Blue Devil Football

October 27, 1997

BLUE DEVILS LOOK TO TOPPLE ANOTHER CONFERENCE GIANT

UW-Stout Blue Devils (4-3, 3-2) at UW-Stevens Point Pointers (6-2, 3-2)
Saturday, November 1, 1 p.m.
Goerke Field, Stevens Point, Wis.

LAST WEEK: Stout: Matt Bunyan (Jr, Janesville) threw for five TDs and ran for another as the Blue Devils outlasted UW-Oshkosh, 48-37, Saturday at Oshkosh. Down 7-0 early, Bunyan scored four yards on a quarterback draw, but Stout fell behind when Oshkosh returned an interception 44 yards. After a Titan field goal, the Blue Devils exploded for four TDs, three by air and one on the ground. Bunyan completed 22-of-34 passes for 411 yards. His five TDs ran his season totals to 24, breaking the school record of 20. Jesse Witcraft (Jr, New Lisbon) caught three passes for 192 yards and two TDs, including scores of 67- and 57-yards. After three games off due to injury, tailback Shawn Lund (So, Ashland) returned to record 88 yards on 17 rushes. Stout tallied 529 total yards, 411 through the air, 118 rushing. Oshkosh totaled 343 yards, 299 by pass, 44 by the run.

Stevens Point: The Pointers dropped a 27-13 decision at UW-LaCrosse and their offense only scored one TD and racked up only 145 total yards. LaCrosse took a 7-0 lead in the first, but the Pointers knotted the score when Ken Ailport (Jr, Shell Lake) pounced on a fumble in the end zone. The Eagles controlled the game the rest of the way, scoring in each quarter. Bill Ott (Sr, Merrill) scored on a 31-yard pass play from Ryan Aulenbacher (So, Hartford) with 2:19 remaining, but to added insult to injury, the Eagles blocked the extra point. Aulenbacher was intercepted three times and completed 8-of-31 passes from 139 yards. Ott caught three passes for 78 yards. The Pointers were held to six yards on the ground, while they gave up 290 through the air, but held LaCrosse to 64 yards rushing.

LAST YEAR: Both Stout and Stevens Point play in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) and are affiliated with the NCAA Division III. Stout was 4-6 overall, 1-6 in the conference last season and finished seventh. Stevens Point was 6-3 overall, 4-3 in the conference (fourth).

THE SERIES: The Pointers hold a 38-12-2 lead in the series that began in 1913 with a 24-6 Stout win. The Pointers blanked Stout, 28-0, in the season opener last year, racking up 436 yards to Stout's 199. Point scored twice in the opening stanza and twice in the third quarter as Stan Strama ran for 141 yards and two scores and Nate Harms recorded 122 yards. Stout has not defeated Stevens Point since 1990, when they took a 25-15 decision. In the last 10 meetings, Stout has won only two games, but one of those was a forfeit. The Pointers were ranked 25th in the latest Columbus Multi-Media poll. Stout and Stevens Point are currently tied with Eau Claire for third place.

STOUT PLAYERS TO WATCH:
QB Matt Bunyan (#19, 6-6, 230, Jr, Janesville) 254-141-4, 2168 yds (309.7/game), 24 TDs (just broke school record of 20 TDs), ranked eighth nationally in total offense last week (288.3 yd/g, now 309.7 yd/g); WR Scott Wojcik (#18, 6-3, 210, Sr, Marshfield) 45 rec, 765 yds, 17.0 yd/rec, 7 TDs, ranked 22nd national in rec/game (6.5 rec/g, now 6.4/g); WR Jimmy Pillars (#80, 6-5, 220, So Chicago, Ill) 22 rec, 380 yds, 5 TDs; FB Ryan Patt (#42, 6-2, 210, So, North Fond du Lac) 374 yards, 89 carries, 4.2 yd/car; TB Shawn Lund (#20, 6-0, 220, So, Ashland) 298 yd, 69 carries, 4.3 yd/car; CB Corey Morning (#23, 5-11, 180, Jr, Bloomer) 57 tackles, 38 solo, 1 pass broken up, 1 fumble recovery; LB Sam Standard (#1, 6-1, 220, Indianapolis, Ind) 51 tackles, 22 solo, 8 tackles-for-losses of 42 yds, 1 sack for 10 yds, 3 fumble recoveries; Blue Devils avg 427.6 total ypg, 107.3 rushing, 320.3 passing (were 8th nationally, 305.2); give up 372.3 total ypg, 212.4 rushing, 159.9 passing.

