November 2, 1998

ON THE LINE: UW-Stout fell out of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) race with a 45-43 last second loss to UW-Whitewater, but UW-Stevens Point's title chances are alive and well after a 47-28 whipping of UW-Oshkosh. The Pointers are a half game behind the Warhawks and UW-La Crosse. The Blue Devils are seeking to be the first Stout team to win five games at Nelson Field since 1982.

LAST TIME OUT: Stout: The Blue Devils spotted the Warhawks a 20-0 halftime lead, but Stout QB Matt Bunyan (Sr, Janesville) found the groove in the second half, completing 29-of-53 passes for a school record 486 yards and five TDs. Stout took a 43-42 lead with 20 seconds remaining when Bunyan connected with John Bekish (Jr, Park Center, Minn) and Jesse Diaz (Jr, Cottage Grove) for the 2-point conversion. Stout drew an unsportsmanlike conduct call for celebrating, moving the kickoff to the 20-yard line. The kick was returned to the Stout 45 and Whitewater needed one play to get to the 17-yard line, where they booted the game winning field goal. Bunyan threw passes to nine different players, two TD passes to Diaz. Shawn Lund (Jr, Ashland) caught his ninth TD pass of the season, tying the school record held by several players. The Blue Devils put up 550 yards of total offense, but allowed 594.

Stevens Point: The Titans took an early lead, but came roaring back when Clint Kriewaldt (Sr, Shiocton), who plays both running back and linebacker, scored the first of his four rushing TDs. Wade Ullsperger (Sr, Wauwatosa) pulled in a Ryan Aulenbacher (Jr, Hartford) pass to close the first quarter. The Titans added another score in the second, but Kriewaldt answered and the Pointers added a field goal for a 24-14 halftime lead. Kriewaldt got the call twice more in the third as the Pointers pulled away. Kriewaldt finished with only 14 yards, but they all counted, carrying the ball five times. Aulenbacher lit up the skies, outdueling Titan QB Brian Tomalak, completing 26-of-31 passes for 423 yards. The Pointers racked up 564 yards of total offense, and gave up 324.

LAST YEAR: Stout and Stevens Point play in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) and are affiliated with the NCAA Division III. After finishing seventh in 1996, the Blue Devils finished in a tie with La Crosse for second last season. Stout was 6-4 overall 5-2 in league play. The Pointers were 6-4 overall, 3-4 in league play, their first sub-.500 conference record in coach John Miech's tenure. The won last year's contest, 25-22, in overtime. Nolan Mosher booted both the field goal to send the game into OT, and the game winner. Bunyan threw for 364 yards as Stout racked up 487 yards of total offense to the Pointers' 201.

THE SERIES: Stevens Point leads the series 38-13-2, with Stout winning the first meeting, 24-6, in 1913. Last year's Stout win snapped a six game losing streak as the Pointers have won eight of the last 10 meetings. The last time at Nelson Field, the Pointers pitched a 28-0 shutout, in the 1996 season opener.

STOUT PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Matt Bunyan (Sr, Janesville) 298-176-8, 1979 yds (282.7 y/g); 29 TDs, holds school career record for most TDs thrown with 76; WR Jesse Diaz (Jr, Cottage Grove) 39 rec, 571 yds, 14.6 yd/rec, 81.6 yd/game, 6 TDs; WR Jesse Witcraft (Sr, New Lisbon) 19 rec, 483 yds, 25.4 yd/rec, 80.5 yd/game, 4 TDs; TB Shawn Lund (Jr, Ashland) 447 yds, 98 carries, 4.6 yd/carry, 32 rec, 417 yds, 9 TDs (tied school record for most TD passes caught); CB Corey Morning (Sr, Bloomer) 67 tackles, 40 solo, 4 passes broken up, 1 int for 35 yds; LB Eric Lund (So, Ashland) 70 tackles, 35 solo, 12 tackles for losses of 51 yards, 5 sacks for 36 yards, 5 passes broken up; DE Bill Berg (Sr, Washburn) 37 tackles, 14 solo, 10 tackles for losses of 41 yards, 4 sacks for 25 yds, 1 fumble recovery; LB Chad Reichelt (So, Appleton) 53 tackles, 21 solo, 8 tackles for losses of 25 yards; Blue Devils avg 439.8 total ypg, 110.1 rushing, 329.6 passing; give up 416.4 total ypg, 225.0 rushing, 191.4 passing.

