River Falls Falcons (1-6, 1-3) Stout Blue Devils (3-4, 1-3)
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With three games remaining, River Falls will be looking for the first multi-win season in conference since 2008. In doing so, they will be facing the Blue Devils for the second time this season. Their first meeting ended in a River Falls loss (20-9) back on 9/22 in a "non-conference" showdown. I realize that this game, like most of the Falcons' games, will be an uphill battle...especially with this game on the road. UWRF's defense has been somewhat respectable this year. Yes, they do rank in the bottom half (5th) of the WIAC in total defense, giving up 378.3 yards per game. However, fifth is the highest ranking defense this program has seen in seven years! The strength of coach Matt Walker's defense has been their ability to slow the opposition's running game down. Opposing teams are only managing 3.4 yards per carry against River Falls. Only Whitewater (1.6) and Oshkosh (2.5) have a better average in the WIAC. This matches up fairly well to Stout, considering they are only getting 3.0 yards/carry and 110.9 yards/game, both are third lowest in conference. The glaring hole 
in the Falcon's defense has definitely been their inability to stop the pass. UWRF's passing defense ranks last in the WIAC in yards/game (240.3), total yards (1682) and touchdowns (12). The one silver lining is the Falcons have forced 11 interceptions on the season. In the conference, only Whitewater has forced more (18). Alex Adams has six of those picks, and leads the WIAC 12 passes defended (total of Ints and Pass breakups). River Falls fans will be happy to know they are facing a Stout team that ranks second to last in the WIAC in pass efficiency with a 102.9 ranking. Even though UWRF's defense has been over achieving this season (for the most part), the same cannot be said for their offense. The Falcons are only averaging just over 10 points per game (7th lowest in the D3). With only eight touchdowns on the years, only three schools in the country have scored fewer than them. I guess some growing pains would be expected when freshman Ryan Kusilek was named the team's starting quarterback this year. Talk about being setup to fail. Not only does he offer zero collegiate experience to the team, but he's also asked to compete in the toughest conference in the country. Meanwhile competing for a team that historically hasn't been nearly as talented as the rest of the conference over the past decade plus. Hopefully this young man will learn from his experience and help turn this program around during his four years.
in the Falcon's defense has definitely been their inability to stop the pass. UWRF's passing defense ranks last in the WIAC in yards/game (240.3), total yards (1682) and touchdowns (12). The one silver lining is the Falcons have forced 11 interceptions on the season. In the conference, only Whitewater has forced more (18). Alex Adams has six of those picks, and leads the WIAC 12 passes defended (total of Ints and Pass breakups). River Falls fans will be happy to know they are facing a Stout team that ranks second to last in the WIAC in pass efficiency with a 102.9 ranking. Even though UWRF's defense has been over achieving this season (for the most part), the same cannot be said for their offense. The Falcons are only averaging just over 10 points per game (7th lowest in the D3). With only eight touchdowns on the years, only three schools in the country have scored fewer than them. I guess some growing pains would be expected when freshman Ryan Kusilek was named the team's starting quarterback this year. Talk about being setup to fail. Not only does he offer zero collegiate experience to the team, but he's also asked to compete in the toughest conference in the country. Meanwhile competing for a team that historically hasn't been nearly as talented as the rest of the conference over the past decade plus. Hopefully this young man will learn from his experience and help turn this program around during his four years.Blue Devils
After a strong defensive first half of the season, Clayt Birmingham's team has really found it hard to keep the opposition out of the endzone the past two weeks. Stout allowed 41 points to an underachieving Whitewater offense, and let a very poor offensive La Crosse team put 33 on them. Those two games were UWW's and UWL's highest scoring totals of the season. Over the first five games Stout has gave up just over 16 points/game, but has allowed 37 over the past two. Also, they still have yet to play the toughest offenses in the WIAC (Oshkosh and Platteville). Rather than just reeling off stat after stat, I wish I could provide a little more insight on what's going wrong the their defense. Between not being able to make it up to Menomonie, and FOX no longer re-airing WIAC games, I haven't been able to take a close look at the Blue Devils this season. Just looking at Stout's special teams, it appears their punting unit hasn't been doing them favors as far as field position.