STEVENS POINT PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Ryan Aulenbacher (#17, 6-6, 195, So, Hartford) 250-134-9, 1575 yds (196.8/game), 18 TDs; WR Bill Ott (#1, 6-0, 185, Sr, Merrill) 31 rec, 509 yds, 16.4 yd/rec, 10 TDs; RB Todd Goodman (#5, 5-9, 197, So, Stanley) 323 yds, 77 carries, 4.2 yd/car; RB Stan Strama (#22, 5-10, 195, Sr, Medford) 241 yds, 64 carries, 3.8 yd/car, 4 TDs; LB/RB Clint Kriewaldt (#42, 6-2, 230, Jr, Shiocton) 108 yds, 13 carries, 8.3 yd/car, 8 TDs, 63 tackles, 43 solo, 10 tackles for losses of 52 yds, 3 sacks for 35 yds, 1 int, 2 pass break ups, 4 fumbles recovered, 2 fumbles forced; LB Len Luedtke (#38, 6-0, 225, So, Stratford) 73 tackles, 46 solo, 8 tackles for losses of 17 yards, 1 sack for 4 yards; Pointers avg. 330.9 total ypg, 132.5 rushing, 198.4 passing; give up 313.8 total ypg, 108.9 rushing, 204.9 passing.

OFFENSIVE LOOK: Pointers: Pro-set Stout: multi-pro set which incorporates a West Coast style offense.

DEFENSIVE LOOK: Pointers: 4-3Stout: 4-3

COACHES: Stout's Ed Meierkort (17-30 career) is in his fifth year, while Stevens Point's John Miech (67-29-2) is in his 10th season.

STOUT COACH ED MEIERKORT SAYS: "This win (against Oshkosh) was the biggest win so far this season. It gives us an opportunity to finish in the top half of the conference, something we have been aiming for for five years. It was a quality win against a dangerous opponent on the road. This was a different type of win for us. This was a team we had to beat. No one will remember the (wins over) LaCrosse and River Falls if we go to Oshkosh and get beat."

"Stevens Point is the best defensive team we will face all year. We will have to execute better against them than we did in the first half (against Oshkosh). We have to find a way to run on this team. We don't even have to run well. We will not win if we have to throw the ball 50 times. We have to stick with our running game and may even have to feed the sharks. On defense, we can't make them a big play team. We must put pressure on their quarterback (Aulenbacher). He is a bright, young quarterback and is about where Matt (Bunyan) was last year."

October 25, 1997

BLUE DEVILS OUT BIG-PLAY OSHKOSH

OSHKOSHUW-Stout's Matt Bunyan (Jr, Janesville) passed for five touchdowns, ran for another, and completed 22-of-34 passes for 411 yards as the Blue Devils outlasted UW-Oshkosh, 48-37, in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) contest Saturday, Oct. 25, at Oshkosh.

Bunyan's totals were enhanced by speedy receiver Jesse Witcraft (Jr, New Lisbon) who pulled in three catches for 192 yards and two touchdowns, all in the second half.

Oshkosh (2-6, 0-5) took a 17-7 lead into the second period, but the Blue Devils (4-3, 3-2) pulled to within four points late in the second when Bunyan hit Jim Pillars (So, Chicago, Ill) for a five yard score. The play was set up when Tracy Finder (Jr, Wilson) pounced on a fumble on the Oshkosh 5 on an muffed punt return.