STEVENS POINT PLAYERS TO WATCH: LB/RB Clint Kriewaldt (Sr, Shiocton) 26 yds, 14 carries, 6 TDs, 79 tackles, 64 solo, 15 tackles for losses of 36 yds, 1.5 sacks for 8 yds, 1 int, 2 pass break ups, 2 fumbles recovered; RB Chad Frederick (Fr, Marshfield) 127 yds, 34 carries, 3.7 yd/carry, 18.1 yd/game; Wally Schmitt (So, Stratford) 127 yds, 43 carries, 3.0 yd/carry, 18.1 yd/game; QB Ryan Aulenbacher (Jr, Hartford) 154-81-4, 1081 yds (154.4 yd/g), 8 TDs; WR Andy Martin (Sr, Stoughton) 31 rec, 499 yds, 16.1 yd/rec, 3 tds, 71.3 yd/game; TE Wade Ullsperger (Sr, Wauwatosa) 26 rec, 330 yds, 12.7 yd/rec, 47.1 yd/game; LB Justin Szews (Sr, Birnamwood) 55 tackles, 36 solo, 9 tackles for losses of 18 yards, 2.5 sacks for 13 yards; LB Len Luedtke (Jr, Marshfield) 49 tackles, 30 solo, 8 tackles for losses of 29 yds, 4 sacks for 10 yards, 1 int, 3 pass break-ups; DB Aaron Evans (Sr, Menomonee Falls) 33 tackles, 26 solo, 5 int for 96 yards; Pointers avg. 337.9 total ypg, 70.3 rushing, 267.6 passing; give up 347.0 total ypg, 174.9 rushing, 172.1 passing.

OFFENSIVE LOOK: Stevens Point: Pro I; Stout: multi-pro set which incorporates a West Coast style offense. DEFENSIVE LOOK: Stevens Point: 4-3 variation; Stout: 4-3

COACHES: Stout coach Ed Meierkort (23-35 career) is in his sixth year. The Pointers' John Miech (72-33-2) is in his 11th season.

STOUT COACH ED MEIERKORT SAYS: "The loss to Whitewater was devastating. The kids had worked for a long time to get into the first place hunt and had accomplished what no one else had done in a long time, and that was to beat Whitewater at home. At halftime, we weren't worried about being down 20-0. We were going to score some points. Our offense got a fieel of what their defense was going to do. Matt got on a roll in the second half and our receivers made adjustments.

"Stevens Point has the best defense we will face all year and their offense has improved steadily throughout the season. They are a hot team playing for first (in the WIAC). This is a big game for us. We want to stay on the positive side of the ledger. Matt's second half Saturday was as good as he has ever been. He is the best quarterback I ever coached. He was in total control."

RADIO: WMEQ 880 AM, Jake Bostrom, Jay Fahl, Dick Lowery

October 31, 1998

WHITEWATER - UW-Whitewater's Rob Johnston hit a 34-yard field goal with three seconds remaining to lift the Warhawks to a 45-43 win over UW-Stout in a wild Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) contest Saturday, Oct. 31 at Whitewater.

Johnston's game winner came only 17 seconds after the Blue Devils (4-4, 3-3) had taken their only lead of the game, 43-42, when quarterback Matt Bunyan (Sr, Janesville) connected with John Bekish (Park Center, Minn) on a 13-yard TD pass.

With 20 seconds remaining, it looked as if the Blue Devils could notch a win against the Warhawks, who moved into first place with the win, but Stout received an unsportsmanlike conduct call that was assessed on the kickoff. Kicking off from their own 20, the ball went 35 yards and was returned to the Stout 45.

