RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team fell short, 31-28 in another back-and-forth conference game against the current WIAC leading offense of UW-River Falls. The teams remained tied at the half, but in the end the Falcons held on to a three-point lead to hand the Pioneers their third conference loss of the year by a three-point or fewer margin.
The Pioneers (2-6, 1-4 WIAC) recorded 314 passing yards, the most this season against the unranked Falcons (6-2, 3-2 WIAC) who lead the conference in total offense, sit third in total defense and averaged 47 points coming into Saturday's game. UW-River Falls, which is receiving votes in the national polls, accumulated 524 yards total offense with 271 in the air and 253 on the ground while UW-Platteville totaled 318 yards.
Senior, and WIAC leader Colin Schuetz threw over 300 yards for the sixth time this season. Schuetz completed 30 passes for 314 yards and four touchdowns to four different Pioneers.
Junior Ben Wilson recorded a game high eight receptions and touchdown for a career high 131 yards. Junior Brandt Stare hauled in seven for 45 yards and a touchdown while sophomore Austin Guy registered four catches for 76 yards and a touchdown.
The Falcons jumped to an early 7-0 lead off a 32-yard reception and touchdown in the opening drive. The Pioneers had a big stop later in the quarter on 4th and 4 on the UW-Platteville 7-yard line and followed that up with another 4th and goal stop to start the second quarter. With 7:45 left in the half, UW-River Falls doubled their lead off a 10-play, 73-yard drive.
On the next drive, the Pioneers made use of all available resources, utilizing senior defensive lineman Logan Ketelhut on a fake quarterback keep. Schuetz's 3-yard pass found an unguarded Ketlehut standing in the middle of the endzone for the touchdown with 3:23 remaining.
Unable to move the chains, the Falcons were forced to punt and the Pioneers took back over at the UW-River Falls 49-yard line with 1:43 to go. Schuetz found Stare for a 6-yard reception and touchdown to tie the game 14-14 in the final seconds of the half.
The Falcons pulled away once again to start the second half with a 5-yard rushing touchdown followed by a 33-yard field goal which gave UW-River Falls a 24-14 advantage with 4:42 left in the third quarter.
The Pioneers rallied again during their next possesssion and Schuetz followed a 25-yard reception to Wilson with a 30-yard reception and touchdown to Guy. UW-Platteville trailed 24-21 with 1:30 remaining in the third quarter.
UW-River Falls' Kole Hinrichsen opened the fourth quarter with his second rushing touchdown of the game to extend the lead to 31-21 with 14:15 remaining in regulation.
Three punts later, the Pioneers had a key stop on 4th and 2 on the Falcons' 44-yardline. UW-Platteville went to work and Schuetz completed three consecutive passes and rushed for a 6-yard gain, but a momentum-altering interception and 30-yard return gave the ball back to the Falcons at their own 32-yard line with 5:17 on the clock.
The Falcons killed two minutes before they were forced to punt and the Pioneers moved 80 yards in eight plays to trim the deficit to 31-28 with a 10-yard reception and touchdown from Schuetz to Wilson at the 00:48 mark. Schuetz and the Pioneers were 6-of-7 in their final possession of the game, but unfortunately it would fall short as the Falcons were just two kneels away from securing the win.
Sophomore Sam Smith led the Pioneers with 10 tackles while junior Colton Ingram recorded nine tackles including two tackles for loss with a sack for seven yards. Junior Aidan Sproule registered six tackles and the second sack by the Pioneers for a loss of six yards.
Junior Andrew Schweigert was 4-of-4 for extra points and junior Hunter Grams averaged 46.7 yards off six punts, placing two inside the 20.
Hinrichsen completed 29 passes for 262 yards and a touchdown. The Falcon added a touchdown on the ground along with 83 rushing yards. Luke Fugate totaled 85 yards on the ground for the UW-River Falls and Brady Agrimson had a team high six receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown.
Aaro Borgerding led the UW-River Falls defense with six tackles as the Falcons sacked Schuetz three times and Andy Metcalf intercepted Schuetz for 30 yards.
UW-Platteville will hit the road once again next Saturday for UW-Eau Claire. The Pioneers and Blugolds are set to kick off at 1 p.m. on November 6.
