Falcons End Season With Loss at Stevens Point

Nov. 15, 2003

Stevens Point quarterback Scott Krause owned the day, wracking up 451 total yards, as the Ponters dominated the UW-River Falls Falcons 49-15 in the season finale for both teams Saturday at Stevens Point.

Krause completed 20-27 passes for 355 yards and five touchdowns while running for 97 yards and a score.

The Pointer offense overwhelmed the Falcon defense early, turning a 7-7 contest into a 35-7 lead by halftime. Two more scores in the third quarter gave the Pointers a 49-7 lead.

Falcon fullback Owen Schmitt scored on a 49-yard run with three minutes remaining in the third quarter and a two-point conversion pass from Tom Pulford to Schmitt made it 49-15. The Falcons recovered an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff, but Schmitt was stopped on a fourth-and-two play that gave the ball, and the momentum, back to the Pointers.

The fourth quarter was scoreless with the teams trading two long drives apiece.

Schmitt and halfback John Peterlik came into the game needing 87 and 63 yards respectively to eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark. Schmitt gained 150 yards on 20 carries. Peterlik was held to just 47 yards on 18 carries leaving him 16 shy of 1,000.

Peterlik did account for the Falcons other score, a 2-yard run early in the first quarter.

Freshman halfback Jeremy Wolff ran for 43 yards on seven carries.

Troy Foss completed 3-4 passes for 29 yards but was dropped several times behind the line of scrimage.

Matt Jordan led the Falcon defense with eight tackles, including two for a loss of yardage. Neil Mantor and O'neal Hampton were both in on seven stops with Mantor recording two behind the line. Dan Buker, Nate Hendrickson and Nate Mueller each contributed on six tackles.

The loss to the Pointers ends the Falcons season with a record of 2-7, 2-5 in the WIAC. Their two wins came over Platteville and Oshkosh, the same two conference opponents they defeated in 2002.

Falcons Drop WIAC Game to UWL, 34-22

Nov. 8, 2003

Owen Schmitt and John Peterlik both rushed for more than 100 yards, but it wasn’t enough to combat the 525 yards of total offense that La Crosse amassed en route to a 34-22 WIAC victory over the Falcons at Ramer Field this afternoon.

On a frigid afternoon it took the Eagles offense a quarter to warm up, settling for field goals on its first two possessions to take a 6-0 lead at the end of the first.

The Eagles scored twice more in the second to take a 19-0 lead before Falcon senior quarterback Tom Pulford scored on a three-yard run to pull within 19-6. Adam Bergdahl’s extra point was no good and the margin held until halftime.

After a scoreless third quarter the teams traded touchdowns in the fourth. Falcon quarterback Troy Foss scored on runs of four and seven yards to keep the Falcons in the game, but never close enough.

Two onside kick attempts failed in the final seven minutes of play and the Falcons couldn’t get within 12.

Schmitt carried 26 times for 125 yards. Peterlik gained 117 yards on 13 carries and Foss chipped in 77 yards on 17 carries and added the two late scores.

Pulford, who started his last home game, had just the one carry for three yards and a touchdown.

Foss was 2-6 passing for six yards, completing both to halfback Jeremy Wolff.

The Falcons did force one Eagle turnover, a fumble going into the endzone, but they were outgained 525-350 in total offense.

The Falcon defense was led by Kyle Hoegh with 11 total tackles, one for a loss. Dan Buker and Roman Johnson were in on nine stops apiece, while Matt Farmer was in on seven.

The Falcons travel to UW-Stevens Point on Nov. 15 for their final game of the season. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

Falcons Get 31-21 Win at Oshkosh

Nov. 1, 2003

The Falcon football team picked up its second win of the season, and second conference win, with a 31-21 victory over Oshkosh at Titan Stadium Saturday afternoon.

The Falcons took a 24-0 lead into the fourth quarter before surrendering 21 points to the Titans in the final period.

John Peterlik rushed for 108 yards on 19 carries and scored two touchdowns on runs of 47 and 30 yards to lead the Falcon offense.

Freshman quarterback Andy Kolstad put the Falcons on top 7-0 early in the first quarter with an 11-yard touchdown run. Peterlik scored early in the second to give the Falcons a 14-0 lead and Dan Buker returned an interception 58 yards for a touchdown to put the Falcons up 21-0 at the half.

The only scoring in the third quarter was a 33-yard Adam Bergdahl field goal to put the Falcons ahead 24-0.

The Falcon defense sacked Titan quarterback Nick Wara six times. Ends Nate Hendrickson and Jeff Horton harassed Wara, recording 3.5 and 2.5 sacks respectively.