After stopping the Titans, Stout needed six plays to take the lead for good, driving 78 yards in six plays, capped by a 45 yard touchdown pass play on fourth down by Scott Wojcik (Sr, Marshfield) with 44 seconds remaining in the half.

Early in the second half, Witcraft broke off his first big scoring play, taking a pass 67 yards to paydirt. Stout jumped ahead, 34-17, with 9:56 remaining in the quarter when Shawn Lund (So, Ashland), playing his first game since injuring his ribs against UW-La Crosse, scored from three yards out.

Oshkosh pulled to within 34-24 late in the period on a two-yard run by Mike Scovronski, but Stout answered back quickly when Witcraft scored his second TD of the day, this time a 57-yard play. Witcraft was sprung for the score when Wojcik threw a key block.

But the Blue Devils kept letting the Titans back in. From punt formation, a high snap was picked up by Oshkosh's Chris Samz, who rambled 27 yards for the score.

Stout put together one of their longest drives of the day late in the fourth quarter, going 47 yards in nine plays, capped off by Bunyan's fifth TD pass of the day, this time three yards to Pete Speigel (Sr, West Bend).

Oshkosh added another score with 22 seconds remaining for the final, 48-37, score.

Stout piled up 529 yards of offense, including 118 yards rushing. The Stout defense kept Oshkosh in check, allowing 343 yards, 299 through the air, 44 rushing.

Wojcik had six catches for 97 yards, while Pillars had three catches for 43 yards. Lund seemed to be back in form, gathering 88 yards on 17 carries. Ryan Patt (So, North Fond du Lac) had 43 yards on 14 carries.

Bunyan's five TDs matched a school record for most TDs in a game and he also surpassed the single season record for most touchdowns in a season, passing Tim Peterson's mark of 20. Bunyan now has 24 TDs, with three games remaining.

Oshkosh's Tomalak completed 25-of-42 passes for all 299 yards. Ryan Hinske pulled down 13 passes for 133 yards. Tony Church had eight catches for 82 yards and Rich Springer had three grabs fro 68 yards.

Stout will be at UW-Stevens Point Saturday, Nov. 1. The Pointers fell, 27-13, to UW-La Crosse. Both Stout and Stevens Point have 3-2 WIAC records.

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Blue Devil Volleyball

October 22, 1997

UW-RIVER FALLS SWEEPS BLUE DEVIL VOLLEYBALL TEAM

RIVER FALLS- After dropping the first game to UW-River Falls, 15-7, UW-Stout volleyball coach Jill Jolliff decided to take a different tact by switching offenses.

Although the change from one setter to two provided some additional points in the middle contest, the Blue Devils were still swept by the Falcons, 15-10, 15-6, in the final two games, Wednesday, Oct. 22.

Katy Haas (Fr, Sparta) came on in the final two games to record four kills and hit at .429 rate. Jenny Kraczek (So, Blaine, Minn) and Kim Roshell (Fr, Cornell) shared the setting duties, with both recording 10 assists. Stacy Stoddard (Jr, St. Paul, Minn) recorded six kills to lead the Blue Devils (14-11, 2-6).

The match marked the end of the regular conference season. Stout will be off until Tuesday, Oct. 28 when they host St. Catherine's in the final home contest beginning at 7 p.m. in Johnson Fieldhouse. The Blue Devils will return to River Falls Oct. 31-Nov. 1 for the Falcons' annual tournament, then will close the season Nov. 7-8 at the WIAC Championships in Stevens Point.

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Blue Devil Soccer

October 25, 1997

BLUE DEVIL SOCCER CLOSES REGULAR SEASON WITH WIN

MENOMONIE- Records fell as the UW-Stout soccer team ended the 1997 regular season with a 4-1 win over UW-Superior Saturday at Phelan Park.

This win give the Blue Devils the No. 6 seed going into the WIAC conference tournament on Oct. 30- Nov 2 at Platteville.

