Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
STEVENS POINT, Wis. – Coming off its first loss of the season, the No. 19-ranked UW-Stevens Point football team rebounded with a 24-17 win over the Eagles of UW-La Crosse on Saturday afternoon at Community Stadium at Goerke Park.
The Pointers (6-1, 3-1 WIAC), who trailed 17-10 at the half, held the Eagles to just 47 total yards in the second half and DeJuan Wright (St. Petersburg, FL/Keswick Christian) tallied 92 of his game-high 131 total yards in the second half to propel the Pointers to the victory.
The Pointers were unable to capitalize on an early interception by Deon Jones, but the defense forced a three-and-out, setting up the Pointers' first score. Kyle Larson (Clayton, WI/Clayton) found Matt Sosinsky (Princeton, WI/Princeton) for a 40-yard strike, putting UWSP in front 7-0.
The Eagles capitalized on a Larson interception late in the first quarter, putting together a nine-play, 61-yard drive that resulted in a Eric Wittkowske 35-yard field goal, cutting the UWSP lead to just four, 7-3.
The Eagles found the endzone twice late in the second quarter, once on a Ben Hertrampf 34-yard reception from Trent Cummings and again three plays later when Jacob Flegner intercepted a Larson pass and returned it for the 25-yard score.
The Pointers put together a nine-play, 46-yard drive at the end of the opening half and Jesse Vervelde (Oostburg, WI/Oostburg) split the uprights with a 29-yard field goal to make the score 17-10 at the break.
In the second half, UW-Stevens Point tied the game midway through the third quarter, when Wright found the endzone on a two-yard burst.
Midway through the fourth, Aaron Karlen (Edgar, WI/Edgar) forced a fumble and Bo Seibel (Kewaskum, WI/Kewaskum) recovered giving the Pointers the ball on the La Crosse 44-yard line. Wright capped a 10-play, 44-yard drive, aided by a fourth and three conversion (Cody Nuernberg (Kewaskum, WI/Kewaskum) to Sosinsky), with a 17-yard run to the one-yard line and then a one-yard touchdown dive to put the Pointers in front 24-17.
Karlen and the Pointers defense stopped the Eagles on their final two drives to seal the victory.
Wright finished the day with 131 yards rushing on 29 attempts. Larson was 8-of-22 for 94 yards and a touchdown, before giving way to Cody Nuerenberg, who completed two of his three pass attempts for 12 yards. Sosinsky talied six catches for 77 yards and one touchdown. On defense, Jake Luedtke (Sussex, WI/Sussex-Hamilton) led the way with eight total tackles, 0.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss.
The Eagles completed just 12 of 40 passes for 141 yards with four interceptions. Eric Rahman led the way with four carries for 75 yards on the ground.
The two teams combined for 11 total turnovers, eight interceptions and three lost fumbles, two short of the NCAA Division III record of 13 in a game.
The Pointers return to action on Saturday, Nov. 1 at home against UW-Oshkosh. Kickoff on Military Appreciation Day is set for 1 p.m.