The UW-River Falls Falcons fell 28-25 in a dramatic game against No.1 UW-Whitewater in their final regular season game of the ye
ar. This was a great game – one of the best that I've been around," said Falcon Coach Matt Walker. "I can't be more proud of our guys. To take Whitewater to the limit with the great streak they are on says a lot about our team. If you watched us play today you saw what we are all about." Whitewater (10-0) looked like they would pour it on as they have all season when they scored two touchdowns in the first quarter on drives that lasted 2:46 and 1:36 respectively.
To end the first quarter into the early part of the second quarter the Falcons (3-7) answered when they drove 82 yards on a 16 play drive that took 8:48 off the clock ending in a 12 yard rushing touchdown by
Ryan Kusilek. UWRF missed the extra after which would play a huge factor down the stretch of the game.
UWRF had a balanced offensive attack all game with 394 total yards. They rushed for 172 and had 222 pass yards in the game led by Kusilek who rushed for 82 and went 15-27 passing with two rushing and two passing touchdowns.
Nick Zimmerman added 64 rush yards.
Early in the third quarter the Falcons went 52 yards on a seven play drive that ended in a Kusilek quarterback draw from four yards out for the touchdown. UWRF went for two and did not get it on the play.
UWW answered with a long 14 play drive that wen 67 yards and took 4:52 off the clock scoring from one yard out to make it a 21-12 game.
The Falcons would not go away as Kusilek found
Jordan Christianson for a 56 yard touchdown strike. Christianson caught five passes for 111 yards in the game. Fellow seniors
Charles Dixon and
Jake Ryan each had strong games as well with Ryan catching four passes for 40 yards and Dixon grabbing three for 56 yards.
UWRF has counted on their defense to make big plays all year and did again late in the game as UWW took the ball all the way to the Falcon five. On fourth and goal from the Whitewater choose to go for it rather than take the points and the Falcon defense forced a turnover on downs. The secondary flew around the field all game as
Tyler Ledbeter recored eight tackles while
Robbie Flom and senio
Andy Lundgren each had six. Lundgren also added two pass breakups while senior
Luke Radke also recorded six tackles and
Chris Krech had the Falcons only sack.
The Falcons created magic on the next going all 95 yards for a touchdown.
Charles Dixon came up with a big 34 yard catch on a third and seven on the drive and on third and goal Kusilek again found Christianson, this time from four yards out to five the Falcons their first lead of the game with 1:20 left on the clock.
On the next kickoff Whitewater got a 48 yard kick return taking the ball all the way to the River Falls 39 yard line. In just four plays they ruined the cinderella ending for UWRF on a 11 yard touchdown pass with only 26 seconds left in the game.
"This was a great game – one of the best that I've been around. I can't be more proud of our guys," Walker said. "To take Whitewater to the limit with the great streak they are on says a lot about our team. If you watched us play today you saw what we are all about."Nineteen seniors played their last game in a Falcon uniform this afternoon.
"We've got a true family here and that's because of the seniors who have hung with me and the program through a lot of ups and downs," Walker said. "They've been dedicated and committed in leading our team. To create a true family is my vision and it's happened because of our seniors."Box Score
