RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The No. 8-ranked UW-River Falls football team earned a commanding 41-7 win over No. 9-ranked UW-La Crosse on Saturday, Nov. 8 at Ramer Field, clinching at least a share of the 2025 WIAC Championship and the WIAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Playoffs.
UWRF improved to 8-1 overall and 5-1 in the WIAC with its fifth win in a row, clinching a share of the conference crown for the first time since 1998. The win also marked the first over UW-La Crosse since 2015, snapping an eight-game losing streak against the Eagles. UWRF will be making its first NCAA playoff appearance since 1996.
The Falcons set the tone early when
Trevor Asher broke free for a 54-yard touchdown run on the second play from scrimmage. After UWL answered with a short touchdown run by Gabe Lynch, the Falcons responded with two scoring strikes from quarterback
Kaleb Blaha to
Austin Rush, covering 18 and 20 yards, to take a 21-7 lead after the first quarter.
UWRF controlled the game from there, adding a 24-yard field goal by Justin Scheberl in the second quarter and a two-yard touchdown run by Asher midway through the third. Scheberl later connected from 35 yards in the fourth quarter, and the defense capped the day with a highlight moment when Taylor Sussner returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown.
The Falcons piled up 534 yards of total offense compared to just 201 for La Crosse. Blaha completed 35-of-50 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 90 yards. Asher led the ground attack with 128 yards and two scores on 18 carries, averaging more than seven yards per attempt. Rush finished with nine receptions for 67 yards and two touchdowns, while Blake Rohrer and Stephen Reifenberger combined for 120 receiving yards.
Defensively, the Falcons were relentless, recording a season-high five sacks and three interceptions. Sussner had two picks, including the fourth-quarter touchdown, while Noah Nusbaum and Gage Timm combined for three sacks and multiple tackles for loss. UWL managed only 42 rushing yards on 30 attempts and threw three interceptions under heavy pressure.
Scheberl was perfect on special teams, hitting both field goal attempts and all five extra points while averaging over 54 yards on eight kickoffs. The Falcons controlled time of possession, holding the ball for more than 35 minutes, and converted 11 of 20 third downs to keep drives alive.
Next Saturday, Nov. 15, UWRF will close out the regular season at UW-Stout in Menomonie, Wis., with a chance to earn an outright WIAC title.
