RIVER FALLS, Wis. (uwrfsports.com) - The Falcons played a fierce game Saturday against the UW-La Crosse Eagles for the Homecoming game. Consistent yardage was gained in every play for both teams, yet ultimately the Eagles came out victorious with a final score of 63-49. Two school records were broken by players Ben Beckman and Alex Herink.
 
THE RUNDOWN
Final Score: Eau Claire: 63
                        River Falls: 49
Location: David Smith Stadium at Ramer Field, River Falls, Wisconsin
Record: UWRF 1-5, 0-3 WIAC; UWL 4-2 2-1 WIAC
 
WHAT HAPPENED

• A quiet first quarter where neither team scored led to an explosive second quarter that saw eight touchdowns scored. 
• Each drive but one produced a touchdown in the second.  The first was a 5-yard run by the Eagles.  The Falcons answered right back tying it up 7-7 when Tyler Blum made a 6-yard run.
• The Eagles next two drives accounted for two touchdowns that gave them a 21-7 lead.
• Alex Traxler got the Falcons within a touchdown when he completed a 39-yard pass from Beckman at 8:32.
• Two more touchdowns by the Eagles and a two-yard run by Luke Fugate left the score 35-21 in favor of the Eagles at the half.
• The Eagles scored three more touchdowns in the third quarter.  The Falcons had one a 31-yard pass from Beckman to Alex Herink. 
• In the fourth quarter, the Falcons dominated the scoring with three touchdowns.  The first was Herinks second touchdown of the afternoon an eight-yard pass from Beckman 
• Beckman scored his own touchdown on a 13-yard run at 8:12.
• Alex Traxler scored the final touchdown of the afternoon on a 14-yard pass.
• Ben Beckman had a total of 493 passing yards, 54 net rushing yards, scored a touchdown in the middle of the fourth quarter.  His 40 completed passes was a Falcon single game record as well as the second most completed passes in a WIAC game.
• Beckman also broke the school record for most individual passing yards for a single game.  He broke his own previous record in 2018 of 405 against Platteville
• Luke Fugate and Tyler Blum contributed with net totals of 38 and 26 rushing yards and both individuals scored a touchdown.
• Alex Herink had an outstanding 266 receiving yards and scored two touchdowns-one midway through the third quarter and the other at the beginning of the fourth quarter
• Herink's 266 receiving yards broke the single season school record.
• Alex Traxler was another top contributor, giving the Falcons 109 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the second & end of the fourth quarter
• Max Praschak, Dominique Turner, and Freedom Hunt were impactful to the defensive this afternoon with nine, eight, and eight tackles respectively
• Blake Gleason had two solo tackles for the afternoon, those of which were a forced fumble and a sack for a loss of 7 yards on the Eagles
• Cade Henry had four total tackles for the afternoon and ran an interception for 53 yards
• Bobby Patterson had an average of 47 yards per punt out of the three punts for the afternoon-including one 50+ yard punt-totaling with 141 punting yards and averaged 48.5 yards per kickoff out of the four kickoffs for 194 yards for the afternoon

THE OPPOSITION

• Eagle guarterback Evan Lewandowski had a total of 591 passing yards and 16 rushing yards.  He tied the NCAA Division III single-game record for passing touchdowns with nine.  His 591 yards is also a single season WIAC record. 
• Joey Stutzman had a net rushing yardage of 69 yards
• C. Sorenson and Cole Spieker were top contributors to the teams receiving yardage, gaining La Crosse 297 and 209 yards respectively and they both earned three touchdowns each

 
LOOKING AHEAD
The Falcons return to home field next week Saturday (Oct. 26) to play UW Whitewater with kick-off at 1pm.