Box Score Ryan Kusilek and
Jordan Christianson connected for three touchdowns this afternoon as UWRF battled to a 35-34 loss to the Simpson College Storm.
Neither team's offense could get things going in the first quarter of the game. Simpson got things rolling in the second quarter taking advantage of UWRF mistakes. They put up the first points of the game on a 29 yard field goal following a Kusilek interception. Just one minute later Kusilek would throw another interception that Simpson took to the house for a pick six. UWRF would later turn the ball over on downs and Simpson would take the ball and score another touchdown to go up 17-0 with 4:29 left in the half.
"This was a nail biter at the end and everyone will remember the last few minutes," said Falcon Coach
Matt Walker. "But we gave this one away in the first half when we didn't play well to start the game."
Kusilek connected with Christianson with just 44 seconds left in the half to put the game at 17-7 going into the second half. This would start a stretch of 28 unanswered points for UWRF. Kusilek finished the game 22-43 passing with 344 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. Christianson finished with 10 catches for 164 yards and three touchdowns.
UWRF would keep the momentum going in the third quarter when Kusilek capped off a seven play 60 yard drive with a
34 yard touchdown run. He went over the 100 yard rushing mark for already the second time this season and led all rushers in the game with 135 yards.
"I have to mention Kusilek's gutty performance with 479 yards in total offense," said Walker. Kusilek threw for 344 yards and rushed for 135 yards to set a single game total offense record at UWRF. That broke Adam Kowles 382 yard total set against Whitewater in 1994.
Late in the third quarter UWRF went 11 plays for 91 yards and found pay dirt yet again. This time Kusilek found
Jake Ryan in the back of the end zone for a
36 yard touchdown strike. Ryan finished the game with five catches for 90 yards and a touchdown.
The fourth quarter was filled with back and forth action. The quarter started with a
75-yard pass play from Kusilek to Christianson and then another
Christianson touchdown, this time from four yards out.
Simpson answered back with a seven play 57 yard drive for a touchdown. They then forced a three out and scored on a 76 yard touchdown bomb to take the 29-28 lead. The following drive Kusilek would be picked off yet again.
With 6:42 left in the game and all the momentum in Simpson's favor
Tyler Ledbeter came up with an interception for the Falcons. They would take advantage and score in three plays for the final Kusilek, Christianson touchdown.
Simpson marched all the way down to the goal line with the clock winding down. The UWRF defense put up a valiant effort, holding them all the way to fourth down on the one yard line with 22 seconds left in the game. Storm quarterback Taylor Nelson punched in a one yard touchdown run to win the game.
"Defensively we've been pretty solid - and I loved our fight today - but we gave up too many big plays," said Walker.
Top defensive performers for UWRF were
Nick Zimmerman who led with twelve tackles,
Mike Gehling who had eight tackles in the game,
Cole Sirek with seven tackles and a sack,
Zach Loos with four tackles and a sack, and
Kyle Swanson with four tackles and one and half sacks. Ledbeter and
Andy Lundgren each had an interception.
"I'm very proud of our effort today," said Walker. "I know we have nothing to show for it in the win-loss column, but we are a good football team that I would not want to play right now. We are going to stay hungry and get ready for the conference run. This is a tight group that loves to fight for each other."
UWRF will have a bye next week than start WIAC play at UW-Stevens Point on Saturday, Oct. 5 with kickoff set for 1 p.m.
Box Score
