarter when Kusilek found Brandt for a 43-yard score, the last touchdown of Brandt's career for River Falls.
Brandt's touchdown was followed by senior #Chad Blair kicking his last extra point of his career. The senior has been the team's kicker the last 40 games. Blair finished with 154 points in his career.

Entering Saturday's game the Falcons led the WIAC in tackles for loss and had five more against Eau Claire. Jacob Mandoza had two stuffs behind-the-line in his final game, while Lincoln Bjorklund and David Scaro each had one. Trevor Semann added a sack in his final game.

Linebacker Nate Smits wrapped up his career with nine tackles, finishing with a team-best 78 on the season. Smits finished with 195 tackles in his four seasons at River Falls.

The other Falcon seniors were Mike Cano, Grant Solem, John Wahlstrom, John Schimenz, Tony Golden, Travis Eid, Jared Feltz, and Jon Manke.

The Falcons finish with a 2-8 record and 2-5 in the WIAC. Their sixth place finish in the WIAC is the best since the 2008 season.

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