With the opportunity to drop a seed with a loss to the Yellowjackets, the Blue Devils stepped onto the field ready to play. Shannon Camp (Fr, Blaine, Minn.) opened the game by scoring a goal off a rebound from the goal post. Shortly after Superior's Tiffanie Ellis managed to score to tie the score at 1-1. Stout was not to be outdone as Alyssa Halverson (Jr, Rochester, Minn.) scored with just nine minutes left in the half off a pass from Susie Watkins (Fr, Eden Prairie, Minn.).

Just six minutes into the second half Halverson managed to put the ball in the back of the net with the help of Aimee Grimm (Sr, Apple Valley, Minn.). With three minutes left in the game, Jamie Jester (Jr, Beloit) got a breakaway and scored.

The Blue Devils outshot the Yellowjackets 22-4.

Stout has outdone themselves this season breaking the record of the number of games won in a season. Stout (9-8, 3-5) bested last year's record by two games and the first year's record by five games.

Stout takes to the road Friday Oct. 31 to play in the WIAC Championships and will play UW-Eau Claire at noon.

October 22, 1997

EAGLES SOAR OVER SOCCER SQUAD

LA CROSSE- In a span of the opening 15 minutes, UW-La Crosse scored five times and never looked back as the Eagles went on to a 7-0 win over UW-Stout Wednesday, Oct. 22 at La Crosse. The Blue Devils (8-8, 2-5) were outshot 16-6 in the first half as the Eagles picked up an additional goal late in the half. La Crosse would score one more goal early in the second half and outshot the Blue Devils 15-1 in the half. Stout goalkeeper Nikki Bezak (So, Coon Rapids, Minn) recorded 12 saves in Stout's most lopsided contest of the season.

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Blue Devil Men's Cross Country

October 24, 1997

BLOCK SETS BLUE DEVIL PACE IN DUAL WITH EAU CLAIRE

COLFAX- Jamie Block (Fr, West Bend) finished third to lead the UW-Stout cross country team at a dual meet with UW-Eau Claire Friday, Oct. 24 at Whitetail Golf Club in Colfax.

Block finished in a time of 27:04, right in front of teammate Bryan Ott (Fr, Monroe) who clocked a 27:09.

Eau Claire won the match-up of junior varsity squads. Stout will close out the regular season Saturday, Nov. 1 when they travel to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championships at West Salem hosted by UW-La Crosse.

UW-Eau Claire 24, UW-Stout 35

(First place, all Stout finishers)
1. Mark Albrecht (EC alumni) 25:58; 3. Jamie Block 27:04; 4. Bryan Ott 27:09; 8. Chad Pallansch 27:21; 10. Joe Anderson 27:33; 16. Todd Johnson 27:51; 17. Ethan Webinger 28:09; 18. Jason Donovan 28:19; 19. Chris Stevens 28:30; 22. Mike Schumann 28:45; 24. Chris Heinbuch 29:08

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Blue Devil Women's Cross Country

October 24, 1997

KATIE KUFFEL FINISHES TENTH IN TRIANGULAR MEET

COLFAX - UW-Stout's Katie Kuffel (So, Minneapolis, Minn) placed 10th at a triangular meet with UW-La Crosse and UW-Eau Claire to lead the Blue Devils Friday, Oct. 24 at the Whitetail Golf Club in Colfax.

Kuffel clocked a time of 20:25. Teammate Robin White (So, Ladysmith) was 12th, coming in at 20:31.

La Crosse took top honors, with Eau Claire second.

Stout will close out the regular season Saturday, Nov. 1 when they travel to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championships at West Salem hosted by UW-La Crosse.

UW-La Crosse 15, UW-Eau Claire 61, UW-Stout 65

1. Katie O'Leary (LX) 19:39; 10. Katie Kuffel 20:25; 12. Robin White 20:31; 24. Tanya Miller 21:57; 27. Jessica Schultz 22:08; 30. Coryn Delaney 22:43; 31. Heather Kuchinka 22:50; 32. Kelly Knaus 22:54.

