RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The UW-River Falls football team closed out its 2026 season in dominant fashion Saturday afternoon, shutting out UW-Stevens Point 41-0 during Senior Day at Smith Stadium at Ramer Field. The Falcons finished the season with a 7-3 overall record and a 4-3 mark in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play.
UWRF controlled the contest on both sides of the ball, finishing with 472 yards of total offense while limiting the Pointers to just 38 yards rushing. The Falcons also held a 30-11 advantage in first downs and possessed the ball for more than 35 minutes.
Quarterback Cade Fitzgerald led the offensive effort, completing 22 of 38 passes for 248 yards and four touchdowns while adding 34 yards and another score on the ground. Fitzgerald connected with Austin Rush for two touchdowns, including a 29-yard strike late in the fourth quarter, while Ben Wesolowski and Drew Kuempel each hauled in a touchdown reception.
Wesolowski led the UWRF receivers with eight receptions for 111 yards and a score, while Rush add nine catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Kuempel's 13-yard touchdown reception extended the Falcon lead to 24-0 early in the third quarter.
The Falcons also established a strong presence on the ground, totaling 224 rushing yards. Trevor Asher led the way with 98 yards on 17 carries, while TJ Washtock Jr. added 89 yards on 13 attempts. Fitzgerald accounted for 34 rushing yards and a touchdown, extending the lead to 34-0 with a four-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter.
Defensively, UWRF delivered its first shutout of the season. Nick Wasko recorded the Falcons' lone interception, while Brady Block finished with two sacks for 11 yards lost. Noah Nusbaum added a fumble recovery, and the Falcon defense totaled seven tackles for loss.
UWRF opened the scoring with a 44-yard field goal from Johnny Figgins before Fitzgerald connected with Wesolowski for a two-yard touchdown late in the first quarter. The Falcons added two more passing touchdowns in the second quarter to take a 17-0 advantage into halftime.
UW-River Falls continued to pull away after the break, scoring 10 points in the third quarter before adding two touchdowns in the final period to secure the 41-0 victory.
The Falcons' postseason hopes remain alive, as UWRF awaits the NCAA Division III Football Championship selection announcement. The Falcons have a chance to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Playoffs, with the Culver's Isthmus Bowl also a potential postseason destination. The NCAA selection show is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 15, at 4 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed live on NCAA.com.
