MENOMONIE, Wis. – The No. 4-ranked UW-River Falls football team closed out the 2025 regular season with a 29-19 win over UW-Stout on Saturday afternoon at Williams Stadium.
The Falcons finish the regular season with a 9-1 overall record to match a program record for wins in a season (tying nine-win seasons from 1979, 1995, 1996, and 2021) while clinching the WIAC title outright with a 6-1 record in the league - the program's first outright title since 1985.
UWRF used a 443-322 advantage in total offense and a 4-3 edge in turnovers to power its way past the Blue Devils, forcing two interceptions and recovering two fumbles while converting 4-of-4 chances in the red zone, controlling the day despite Stout holding the ball for more than 32 minutes.
The Blue Devil defense caused three
Kaleb Blaha interceptions, but he still combined for 405 yards of total offense while accounting for three touchdowns. With his 308 yards through the air, he broke a UWRF single-season record for passing yards, reaching 3,281 on the season to pass former Falcon
Ben Beckman's total of 3,105 during the 2019 season.
UWRF built an early cushion by scoring twice in the first quarter and once more in the second while holding the Blue Devils scoreless in and limiting them to 146 yards in the first half. Justin Scheberl connected on field goals of 32 and 25 yards, and Blaha found Blake Rohrer for a 24-yard touchdown late in the first quarter. The Falcon defense set the tone early, forcing three first-half turnovers, including a pair of interceptions by Trent Cherry and UWRF led 13-0 at halftime.
The Falcons extended the lead to 19-0 midway through the third quarter when Blaha punched in a three-yard rushing touchdown following a Stout fumble. The Blue Devils climbed back into the game with consecutive scoring drives, trimming the deficit to 19-13 late in the third, but UWRF responded with a 66-yard drive capped by Scheberl's third field goal of the day to push the margin back to nine.
Blaha delivered the decisive score with just over six minutes remaining, breaking free for a 24-yard touchdown run that put the Falcons ahead 29-13. Stout added a late touchdown, but the Falcon defense closed the game with a fourth-down stop and an to seal the win.
Ben Wesolowski led the receiving corps with six catches for a career-high 119 yards, while Rohrer added 60 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, Gage Timm paced the unit with 12 tackles and three tackles for loss, and UWRF totaled four sacks and four forced turnovers.
During last Saturday's win over UW-La Crosse, the Falcons secured the WIAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Playoffs. Fans can view the NCAA Division III selection show on Sunday, Nov. 16 at 4 p.m. on
NCAA.com to see who the Falcons will face and when postseason play kicks off. UWRF will be making its first NCAA Playoff appearance since 1996.