The Blue Devils are netting a WIAC-low 27.9 yards per punt. That's asking a lot from your defense if your constantly giving opposing offenses a shortened field to work with. Plus their minus six turnover margin isn't helping the field position battle either. If Stout was looking for was week to bounce back, this would be it. They will be at home against a struggling offensive River Falls team, who only achieved three field goals in their previous meeting this year. Stout has been solid against the run, giving up just over 125 yards/game (4th best in the WIAC). Birmingham's squad shouldn't get much trouble from River Falls' running game, considering the Falcons are averaging under 54 yards per game (10th worst in D3). One area the Blue Devils will try to exploit is the River Falls' vulnerability to protect their QB. UWRF has given up 16 sacks on the year (third most in conference). This will be a great opportunity for Ryan Ericksen to bust through the line and add to his WIAC leading five sacks. The senior defensive lineman also leads in the conference in tackles for loss with nine. His teammate, David Lindell, is second in the WIAC with 8.5 tackles for loss. Given how susceptible River Falls is against the pass this year, quarterback Michael Blizel should be able to find some open receivers. The senior has a conference low 50.2 completion percentage, but has 1315 yards on the year. Third most in the WIAC.
The Blue Devils are netting a WIAC-low 27.9 yards per punt. That's asking a lot from your defense if your constantly giving opposing offenses a shortened field to work with. Plus their minus six turnover margin isn't helping the field position battle either. If Stout was looking for was week to bounce back, this would be it. They will be at home against a struggling offensive River Falls team, who only achieved three field goals in their previous meeting this year. Stout has been solid against the run, giving up just over 125 yards/game (4th best in the WIAC). Birmingham's squad shouldn't get much trouble from River Falls' running game, considering the Falcons are averaging under 54 yards per game (10th worst in D3). One area the Blue Devils will try to exploit is the River Falls' vulnerability to protect their QB. UWRF has given up 16 sacks on the year (third most in conference). This will be a great opportunity for Ryan Ericksen to bust through the line and add to his WIAC leading five sacks. The senior defensive lineman also leads in the conference in tackles for loss with nine. His teammate, David Lindell, is second in the WIAC with 8.5 tackles for loss. Given how susceptible River Falls is against the pass this year, quarterback Michael Blizel should be able to find some open receivers. The senior has a conference low 50.2 completion percentage, but has 1315 yards on the year. Third most in the WIAC.Oshkosh Titans (7-0, 4-0) @ La Crosse Eagles (3-4, 2-2)
I'm sure the upper classmen on Oshkosh will be looking forward to this game Saturday. After all, the Eagles were the team that crushed the Titans' hopes (in Oshkosh) in getting a Pool C playoff bid last season. History can't repeat itself. Can it? I wouldn't bet on it. The Eagles, like last year, have no business winning the game. The Titans have proven to everyone this year they are a top 10 program. UWO is ranked No. 6 in the D3football.com poll. This will be the second meeting between these two schools this season, with Oshkosh the first one 16-7. Even though La Crosse had an impressive win against against Stout last week, the Titans are clicking on all cylinders and should win this game easily.
Whitewater Warhawks (5-2, 3-1) @ Stevens Point Pointers (1-6, 0-4)
Well, the Pointers were the unfortunate team to play Whitewater after the first loss earlier in the season. That's when Whitewater bounced back and won 34-7 in week four. Following UWW's loss to Oshkosh, UWSP will again have to face a frustrated Warhawk team that are desperately clinging to any playoff hopes they may still have. UWW will (most likely) be sitting their senior team captain quarterback, Lee Brekke, and handing the reins over to Matt Behrendt. The sophomore QB took over from Brekke last week, energizing the team from a three score deficient to just eight points. Things don't look promising for Stevens Point to get a win in the WIAC this year. Their last three games are against UWW, Oshkosh and Platteville. Last time the Pointers went winless in the conference was 1951.
Platteville Pioneers (5-2, 2-2) @ Eau Claire Blugolds (3-4, 3-1)
I came close naming this matchup the Game of the Week. We all know what Platteville has accomplished this season, and what they're capable of. However, Eau Claire seems to finally hitting their stride in the second half of the season. With only one conference loss, the Blugolds are tied for the second best conference record. After starting out 0-3, UWEC has gone 3-1 since. Rather than relying on the arm of Austin Neu to carry the team (like last year and early this season), they've became more balanced by putting the ball in the arms of Joel Sweeney. The junior running back is leading the WIAC in rushing with 115.3 yards/game and nine touchdowns. Sweeney has been an absolute work horse the past two weeks, totaling 78 carries, 318 yards and four TDs. I'm not sure Eau Claire has the defense to slow down the Pioneers, but if Sweeney can get it going it'll keep UWP's offense off the field. Which will make the outcome closer than expected.
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