WHITEWATER, Wis. – The No. 21-ranked UW-River Falls football team suffered a heartbreaking loss to No. 10-ranked UW-Whitewater Saturday afternoon. The Falcons lost 30-27 on a field goal with no time remaining.
The Warhawks led the first half scoring 27 points and holding the Falcons to just one touchdown opportunity. Whitewater put up points on their seven-play, 38-yard opening drive. The defense turned around and intercepted the ball in the Falcons first play of the next drive and got within 38 yards for Warhawk kicker to make the field goal. Less than seven minutes into the start of the game the Warhawks led 10-0.
The Warhawks started the second quarter with their second touchdown of the day on a one-yard rush. They led 17-0. The Falcons responded this time scoring on an 11-play drive that connected Falcon quarterback
Kaleb Blaha with
Luke Kush on a 19-yard deep right complete pass.
Whitewater added three more points to the board on a 30-yard field goal taking the lead to 20-6. They finished out the half with a four-play drive that finished with a 17-yard rush that gave them the 27-6 lead.
The second half went more in favor of the Falcons as they scored on their first drive. Blaha completed a 64-yard deep left pass to
Mason Van Zeeland and
Michael Krueger rushed it up the middle for a one-yard gain to score the Falcons second touchdown.
UWRF scored again at 6:19 in the third after the Warhawks turned over the ball on a muffled punt. This time it was Blaha that ran it in and got the Falcons within one touchdown.
The Falcons tied it up 27-27 on a 12-play drive. Blaha again connect with Kush for a 22-yard complete pass.
The teams traded punts before the Warhawks regained possession. Whitewater rushed for 13 yards to the River Falls 44-yard line before calling a timeout with 11 seconds to go. Whitewater ran again for 12-yards to get them within field goal range. The Warhawk kicker made a 49-yard dead center kick that came down on the top of the crossbar and bounced through for the field goal with no time remaining. The Warhawks won 30-27.
Blaha completed 24-of-50 passes with 19 rushing yards, throwing one interception.
Aaron Borgerding led the defense with 18 tackles.
Michael Brown had two interceptions.
The Falcons now 5-3 overall and 3-2 in WIAC play travel to No. 8-ranked UW-La Crosse Nov. 5. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