Lewis Parish recorded his second interception in as many weeks while recording six tackles.
Ben Gillett and Buker were each in on seven tackles apiece.

Owen Schmitt rushed for 83 yards on 17 carries from his fullback position.

Kolstad completed 2-2 passes for 49 yards including a long of 43 to Quincey Stoltz. Kolstad also rushed for 39 yards on 16 carries.

Bergdahl was 1-2 on field goal attempts, missing from 40 yards.

The Falcons (2-5, 2-3 WIAC) will return to the field Nov. 8 when they host UW-La Crosse at Ramer Field in a 1 p.m. game.

Falcons Drop WIAC Game at UW-Stout

Oct. 25, 2003

The Falcons came up short on four fourth down conversions and lost three fumbles while UW-Stout capitalized on the extra opportunities to earn a 21-13 win Saturday afternoon at Williams Stadium in Menomonie.

Stout halfback Luke Bundgaard carried the load for the Blue Devils, gaining 209 yards on 42 carries. In the battle of the WIAC’s three best running backs, Bundgaard emerged over the Falcons’ Owen Schmitt and John Peterlik.

Schmitt carried 16 times for 95 yards while Peterlik was held to 52 yards and one touchdown on 12 carries.

The Falcons led early, 7-0, after Peterlik scored on a 1-yard run following a botched punt by the Blue Devils.

The Blue Devils bounced back with two straight Nick Ohman touchdown runs to take a 14-7 lead at the half.

Jeremy Wolff pulled the Falcons within 14-13 four minutes into the second half with a 6-yard touchdown run but the hold on the extra point was mishandled allowing Stout to cling to a one point lead.

After Falcon quarterback Andy Kolstad fumbled, Stout used two plays to go 39 yards, capped by a 34-yard touchdown pass from Ohman to Seth Mattison, to take a 21-13 lead.

The Falcons were held to only 211 yards rushing, 150 below their season average, and 243 total yards. Stout gained 312 total yards.

Kolstad rushed eight times for 26 yards and completed 3-4 passes for 29 yards. Wolff rushed four times for 25 yards and scored his first collegiate touchdown.

Kyle Hoegh led the Falcon defense with 12 total tackles, Nate Gray had nine, Matt Farmer had eight and Dan Buker was in on seven stops. Aaron Greisen recorded two tackles for loss. Roman Johnson, Josh Meyer and Jeff Cassellius also made stops behind the line.

The Falcons, now 1-5 overall and 1-3 in the WIAC, go on the road again next Saturday for a WIAC game at UW-Oshkosh. Kick off is slated for 1 p.m.

Falcons Get First Win of the Season Over UW-Platteville

Oct. 18, 2003

John Peterlik ran for a career-high 324 yards and tied a career-high with four touchdowns as the UW-River Falls Falcons beat the UW-Platteville Pioneers 44-21 in a WIAC game today at Ramer Field.

Peterlik scored on runs of 45, 39, 30 and three yards and the Falcons wracked up a season-high 516 yards on the ground.

The Falcons led 21-0 and held a 35-7 advantage at the half.

Freshman quarterback Andy Kolstad gave the Falcons a 7-0 lead on their first possession with a 14-yard touchdown run. Fullback Owen Schmitt scored on a 19-yard run up the middle to put the Falcons ahead 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Peterlik, who carried 33 times in the game, scored three touchdowns in the second quarter to put the game out of reach.

An opportunistic Falcon defense intercepted three passes in the game and forced Pioneer quarterback Tom Stetzer to step out the back of the end zone in the third quarter to record a safety.

Stetzer was 26-43 on the day for 306 yards and three touchdowns.

The Falcons out-gained the Pioneers 589-378 in total offense and won the turnover battle 3-1.

Schmitt had another strong day for the Falcons, gaining 80 yards on 17 carries and scoring the one touchdown.

Kolstad, who played wire-to-wire under center, rushed for 50 yards on 14 carries and was 2-4 passing for 45 yards.

Weesayma Kennedy caught his first pass of the season, a 28-yard halfback pass from Peterlik in the third quarter.

O'neal Hampton led the defense with 11 total tackles and intercepted one ball. Matt Farmer was in on seven stops. Roman Johnson recorded three tackles, defended two passes and intercepted a pass on the goal line. Linebacker Aaron Greisen recorded the other Falcon interception.
The win leaves the Falcons with a 1-2 record in WIAC play. UW-RF's next game is at Stout on Oct. 25.

