MORRIS, Minn. (uwrfsports.com) - Starting off the season, UW-River Falls traveled to Morris, Minnesota to play the Cougars and swept the field with an astounding victory of 45-7. For the second year in a row, the Falcons have beaten the Cougars with a 40+ score.
 
THE RUNDOWN
Final Score: UW-River Falls: 45
                        UM-Morris: 7
Location: Big Cat Stadium, Morris, Minnesota
Record: UWRF 1-0; UMM 0-1
 
WHAT HAPPENED

• Sam Altena rushed 12 times for 103 yards and 2 TD's.  His first touchdown came in the opening minute of the game where he rushed 52 yards on three plays. 
• Ben Beckman completed 12 of 20 passes for 223 yards, and two touchdowns.  He connected with Alex Herink for a 28-yard pass to score the Falcons second touchdown in the first quarter.
• Luke Fugate rushed for 81 yards in six attempts.  He scored the Falcons third touchdown when he ran for six yards.    
• With the Falcons on the Morris 35, Beckman found Alex Traxler in the second quarter for a 35 yard pass to give the Falcons a 31-0 lead. 
• Altena scored his second touchdown on a three-yard run.  He was set up on a drive that include 72 yards of gain on nine plays.
• At the conclusion of the first half the Falcons led 38-0.    
• Lance Waalen ran in the final touchdown for the Falcons in the third quarter.
• Corbin Leflay rushed for 101 yards on 15 attempts. 
• Luke Fugate averaged 13.5 yards per attempt.  He had 81 total yards on six attempts.
• Leading receivers were Alex Hohensetin who caught three passes for 74 yards, Alex Wickliff who had 67 yards on four catches and Alex Herink who caught two passes for 63 yards.
• Kole Hinrichsen saw time as quarterback completing 7 of 12 passes for 123 yards.
• The Falcons defense held Morris to just 79 total yards of rushing. 
• The defense had 14 tackles for 79 yards of loss, and 8 sacks.
• Bailey Germain led the defense with eight tackles and a sack for a loss of ten yards.

IN-DEPTH LOOK

• UW-River Falls rushed for 292 yards in the game, while holding Morris to 79 yards.
• Total yardage for the game was in favor of the Falcons who had 638 yards, compared to just 196 for Morris.
• The Falcons collected 24 first downs in the game and held Morris to just 11.
• The Falcons had six drives that consumed 50 plus yards.

THE OPPOSITION

• Quarterback Justin Masloski was 11 of 33 for 117 yards.  He was the leading rusher with 116 total yards and the lone Cougar touchdown. 
• Nathan Sheridan caught three passes for 35 yards.
• Leading the Cougar defense was C. Oldenburg who had 14 tackles and Marcos Luna who had 12 tackles.