Box Score

It was Senior Night for the UW- River Falls football team, the Falcons fell to UW- Whitewater by a score of 42-6. The Falcons honored seven seniors before the start of the game. 

Freshman Ben Beckman got the nod for his first start of his career for the Falcons. Senior Ryan Kusilek missed his first game of the season with a sprained ankle. 

Beckman led the Falcon offensive attack to a total of 432 yards of offense and did not turn the ball over on the day. 

Whitewater scored on their first two drives and lead the Falcons 14-0 at the end of the first quarter. On the opening kickoff, the Warhawks returned the ball into Falcon territory and scored in seven plays. On the second scoring drive, it was a nine play 60 yard drive capped off by a 2 yard pass from Chris Nelson to Joe Worth. 

The Falcons would step up their game as they have so many times against good teams this year, UWRF fought back with a methodical 13 play 80 yard drive that ate up 6:51 on the clock and was capped off with Rance Ashley smashing his way into the end zone for his seventh touchdown of the season. Ashley's touchdown put the score at 14-6 after the blocked extra point. 

RIVER FALLS, Wis. (uwrfsports.com) - UW- Whitewater was quickly thwarted on offense by the Falcons defense and the Falcons were in business again looking to tie the game.  UWRF took over on their 12 yard line and marched down the field and into the red zone of the Warhawks. The Falcons offense was stalled out by the Warhawk defense and turned the ball over on downs after Beckman scrambled just half a yard shy of the first down. 

After obtaining the ball on downs, Whitewater made quick use of the clock and went 76 yards in four plays that ended in a Warhawk touchdown putting the score 21-6 at the half. 

After halftime, the Falcons moved the ball relatively well in the second half, having two opportunities inside the red zone, but could not cap the drives off with points. 

In Beckman's first start, he went 20-34 with 296 yards of passing with no touchdowns and no interceptions. Beckman was sacked four times. Brandon McCarthy completed two of his two passes on the day on trick plays, one for a first down, and another for a big gain down the field. 

On the ground for the Falcons was Michael Diggins with 12 attempts and 25 total rushing yards. Beckman ran for 22 yards and McCarthy scampered for 20 yards as well. 

11 different Falcons caught a pass on Saturday, with freshman Nicholas Studer having a career day with 134 yards with a 61 yard electrifying catch as well. Tyler Halverson snagged a 49 yard bomb at the end of the game. Senior Matt Woller had 41 yards on three catches. Rance Ashley had 38 yards on four grabs on the day. 

To wrap up the season, the Falcons travel to Stevens Point, Wisconsin to take on the Pointers of UW- Stevens Point. The Pointers are 4-5 on the season and are coming off a loss to UW- Stout. If the Falcons can obtain a victory to finish the season, UWRF would finish 4th in the WIAC, it would be their highest finish since 2001 where the team finished in 4th place.