Box Score

Platteville, Wisc. (uwrfsports.com) – Facing seventh ranked UW-Platteville on the road, the Falcons couldn't keep up with high flying Pioneers and ultimetly fell 45-14. UW-River Falls was led offensively by quarterback Sawyer Moon who was 16-28 for 154 and ran for 63 yards on seven carries and a touchdown.

THE RUNDOWN
Final Score: UW-River Falls: 14 UW-Eau Claire: 45
Location: Butch Leitl Field at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium, Platteville, Wisconsin
Record: UWRF: 2-4 (1-2 WIAC) UW-Platteville 5-1 (2-1 WIAC)
 
WHAT HAPPENED

• On the Falcons opening drive, the Pioneers forced a fumble and recovered in Falcon territory. The Pioneers would convert that turnover into seven points on a 22 yard touchdown pass to take the lead 7-0.
• UW-Platteville stopped UWRF on the following drive and took the ball down the field to take their first double digit lead of the game on a 12 yard touchdown pass.
• The Falcons drove down the field and were at the three yard line on third and goal when lightning struck and delayed the game for about half an hour.
• When play resumed, Michael Diggins scored the Falcons first touchdown of the game came on a 7 play 86 yard drive. His 6^th touchdown of the year for UWRF. After a missed extra point, UWRF trailed 14-6 in the 2^nd quarter.
• After a few punts back and forth, UW-Platteville took eight plays to go 78 yards in three minutes and took a 21-6 lead on a four yard run by Sean Studer with just 56 seconds on the clock.
• In the third quarter, extending the lead once again, the Pioneers drove 42 yards in 4:02 and scored on an eight yard pass from senior Tom Kelly to six foot, six inch wide receiver Dan Arnold caught his second touchdown of the day.
• UWRF responded with a huge 77 yard drive orchestrated by Moon who capped the drive with a 24 yard touchdown run. The Falcons completed the two point conversion to Trenton Monson to cut the lead to 28-14.
• On the ensuing kickoff, the Falcons attempted an onside kick and it was recovered by UW-Platteville.
• Platteville would go on to score the last 17 points of the game coming on a 36 yard touchdown pass by Kelly, a 37 yard field goal, and a 14 yard run to round out the Pioneers 45-14 victory.

IN-DEPTH LOOK

• UW-River Falls accumulated a total of 286 yards of offense in 66 plays. 122 yards came off rushing.
• Leading the rushing attack was Moon who had a team-high 63 yards. Diggins carried the ball a team-high 16 times for 44 yards and a touchdown.
• The leading pass catcher on the day was Tyler Halverson who had a total of 67 yards on five catches with a long of 40. Rance Ashley had 23 yards on three catches. Trenton Monson hauled in two balls for 22 yards.
• Itula kept his strong season going with 12 total tackles on the day. Six being solo tackles and one sack on the day along with another tackle for loss. Itula has a total of 50 tackles in six games.
• Matt Ekman had nine total tackles, and splitting a sack with Jay Robinson to bring his total to 3.5 on the season which is second on the team.
• Kyle Hunter registered another tackle for loss, now with 11 on the year, he is currently in the top 10 of the WIAC in 2016.
• UW-River Falls was five of 14 (36 percent) on third down in the game and one of two (50 percent) on fourth down.
• The Falcons were flagged three times in the game for a total of 34 yards. The three penalties is the least amount this season by UWRF.
• UWRF Punter Owen Schommer had his best showing of 2016 with an average of 43.3 on the day with a long of 56. He also pinned the Pioneers inside the 20 yard line one time.

THE OPPOSITION

• Senior quarterback Tom Kelly was 18-38 on the day for 274 yards and four touchdowns and zero interceptions.
• Studer led the Pioneers in rushing with 103 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown. Wyatt Thompson also accumulated 53 yards on four carries. The Pioneers rushed for a total of 229 yards.
• Arnold was the leading receiver with seven grabs for a total of 160 yards and two scores. Mitch Munda and Dillon Vilhauer each scored once for UW-Platteville.
• Leading the stout Pioneer defense was Marty McGrail who had 16 total tackles, eight of them being solo.

LOOKING AHEAD
Returning home, the Falcons will take on the Blue Devils of UW-Stout (2-3, 0-2 WIAC) who play UW-Eau Claire (1-4, 0-2 WIAC) tonight. The Falcons defeated UW-Stout last year in a high scoring affair 54-48. Three of the last four games for UWRF will be at home with the lone road game being at UW-Whitewater.