La Crosse Eagles (3-5, 2-3) River Falls Falcons (2-6, 2-3)
@ 
Eagles
All right boys. First one to 10, wins!!!! And I'm only 25 percent kidding. This may not be the prettiest game in the WIAC this weekend, but it could very well be the closest. Both teams combine to average just over 13 points per game. La Crosse's offense is putting up a WIAC-low 258.9 yards/game. That mark is 219th out of 239 D3 teams. To make matters worse, UWL will be starting (third-string) running back Dillon Bean Saturday after the previous starter, Jared Stan, was injured last weekend.** Stan of course was the back who replaced Ben Hertrampf earlier in the season. The team had high hopes for Hertrampf, as he was conference's leading returning rusher. Meanwhile, the Eagles' quarterback, Andy Sires, has been the Jay Cutler of D3 football this year. His front five has not been able to provide any protection for the junior. The offensive line has given up an astonishing 34 sacks on the season. Only THREE teams in the country
have allowed more! Their defense of late haven't been much better, which is perplexing to me considering what they've accomplished in week one. It seems like light years ago when La Crosse stunned the D3 world and knocked off North Central College to start the season. In fact, this looks like an entirely different team all together from what we saw at NCC. If you recall, it was their defense that won the game for them that afternoon. It just so happens that this same defense is now ranked at the bottom of just about every statistical category in the WIAC. The Eagles forced six turnovers that day in Naperville (IL) but have only managed seven takeaways over the next seven games. Things could be helluva lot worse for head coach Joel Dettwiler if it wasn't for the leg of punter Christian Hallingstad. The preseason All American is leading the nation in punting by a good two-yard average (45.46 yards/punt). The senior has been called upon to punt 67 times so far this season (most in D3), totaling 3046 yards! That's over 500 yards more than the next closest in the country (Reece Attard of Husson has 2509 yards). Even though that's quite an accomplishment, this can't be something the team is proud of. Needless to say he pretty much has the 2012 first-team All American spot locked up. It'll be up to Hallingstad Saturday to pin the River Falls' offense deep in their own zone, while hoping the defense can create turnovers to shorten up the field for the offense.
**UPDATE: Bean suffered a high ankle sprain the Oshkosh and will be unable to go this weekend. True freshman Jake Gundlach will be making his first career start Saturday. For those keeping score, this was UWL's fourth-string running back at the start of the season.
have allowed more! Their defense of late haven't been much better, which is perplexing to me considering what they've accomplished in week one. It seems like light years ago when La Crosse stunned the D3 world and knocked off North Central College to start the season. In fact, this looks like an entirely different team all together from what we saw at NCC. If you recall, it was their defense that won the game for them that afternoon. It just so happens that this same defense is now ranked at the bottom of just about every statistical category in the WIAC. The Eagles forced six turnovers that day in Naperville (IL) but have only managed seven takeaways over the next seven games. Things could be helluva lot worse for head coach Joel Dettwiler if it wasn't for the leg of punter Christian Hallingstad. The preseason All American is leading the nation in punting by a good two-yard average (45.46 yards/punt). The senior has been called upon to punt 67 times so far this season (most in D3), totaling 3046 yards! That's over 500 yards more than the next closest in the country (Reece Attard of Husson has 2509 yards). Even though that's quite an accomplishment, this can't be something the team is proud of. Needless to say he pretty much has the 2012 first-team All American spot locked up. It'll be up to Hallingstad Saturday to pin the River Falls' offense deep in their own zone, while hoping the defense can create turnovers to shorten up the field for the offense.**UPDATE: Bean suffered a high ankle sprain the Oshkosh and will be unable to go this weekend. True freshman Jake Gundlach will be making his first career start Saturday. For those keeping score, this was UWL's fourth-string running back at the start of the season.
