The UW-River Falls football team will remain at home this Saturday, Dec. 13 in the NCAA Division III Playoffs, hosting Wheaton College in the quarterfinals at Ramer Field. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

UW-RIVER FALLS (11-1, 6-1 WIAC) VS. WHEATON (11-2, 8-1 CCIW)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 13
Time: 2 p.m.
Site: River Falls, Wis. // Smith Stadium at Ramer Field



THE SERIES

• Saturday's game marks the first ever meeting between UW-River Falls and Wheaton College.

NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

• UWRF is making its first NCAA Division III playoff appearance since 1996. 
• The Falcons are now 3-2 all-time in the DIII playoffs, reaching the NCAA Quarterfinals for the second time in program history with the 42-14 third round win over Saint John's University.
  • The 1995 Falcons also reached the quarterfinals after defeating Central College in the regional round.
• UWRF earned its first NCAA postseason victory since 1995 with the 58-7 second round win over Chapman University on Nov. 29.

BLAHA & TIMM, ALL-AMERICANS

• The WIAC Offensive & Defensive Player of the Year duo of Kaleb Blaha and Gage Timm were named AFCA All-Americans on Wednesday, Dec. 10, becoming the first Falcons to earn the honor since 2023 and the eighth and ninth AFCA All-Americans in UWRF history.
• Blaha was named to the First Team, and Timm on the Second Team.
• UWRF's two AFCA All-Americans is also the most selections in one season in program history.

UWRF HEADLINES D3FOOTBALL.COM ALL-REGION 6 TEAM

• The Falcons dominated the D3football.com All-Region 6 Team, released on Wednesday, Dec. 10, with Kaleb Blaha named the Region 6 Offensive Player of the Year, Gage Timm the Region 6Defensive Player of the Year, and Matt Walker the Region 6 Coach of the Year.
• In addition to Blaha & Timm's All-Region First Team honors, DJ Fox was named to the First Team Offense, Andre Hall on the First Team Defense, Hunter McKinney on the Second Team Offense, and Kody Curtis on the Third Team Defense.
• UWRF's total of six All-Region award winners is the most in a single season, and Blaha, Timm, and Walker's Regional Player & Coach of the Year awards are the first in UWRF history.

MATHESON UP FOR COORDINATOR OF THE YEAR

• UWRF offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Joe Matheson has been named a finalist by FootballScoop for the Division III 2025 Coach of the Year Award, presented by TeamWorks.
• Matheson, also named the Wisconsin Football Coaches Assocation's (WFCA) WIAC Assistant Coach of the Year, has helped guide the Falcons to a record-breaking season, guiding the UWRF offense that has consistently this season led all of NCAA Division III in total offense and first downs.

LAST TIME OUT

• On Saturday, Dec. 6 at Ramer Field, UWRF used a productive rushing attack, a three-touchdown performance from Kaleb Blaha, and a suffocating defensive effort to surge past Saint John's to improve its program record-breaking win total to 11, advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals. The win also marked UWRF's first over Saint John's since 1937.
• The Falcons compiled 433 yards of total offense, including 188 on the ground, while holding the Johnnies to just 22 rushing yards on nine attempts. Blaha accounted for 342 total yards, rushing 26 times for 97 yards and a touchdown while completing 22 of 28 passes for 245 yards and three scores. With his three passing touchdowns, Blaha broke a UWRF single-season record with his 31 passing touchdowns on the year, breaking his former teammate Kole Hinrichsen's record of 28 set in 2021.
• Jaylen Reed led the receiving corps with 58 yards and a touchdown on four catches, while Ben Wesolowski added 44 yards. Trevor Asher finished with 52 yards on 12 carries in addition to 21 receiving yards.
• Defensively, UWRF produced two interceptions, five pass breakups, and four tackles for loss. Taylor Sussner totaled eight tackles and an interception, while Jack Olson and Kody Curtis each recorded sacks. Nick Wasko's pick-six marked one of the afternoon's pivotal turning points, his first career touchdown.

FALCON NOTES

• With the most recent win over Saint John's, UWRF improved to 11-1 overall, continuing the program record for wins in a season.
  • In the NCAA playoff second round win over Chapman, UWRF established a program record with 10 wins. UWRF previously had four nine-win seasons in 1979, 1995, 1996, and 2021.
• The Falcons were ranked as high as No. 3 by D3football.com this season, the highest in program history.
• UWRF is undefeated at home this season with a 7-0 record, and maintains a 12-0 record at Ramer Field since 2023.
• For the first time in program history since 1988, the Falcons this season defeated UW-Whitewater and UW-La Crosse in the same season.
• UWRF owns the top offense in NCAA Division III with an average of 563.2 yards of total offense per game with 367 total first downs.
  • In addition, the Falcons rank fifth with 341.8 passing yards per game along with 47.0 points per game.
• Fifth-year senior quarterback Kaleb Blaha, recently named a Gagliardi Trophy semifinalist for the most outstanding player in NCAA Division III, is the nation's leader in total offense with 400.5 yards per game. He also ranks second with 3,753 passing yards (a UWRF single-season record) and among the top 10 with 23.0 points responsible for per game and 27.2 pass completions per game.
• Senior kicker Justin Scheberl, who finished the regular season as the WIAC leader and UWRF single-season record holder with 12 made field goals and 60 made PATs, ranks seventh nationally with an 86.7 field goal percentage.
• After hauling in four interceptions versus Chapman and another pair against Saint John's, UWRF is the NCAA DIII leader with 24 total interceptions, led by a total of five from freshman defensive back Taylor Sussner, the WIAC Newcomer of the Year. Sussner also is the nation's leader with five fumble recoveries.