RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The UW-River Falls football team defeated Saint John's University 42-14 Saturday afternoon in front of over 3,200 fans at Ramer Field in the third round of the 2025 NCAA Division III Playoffs.
UWRF used a productive rushing attack, a three-touchdown performance from Kaleb Blaha, and a suffocating defensive effort to surge past the Johnnies to improve its program record-breaking win total to 11, advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals - the farthest the Falcons have reached in program history. 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.
The Johnnies forced a Blaha interception on the first drive of the game to set up a short Saint John's touchdown for a 7-0 lead, but UWRF responded immediately with a nine-play, 65-yard drive capped by a six-yard scoring strike from Blaha to Austin Rush. The Falcons then seized control in the second quarter with an 11-play, 80-yard march, finishing with a one-yard touchdown run by Trevor Asher for a 14-7 halftime advantage.
UWRF broke the game open in the third quarter. Blaha found Blake Rohrer on a 16-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 21-7, and moments later, Nick Wasko jumped a route and returned an interception 56 yards to the end zone, pushing the lead to 28-7. After the Johnnies briefly cut into the deficit, Blaha connected with Jaylen Reed on a 38-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, and the Falcons added a final one-yard keeper by Blaha to close the scoring.
Reed led the receiving corps with 58 yards and a touchdown on four catches, while Ben Wesolowski added 44 yards. 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. Wasko's pick-six marked one of the afternoon's pivotal turning points, his first career touchdown.
Saint John's quarterback Trey Feeney completed 33 of 59 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted twice and sacked twice. The Falcons controlled possession for over 34 minutes and went 9-for-15 on third down.
UW-River Falls moves on to the next round of postseason play, remaining at home to host Wheaton College next Saturday, Dec. 13. Kickoff time is to be determined.