Falcons Lose in Last Seconds at UWW

Oct. 11, 2003

UW-Whitewater scored a touchdown to take a 32-28 lead with 21 seconds remaining in the game and Falcon quarterback Troy Foss’s hail mary attempt was intercepted to allow Whitewater to escape with a win today at Perkin’s Stadium in front of 2,978 fans.

After the Falcons (0-4, 0-2) opened the scoring on an Owen Schmitt 8-yard touchdown run the Warhawks (4-1, 2-0) scored 17 straight points to take a 17-7 lead into the intermission.

The Warhawks fumbled four plays into the opening drive of the second half and Falcon safety Kyle Hoegh scooped the ball off the turf and sprinted 39 yards for a score to pull the Falcons within 17-14.

The Falcons stole the lead back on a fourth-and-five from the Warhawk 15-yard line when half back John Peterlik took a pitch and completed a pass to a wide open Chris Anderson in the end zone. With 13:46 remaining in the game, the Falcons led 21-17.

The Warhawks responded with a 47-yard field goal on their next possession to pull within 21-20 with 12 minutes remaining.

On the second play from scrimmage on the Falcons ensuing possession Schmitt busted through the middle and raced 68 yards to the Warhawk five. Two plays later Andy Kolstad scored from 1-yard out on a quarterback sneak to give the Falcons an eight point cushion with 10:50 remaining.

The Warhawks used 1:04 to march 62 yards in three plays to pull within 28-26. A two-point conversion attempt was intercepted by Falcon cornerback Roman Johnson who nearly broke free on the return.

After trading punts the Falcons were unable to sustain a drive giving the Warhawks the ball at mid-field with 2:27 remaining in the game. Six plays and 48 yards later on first-and-goal at the Falcon two, Keiya Square pushed over the goal line with 21 seconds remaining to give the Warhawks the victory.

The Falcons out-gained the Warhawks 378-346 in total yards, but lost the turnover battle 2-1.

Schmitt ran for 181 yards on 32 carries and scored one touchdown, giving him four consecutive 100-yard games.

Peterlik carried nine times for 85 yards and completed the Falcons only pass of the day on his touchdown to Anderson. Freshman halfback Jeremy Wolff rushed for 49 yards on only five carries.

Hoegh led the Falcon defense with nine tackles and the fumble recovery for a touchdown. Matt Farmer forced the fumble that led to Hoegh’s score and was in on eight stops. Cornerback Lewis Parish was in on six tackles and defensive end Jeff Horton recorded seven, including two tackles for a loss.

The Falcons return home on Oct. 18 to face Platteville at 1 p.m. at Ramer Field.

Falcons Drop WIAC Game to UWEC, 42-28

Sept. 27, 2003

The Falcons dropped a 42-28 decision to UW-Eau Claire today at Ramer Field, falling to 0-3 on the season.

John Peterlik and Owen Schmitt combined for 282 yards on the ground, but it wasn’t enough to overcome four Falcon turnovers.

Peterlik, after carrying only 15 times in the first two games of the season, had 20 carries for 171 yards and four touchdowns. Schmitt gained 111 yards on 27 carries, eclipsing the century mark for the third consecutive game.

The Falcons scored first on a 10-yard Peterlik run to take a 7-0 lead into the second quarter. The Blugolds scored twice in the second quarter to grab a 14-7 lead at the intermission.

Peterlik scored again to open the third quarter on a 1-yard run that tied the game at 14 before the Blugolds took advantage of two Falcon turnovers to score 28 straight points to take a commanding 42-14 lead with 2:25 remaining in the third quarter.

The Falcons pulled within 42-21 when Peterlik broke free on a 46-yard sprint to the end zone as time expired in the third quarter.

Peterlik capped the scoring with 8:01 remaining in the game with a 7-yard run and the Falcons were unable to recover an onside kick.

Statistically the Falcons dominated the game, out-possessing the Blugolds by 12:00 and holding a 525-416 advantage in total yards.

Falcon quarterback Troy Foss was 9-18 passing for 159 yards, but did throw two interceptions. He also rushed for 27 yards in the game.

Freshman halfback Jeremy Wolff had two receptions for 71 yards including a 60-yard gain over the middle in the first half.

Linebackers Nate Gray and Matt Farmer led the Falcons in tackles. Gray finished with eight solo and 11 total stops while Farmer had seven solo and 10 total tackles. UW-RF finished with three sacks - one by Nate Hendrickson and a shared sack by Josh Meyer and Aaron Retzlaff. Meyer also blocked a Blugold field goal attempt.

