The No. 4-ranked UWRF football team is set to travel to face No. 11-ranked UW-Platteville on Saturday, Oct. 12 for its first WIAC road game.

UW-RIVER FALLS (4-0, 1-0 WIAC) AT UW-PLATTEVILLE (4-0, 1-0 WIAC)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024
Time: 1 p.m.
Site: Platteville, Wis. // Pioneer Stadium


 
AGAINST THE PIONEERS

• Saturday's contest marks the 67th all-time matchup between the Falcons and Pioneers, with UW-River Falls holding a 35-29-2 series advantage.
• Last season, the Falcons defeated the Pioneers 27-16 in River Falls.

IN THE RANKINGS

• UWRF improved from No. 6 to No. 4/5 in this week's national polls.
  • The Falcons are ranked No. 4 by D3football.com and No. 5 in the AFCA Coaches' Poll.
  • The No. 4 ranking ties UWRF's highest in program history. They were also ranked as high as No. 4 last season after opening the year with a 5-0 record.
• UWRF was tabbed to finish third in the 2024 WIAC Preseason Poll. UW-La Crosse, the defending league co-champions, was picked to capture the 2024 WIAC Championship.
• Last season, the Falcons were ranked among the top 25 throughout the season and earned the program's highest national rankings by a coaches' poll and national media outlet, ranked as high as No. 4 by D3football.com and the AFCA Division III Coaches' Poll. UWRF led the WIAC with 298 total first downs (2nd/NCAA DIII), 43 points per game, passing offense (329.5 yards per game), 527.1 yards of total offense per game, and red zone defense (71.9%).

LAST TIME OUT

• UWRF opened its 2024 WIAC schedule last Saturday defeating UW-Eau Claire 71-14 at Ramer Field during Homecoming. The win over the Blugolds improved the Falcons' record to 4-0 on the season, and marked the fourth consecutive win over UW-Eau Claire. The Falcons held the Blugolds to 262 total yardage and capitalized off two interceptions and one defensive touchdown. The Falcons passed their season high mark for points scored in a game, while compiling 605 total yards as a team.

FALCON NOTES

• The Falcons own the top scoring offense in NCAA Division III, averaging 61.5 points per game.
  • Additionally, UWRF ranks among the nation's top 10 teams in total offense (532.8 yards per game), rushing offense (255.8 yards per game), third down conversion percentage (62.5%), and net punting (42.29).
• During the season opener at No. 7-ranked Alma College, senior quarterback Kaleb Blaha compiled 426 yards of total offense with five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing) in just three quarters to become UW-River Falls' all-time leader with 8,234 career yards of total offense. The previous record of 7,880 total yards was set by Ryan Kusilek (2012-15). 
• Through four games, linebacker Gage Timm leads the Falcons with 30 total tackles (6th/WIAC). He tallied 20 at Alma, UWRF's most by an individual since 2019, and he was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week.
• Wide receiver Austin Rush, who scored his first touchdown as a Falcon at Alma, now has receiving touchdowns in all three of four games this season and leads the team with 17 catches for 189 yards. His four receiving touchdowns is tied for second in the WIAC.
• UWRF leads the WIAC with 18 rushing touchdowns, paced by the Falcon quarterback duo of Cade Fitzgerald and Kaleb Blaha, who rank first and second respectively in the league. Fitzgerald leads the WIAC with six rushing TDs, followed by Blaha's four. Trevor Asher ranks fourth with three rushing TDs.
• Senior defensive back Aaron Borgerding was named a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation's Campbell Trophy, an award that recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.