ALMA, Mich. — The UW-River Falls football team opened the 2024 season with a 41-35 victory at No. 7 Alma on Saturday, Sept. 7.

The Falcons started off the new season with a top-10 victory, behind 426 total yardage by senior quarterback Kaleb Blaha. His yardage today increased Blaha's career total to 8,234 total yards, which sets him atop the program record book for career total yardage. The previous record of 7,880 total yards was set by Ryan Kusilek (2012-15).

Today's win over Alma marked the second consecutive year that the Falcons have opened the season with an upset victory over a top-10 team, after UWRF defeated No. 3 Mary Hardin-Baylor 45-22 to open the 2023 season.

River Falls started off the game fast, building up a 13-0 lead out of the gates behind a pair of touchdown connections between Blaha and sophomore WR Jake Hilton. The Scots capitalized off a 25-yard touchdown pass with one second remaining in the first quarter to trim the Falcons' lead to 13-7 after one quarter of action.

Following the Alma touchdown late in the first quarter, River Falls took over the second quarter and built up a 20-point lead at halftime. The Falcons totaled 12 first downs to just two by the Scots in the second quarter, while adding two Blaha rushing touchdowns from four and five yards. UWRF went into the locker rooms  at halftime leading 27-7.

Alma opened up the second half by going on a four-minute drive that totaled 75 yards and ended with a five-yard rushing touchdown that cut UWRF's lead to 27-14. Blaha and the Falcons wasted no time getting those seven points back, as the quarterback completed to senior RB Michael Krueger for a 49-yard touchdown that increased UWRF's lead to 34-14 early in the third. Just before the end of the third quarter, the Scots managed a 75-yard drive that resulted in an 11-yard passing touchdown to move the score line to 34-21 in favor of the Falcons.

After the Falcons forced a turnover on downs at the Alma 26-yard line, junior QB Cade Fitzgerald completed to junior WR Austin Rush from 24 yards out for a touchdown to extend the UWRF lead to 41-21 with 9:08 remaining in the game.

Alma stayed in contention with a 27-yard passing touchdown that cut the deficit to 41-27 with 5:36 to go. The Scots clawed back within six points after a two-yard passing touchdown cut River Falls' lead to 41-34 with 44 seconds to go. The Falcons recovered the ensuing onside kick, securing the season-opening victory over No. 10 Alma.

Defensively, Gage Timm led the Falcons with a career-high 20 total tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. Timm's 20 tackles are the most by a Falcon since Max Praschak recorded 20 total tackles against UW-Eau Claire on Oct. 12, 2019.

Wide receivers Stephen Reifenberger (73 yards) and Jake Hilton (2 receiving TDs) set and tied career bests in the victory. Austin Rush's six catches, 67 yards and one touchdown came in his collegiate debut.

Up next, UW-River Falls will host Greenville at Smith Stadium at Ramer Field for the team's first home game of the 2024 season. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on Sept. 21.