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Blue Devil Tennis

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October 25, 1997

BLUGOLDS SWEEP PAST BLUE DEVILS IN WEEKEND HOCKEY SERIES

MENOMONIE-While the result was the same, the improvement was evident in the second game as the UW-Stout hockey team dropped a two-game season opening series to nearby rival, UW-Eau Claire, a Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) affair. The Blugolds took a 10-5 win at Hobbs Ice Arena in Eau Claire Friday, Oct. 24, and a 7-4 win Saturday, Oct. 25 at the Dunn County Ice Arena in Menomonie.

Eau Claire 7, Stout 4
The start was very similar to the night before when the Blugolds scored very early.Cam Cook scored only one, three seconds into the game. On Friday,Ryan Thomas scored only 15 seconds into the game.

The Blugolds kept up the assault, scoring again with 12 minutes off the clock. But to Stout's credit, the Blue Devils charged back to tie the game in the period. Luke Murray (So, Bloomington, Minn) scored at the 13:41 mark and Marcus Soderberg (So, Huddinge, Sweden) knotted the game at 15:16.

Eau Claire's Cook gave the Blugolds the lead heading into the locker room, scoring with only two seconds remaining in the period.

Again Stout tied the score, this time when Mark Corbett (Jr, New Hope, Minn) scored on the power play with 4:03 gone in the second.

Eau Claire assumed control midway through the period when Ed Stanek scored two goals within 16 seconds. The Blugolds took a three goal lead when Cook completed his hat trick to open the third period.

Stout's Nicklas Grund (Fr, Uttran, Sweden) scored with three minutes remaining, but Cook finished up the scoring.

Eau Claire 10, Stout 5
The Blugolds Ryan Thomas started the scoring 15 seconds into the game, and the Eau Claire never looked back.

Thomas finished with four goals on the night, including the first two before Stout's Tom Schaffner answered midway through the first period. The Blugolds would answer Schaffner's goal with four straight goals, before Grund scored in the second. Two more Eau Claire goals and the Blue Devils would attempt to make things interesting with Barrett Olson (Fr, International Falls, Minn) sandwiching two goals around teammate Kevin Aube's (Fr, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich) goal.

Eau Claire scored twice more, including Thomas who added his fourth goal with 1:03 remaining.

Stout will be at UW-River Falls Friday, Oct. 31, then will host the Falcons, Saturday, Nov. 1.

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October 24, 1997

BLUE DEVIL CAGER TEAMS TO SQUARE OFF AGAINST LITHUANIAN SQUADS

MENOMONIE- A sneak preview of the UW-Stout men's and women's basketball squads will be in store when the Blue Devils square off against teams from Lithuania, Thursday, Nov. 6 at Johnson Fieldhouse.

The Blue Devil women will open up the evening's exhibitions when they meet the Lithuanian women's national basketball team at 5 p.m.

The Lithuanian team will feature 6-foot, 7-inch Irena Baranauskaite, who, along with Lina Brazdeikyte, was a winner of the Eurobasket 1997 in Hungary. Lithuania is coached by Valentinas Kanapkis, who has coached teams that have won the Lithuanian championship in 1995 and 1996.

The Blue Devils are coming off their first ever conference championship season, going 19-8 on the season, 14-2 in league play.

The Blue Devil men are scheduled to play the Neptunas men's team of Lithuania at 7 p.m.

The Lithuanian team will be led by Alvydas Pazdrazdis, a 6-6, 220-pound guard who played on the Lithuanian team that won a bronze medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992. Erikas Bublys, a 6-11, 238-pound center, is a member of the Lithuanian National Team.

Lithuanian head coach Rimas Girskia was a member of the Lithuanian national team from 1975-85 and also coached NBA player Sarunas Marciulionis.

The Blue Devils are coming off an 11-14 overall record, 5-11 in conference play, and will feature a young team.

There will be no charge for admission.

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