The loss leaves the Falcons 0-1 in WIAC play going into a bye week. They return to the field on Oct. 11 at UW-Whitewater with a 1 p.m. kick off.

Falcons Lose to Concordia, 42-20

Sept. 13, 2003

The Falcons fell to 0-2 on the season after dropping a 42-20 decision to Concordia-St. Paul Saturday at Ramer Field.

After falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter, the Falcons came back to go into halftime trailing 14-10 after a 33-yard Troy Foss touchdown run and a 33-yard Adam Bergdahl field goal.

Falcon halfback John Peterlik returned the opening kickoff of the second half 90 yards for a touchdown to give the Falcons a 17-14 lead.

The Golden Bears countered, taking a 21-17 lead when back-up quarterback Nate Harrington hit Wesley Hill with a 14-yard touchdown pass.

The Falcons pulled within 21-20 on a 34-yard Bergdahl field goal with 7:34 remaining in the third quarter.

The Golden Bears stretched their lead to 28-20 when Harrington scrambled for a 5-yard touchdown with 6:17 to go in the third quarter. Harrington hooked up with Jeff Amundson for a 13-yard touchdown pass to give the Golden Bears a 35-20 lead going into the fourth.

The Falcons had an opportunity to close the gap when they drove down to the Golden Bear 10-yard line, but it was squandered when a quarterback-center exchange was fumbled and the Golden Bears recovered.

Harrington scored the final touchdown of the day on a 7-yard scramble to give the Golden Bears the 42-20 win.

The Falcons were outgained on the day 532-363 in total yards. The Falcons rushed for 337 yards.

Freshman fullback Owen Schmitt had his second consecutive 100-yard game, going for 102 yards on 18 carries. Foss, one of three Falcon quarterbacks to see action, had 93 yards on 19 carries and one touchdown. He also completed 2-5 passes for 15 yards to lead the team in passing.

Peterlik, who was named the WIAC's special teams Player of the Week last week, had three kick returns for 154 yards. Peterlik also carried the ball nine times for 61 yards.

Senior quarterback Tom Pulford played the last drive for the Falcons and had 41 yards rushing on five carries.

Kyle Hoegh led the Falcons on defense with 14 tackles with one tackle for a loss.

Falcon starting quarterback Andy Kolstad and starting center Andy Kotelnicki both suffered ankle injuries in the game. Kotelnicki was taken from the field on a cart and taken by ambulance to the hospital in the third quarter. Kolstad was also taken to the hospital for evaluation.

James McNear, the Golden Bears starting quarterback who was the NCAA all-divisions freshman of the year last season, was injured in the first half and did not return to the game.

The Falcons do not play on Sept. 20 and return to action on Sept. 27 when they host UW-Eau Claire in the WIAC opener for both teams. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Ramer Field.

Falcons Drop Opener to Chadron

Sept. 6, 2003

The Falcon football team dropped their season opener to the Chadron State Eagles 43-22 this afternoon at Ramer Field.

The Falcons took a 7-0 lead with 3:18 left in the first quarter after a 32-yard touchdown pass from freshman Andy Kolstad to John Peterlik on fourth down.

The Eagles tied the game at the end of the quarter on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Shawn Eisenreich to Ben Woodhead and then took the lead four minutes into the second quarter on an Austin Forster six-yard touchdown run.

Falcon freshman fullback Owen Schmitt tied the game at 14 when he scored on a six-yard touchdown run with 5:39 to play in the first half.

The Eagles then scored with 2:28 remaining in the first half to take a 21-14 lead.

Chadron scored twice in the third quarter and the Falcons were unable to counter, trailing 36-14 after three.

Schmitt scored from 19 yards out with 11 minutes left in the game, and the Falcons converted a two-point conversion to pull within 36-22.

With six minutes left in the game, and the Eagles facing a third-and-two, Forster busted a 58-yard run up the middle to score the game’s final touchdown.

Schmitt led the Falcon ground attack with 20 carries for 136 yards and two touchdowns.

Kolstad carried 10 times for 49 yards and completed 3-4 passes for 48 yard and a touchdown. Four quarterbacks played for the Falcons with Kolstad taking the bulk of the snaps before leaving the game with a mild concussion in the third quarter.

Peterlik led the Falcons in receptions with two for 39 yards and a touchdown.

The Eagles outgained the Falcons 451 to 296 on offense and forced three turnovers to the Falcon’s one defensively.

The Falcons host Concordia-St. Paul Saturday, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m.

