RIVER FALLS, Wis. - The No. 23-ranked UW-River Falls football team opened its 2023 season on a high note, upsetting two-time national champions and No. 3-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor Saturday afternoon from Smith Stadium at Ramer Field.
The Falcons, in front of a crowd of over 2,000, capitalized on three Crusader turnovers while jumping out to a 35-10 halftime lead that proved to be enough to soar to victory.
UWRF limited the Crusaders to -5 rushing yards while accumulating 368 yards of total offense, including 26 first downs compared to UMHB's 17.
Kaleb Blaha totaled five touchdowns three through the air and two rushing while tallying 312 yards of total offense. Blaha moved into fourth all-time among UWRF's leaders in total offense with 4,238 career yards, passing Nathan Anderson's total of 4,220 (2004-07).
On their second drive of the game, the Falcons got on the board with a Blaha rushing score, and forced a turnover on downs on the ensuing Crusader drive before gaining a 14-0 lead off a Blaha touchdown pass to
Mason Van Zeeland to close out the first quarter.
UWRF had its strongest 15 minutes of the day during the second quarter, totaling 21 points to gain a 25-point halftime advantage. UMHB broke the shutout early in the second quarter with a field goal before three consecutive Falcon touchdowns, including a career first for
Adam Johnstone followed by another rushing score from
Kaleb Blaha and a Blaha to
Isaiah Randall to extend the home team's lead to 35-3, their largest of the game.
The first half was also highlighted by an
Aaron Borgerding interception and sack forced fumbles by
Jake Halsey and
Isaiah Karels.
In the second half,
Justin Scheberl opened the Falcons' scoring with a 26-yard field goal, which was answered by a Crusader field goal, one of three by Jack Bruner to trim the UWRF lead to 38-13. The Falcons put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter with a six-yard rushing score by
Cade Fitzgerald, his first touchdown as a Falcon.
Jager Reissmann and
Luke Kush led the receiving core with four catches each while
Aaron Borgerding and
Andrew Schumacher led the defense with seven tackles.
Drew Hahn had a pair of tackles for loss and a sack, Texas native
Clement Harris had 1.5 sacks in his debut, and the corner back duo of
Michael Brown and
Dylan Brown both broke up four passes.
Up next, the Falcons (1-0, 0-0 WIAC) continue non-conference play, hitting the road to face Ohio Wesleyan University Sept. 9.
