Box Score RIVER FALLS, Wis. (uwrfsports.com) - It was a rematch for the Falcons taking on South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (M&T), and the Hardrockrs avenged their 2014 loss to the Falcons and won 49-22 on Saturday night.
The Hardrockers (2-1) scored on their opening possession, driving 73 yards in just four plays that led to a Devin Nixon touchdown. The Hardrockers proceeded to go for a two point conversion, and converted leading to an 8-0 lead.
The Falcons (0-2, 0-0 WIAC) exchanged possessions with South Dakota School of M&T before senior
Charles Register jumped a crossing route for his second interception of the year. Register returned the ball 54 yards which lead to a
Ryan Kusilek field goal making the score 8-3.
South Dakota School of M&T then turned up their game scoring 27 unanswered points, leading to a Hardrocker lead of 35-3 by the middle of the third quarter.
The Hardrockers, who gained 538 total offensive yards, were paced by their duel quarterback system of Trent McKinney and Jake Sullivan. McKinney had six completions on nine attempts for 81 yards passing, but McKinney's ability to extend plays with his legs was the difference rushing for 112 yards on just seven attempts and found the end zone twice. Sullivan completed 15 of 29 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns and two interceptions. Sullivan also ran for one touchdown.
The Falcons offense began moving the ball more consistently late in the third quarter and in the fourth quarter scoring 19 points in the final 18 minutes.
Nicholas Studer was the beneficiary of two Kusilek throws that led to two Falcon touchdowns. Studer finished with six catches for 75 yards to add to his two scores. Kusilek finished 27 of 51 for 236 yards and two touchdowns with one interception in the first quarter. Kusilek also ran for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, the 14 yard touchdown run was the longest run of the night for the Falcons.
The Falcons finished with 301 yards on 78 plays, just 65 of those yards came on the ground.
Rance Ashley had 31 yards on 10 attempts.
UWRF had a difficult time converting on third down to extend drives, the Falcons converted just twice on 16 attempts on third down. The Hardrockers were 11 of 20 on third down.
Defensively, the Falcons forced three Hardrocker turnovers,
Kyle Narges had an interception in the fourth quarter that led to a Falcon touchdown.
Devon Fortuna also forced a fumble that Geno Demike recovered in the fourth quarter.
Kyle Semann forced a fumble on a sack in the first half that was recovered by the Hardrockers.
The Falcons now shift their focus to a new foe, Southwestern University which is located in Georgetown Texas. The Falcons will fly down and kickoff their first meeting with Southwestern University at noon next Saturday.