Falcons Prepare for 2003 Opener

Sept. 1, 2003

The UW-River Falls Falcon football team enters the 2003 season with hopes of rebounding from two consecutive losing seasons.

Coach John O’Grady, entering his 15th season as head coach, is putting all of the pressure to have a successful season on himself.

"This year our success is going to be based totally on what I do and what our coaching staff does," O’Grady said. "We need to eliminate mistakes and I don’t think I have done a very good job of that over the past two years."

The buzz of the WIAC media day on Aug. 12 was offense. Several teams around the league return experienced quarterbacks and dominant offensive lines.
The Falcons may present just the poison needed to be competitive in a conference where "offense is going to rule", according to O’Grady.

With 10 starters returning on defense the Falcons should be able to counter the high powered offenses of the WIAC with a block in the road, or at least a speed bump, that will slow them down and give the Falcons a chance to win.

"If our defense can play like we did in a couple of games last year, we’ll be okay," O’Grady said. "A team has to stop teams from scoring to be successful, and I think we can do that well because of our experience."

The entire defensive line is intact from a year ago, led by second team All-WIAC pick Jeff Horton at defensive end who led the league in sacks a year ago with 11.

Senior Nate Hendrickson holds up the other end while senior Nic Rue and junior Josh Meyer will again start at the tackle positions.

"We lack a little bit of depth in the defensive line, but the group returning from last year should be pretty good," O’Grady said.

Junior Ben Gillett and senior Nate Mueller come into the season with experience at linebacker. Gillett had 29 tackles, two interceptions and one fumble recovery a year ago while Mueller collected 42 tackles and one fumble recovery.

Juniors Matt Farmer and Aaron Griesen will play the outside linebacker positions for the Falcons.

The graduation of the team’s leading tackler, Luke Miska, left a substantial hole to be filled at free safety. Kyle Hoegh, who had 63 tackles and two interceptions from his linebacker position last season, has been converted to fill that gap. "Our free safety has to be a thinker and that describes Kyle," said O’Grady.

The group of cornerbacks this year has the Falcon coaching staff excited and in a year that the pass will dominate the WIAC, it will be tested often. "We have three very athletic players at corner," O’Grady said, "probably the best, talent wise, in my 14 years here."

That group includes Roman Johnson and Lewie Parish as starters and Neil Mantor also saw significant playing time last year. Johnson, the fastest player on the team, led the Falcons in interceptions a year ago with four while also excelling at punt and kickoff return.

Having an experienced defense should help keep an inexperienced offense within striking distance early in the season.

The Falcon offense was sacked by graduation, losing four starters on the offensive line.

Center Andy Kotelnicki, a 5-11 280 pound senior, returns to anchor the offensive line. He will be joined by junior Jeremy Hotz and sophomore Nate Cook at guard while senior Greg Spahn and sophomore Alan Nutt will fill the tackle positions. Spahn has had past experience playing center. "I am excited about the offensive line because we have some leadership there with Kotelnicki and Spahn," O’Grady said.

The made over offensive line will pave the way for first team All-WIAC halfback John Peterlik who as a sophomore led the league in rushing last season with 1,114 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Peterlik will be joined in the wishbone backfield by senior Dan Booth at the other halfback, and freshman Owen Schmidt at fullback. "We think we have shored up the fullback position this season," O’Grady said, "we really have not been very productive there the last few years."

At quarterback, incumbent starter Dustin Vogelgesang will not return to the team this year due to an ongoing back injury. On Aug. 12 O’Grady said that he "couldn’t imagine" having a freshman quarterback starting for the Falcons this season, but did note that he had three outstanding freshman recruits.

Between then and now, two of those freshman, Troy Foss and Andy Kolstad, have emerged as the front-runners. No starter had been named as of last Friday, but one of those freshman will get the call.

In the event that the Falcons pass the ball, Foss or Kolstad will be tossing it to either tight end Jake Knapmiller or wide receiver Weesayma Kennedy. Kennedy excelled in track for the Falcons last spring as a sprinter and has worked in the off-season to improve his hands.

Senior Adam Bergdahl returns as the punter and kicker this fall after handling both duties last season.

"We should be an improved team this year," O’Grady said. "If I do a better job coaching, we will be a better football team. "We have a bigger group of seniors who will be good leaders for us this year, so I am excited going in, but all the onus really rests on me."

The Falcons face their first test of the season on Saturday when Chadron State, Neb., comes to Ramer Field for a noon kickoff.

The Eagles, who are ranked 15th in the latest NCAA Div. II poll, beat the Falcons 15-7 in last year’s opener.