Falcons
In my opinion this might be the first time, going into a game, where River Falls is favored in quite some time. As you may recall, the Falcons won at La Crosse last season (28-21) for their only victory of the year. UWRF has already equalled their win total (2) from the previous two season's combined. Matt Walker's boys have been very competitive in the second half of the season (minus the Platteville game), winning twice in the past three weeks. Considering how vulnerable La Crosse has been against the pass, I think this is an area River Falls can exploit. Walker's offense hasn't been exactly lighting it up, but they've managed to be halfway decent passing the football. Quarterback Ryan Kusilek is fourth in the WIAC in passing with 197.5 
yards/game. I understand that's slightly skewed considering the Falcons are playing from behind most of the game, and are forced to pass. However, that's the case for a handful of teams in the WIAC, but they still haven't been able to put up the yards that Kusilek has....and he's only a freshman! As expected, there's been a bit a growing pains for Kusilek this year. Along with his five touchdowns thrown, he also has eight interceptions for the season. That's tied for the second most in conference - Blizel has 10. I'm sure Walker will be welcoming La Crosse to Ramer Field with open arms, given that the Eagles are dropping a WIAC worst 252 passing yards/game. Whereas UWRF ranks fourth in passing (212.4 yards/game). Even with that being true, the Falcons have struggled mightily to find the endzone. They have a conference low 11 touchdowns and have averaged a little over 12 points/game (also a WIAC low). Ironically enough, the Falcons are the only WIAC team to score via the safety. That 12 points/game average ranks them 224th in the country in scoring. Incase you're wondering, La Crosse is 214th. Another freshman that's been making an impact has been cornerback Nick Zimmerman. Last week he was named Defensive Athlete of the Week in the WIAC. Zimmerman led the Falcons against Stout with eight tackles (six solo), including a sack. He also led the team with three pass breakups and one interception. On the season the freshman is third in the conference in both fumbles recovered (2) and passes defended (10). Coach Walker has to be encouraged with his freshmen not only contributing, but leading the way. Hopefully this is a sign of the program turning around and becoming a competitive force in the WIAC.
yards/game. I understand that's slightly skewed considering the Falcons are playing from behind most of the game, and are forced to pass. However, that's the case for a handful of teams in the WIAC, but they still haven't been able to put up the yards that Kusilek has....and he's only a freshman! As expected, there's been a bit a growing pains for Kusilek this year. Along with his five touchdowns thrown, he also has eight interceptions for the season. That's tied for the second most in conference - Blizel has 10. I'm sure Walker will be welcoming La Crosse to Ramer Field with open arms, given that the Eagles are dropping a WIAC worst 252 passing yards/game. Whereas UWRF ranks fourth in passing (212.4 yards/game). Even with that being true, the Falcons have struggled mightily to find the endzone. They have a conference low 11 touchdowns and have averaged a little over 12 points/game (also a WIAC low). Ironically enough, the Falcons are the only WIAC team to score via the safety. That 12 points/game average ranks them 224th in the country in scoring. Incase you're wondering, La Crosse is 214th. Another freshman that's been making an impact has been cornerback Nick Zimmerman. Last week he was named Defensive Athlete of the Week in the WIAC. Zimmerman led the Falcons against Stout with eight tackles (six solo), including a sack. He also led the team with three pass breakups and one interception. On the season the freshman is third in the conference in both fumbles recovered (2) and passes defended (10). Coach Walker has to be encouraged with his freshmen not only contributing, but leading the way. Hopefully this is a sign of the program turning around and becoming a competitive force in the WIAC.
Stevens Point Pointers (2-6, 1-4) @ Oshkosh Titans (8-0, 5-0)
With the WIAC's automatic bid locked up, and the tough part of the schedule behind him, Pat Cerroni just needs to put it in cruise control and hope everyone stays healthy until the playoffs. Don't get me wrong, Oshkosh will still have to come to play. After all, it still has to be determined how many home games the Titans will get in the playoffs. So there's still something to play for. The Pointers are coming of their first WIAC win, which came against the free-falling Warhawks last weekend. This is a young team that has plenty to be optimistic about. When looking at the WIAC's leading tacklers per game, three of those players are from UWSP....and none are seniors.
Stout Blue Devils (3-5, 1-4) @ Platteville Pioneers (6-2, 3-2)
It's fitting this game is just days after Halloween, because this will be a match up nightmare for the Devils' defense. Stout is coming off consecutive double-digit losses to a pair of very poor offensive teams (La Crosse and River Falls). Like I stated before, UWL and UWRF together average only 13 points per game. But Stout gave up 33 to La Crosse and 24 to the Falcons the last two weeks. Now they travel to Platteville who averages over 30 ppg. It might have be up to Stouts' offense to keep them in the game. However, they've been struggling to put points on the board, averaging 18/game. Add on to the fact that this is Platteville's Senior Day....this one will get ugly. Of course now that I say that, watch Stout make this a close one.
Eau Claire Blugolds (3-5, 3-2) @ Whitewater Warhawks (5-3, 3-2)
This is a very intriguing matchup given that the confidence levels of each program are at opposite ends of the spectrum. Eau Claire got off to a slow start to the season, but has won two of its last three games. Including a one-score loss to a very good Platteville team last weekend. The Blugolds have seemingly found their identity on offense (running the ball instead of forcing things with Neu), and they appear to be hitting their stride and gaining confidence along the way. Whitewater, on the other hand, is having their season crumbling beneath them. Especially now that their playoff hopes are well beyond their reach. 5-3 is a very solid record for most, but its well below Whitewater's standards. The 'Hawks are now in jeopardy of losing three straight, which is something they haven't done since 2001.
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