Whitewater quarterback Ty Grovesteen needed only one play to get the Warhawks into scoring range, hitting Chris Korff with a 29-yard pass to the Stout 16. Two timeouts later, Johnston nailed the kick. The Warhawks were assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and Stout received the ball at their own 26. Bunyan was then picked off on a Hail Mary pass.

The loss marred another stellar performance for Bunyan, who earlier in the week wasn't even expected to play, much less start. Bunyan was knocked out of the Oshkosh game last week with a dislocated left ring finger.
But Bunyan put on a clinic in the second half. With the Blue Devils trailing 20-0, Bunyan threw for five touchdowns and passed for a school record 486 yards, completing 29-of-53 passes.

Jesse Diaz (Jr, Cottage Grove) was on the receiving end of nine passes, tallying 194 yards and a TD. Jesse Witcraft (Sr, New Lisbon) hauled in five passes for 125 yards. Tailback Shawn Lund (Jr, Ashland) caught five passes for 27 yards and a TD, running his season total to nine touchdown receptions, tying him for the single season school record.

Tracy Finder (Sr, Wilson) and Ryan Patt (Jr, North Fond du Lac) also caught TD passes, with Finder catching the ball that tied the game at 35-35 with 3:30 remaining in the game. Aaron Johnson (Fr, Clear Lake) got Stout's only rushing TD, a 1-yarder in the third period.

Grovesteen was no slouch, racking up 325 yards in passing, going 16-for-24 with one interceptions, a 35-yard return by Corey Morning (Sr, Bloomer).

Stout accounted for 550 yards of total offense, while the Warhawks put up 594 yards, 269 on the ground.

Stout will conclude their home schedule when they host UW-Stevens Point Saturday, Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. at Nelson Field.

Soccer

October 30, 1998

RIVER FALLS - UW-Whitewater outshot UW-Stout 11-2 in the two overtime periods, and got the game-winning shot three minutes into the second overtime to end the Blue Devils' season, 1-0, in the quarterfinal round of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships Friday, Oct. 30 at River Falls.

The Warhawks, who had been in five overtime games throughout the season, kept their cool as they attacked Blue Devil goalkeeper Nikki Bezak (Jr, Coon Rapids, Minn) repeatedly.

The Warhawks' (8-8-4) Kaelyn Hittman got the game winner when she lofted a high shot from 18-feet that Bezak deflected, but not high enough. Hittman attacked the Blue Devils all day, ripping off 11 shots before landing the winner.

Bezak recorded 16 saves, as Whitewater outshot Stout, 25-21. The Blue Devils (7-10-1) got off 11 shots in the first half to Whitewater's five, but Stout could not find the range.

Volleyball

October 31, 1998

In a 15-4, 15-0, 15-7 sweep of Minnesota-Crookston Saturday, Oct. 31, Stoddard recorded nine kills to match the mark of 444 season kills that she established last season. Then, in a 15-2, 8-15, 15-11, 15-6 loss to River Falls, Stoddard pounded out 15 kills to run her total to 459 kills on the season.
The Blue Devils opened up the tournament Friday, Oct. 30, with a 15-11, 15-13, 6-15, 15-9 win over Concordia-Moorhead where Stoddard clubbed 20 kills and teammate Tori Feit (Jr, Rushmore, Minn) had 19.

The Blue Devils (20-13) then lost a marathon five-game match to arch-rival UW-Eau Claire, 15-10, 15-13, 12-15, 14-16, 15-9. Stoddard had 22kills, Feit 21 and Kim Roshell (So, Cornell) had 10. The Blugolds and the Blue Devils have split their four matches this season.

Stout opens up Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) quarterfinal action Tuesday, Nov. 3 when they travel to UW-Stevens Point. The winner will advance to the semi-final of the WIAC Championships, to be held at the home of the highest remaining seeded team.

Men's Cross Country

October 31, 1998

OSHKOSH - Eric Hanson (Jr, Winona, Minn) and Josh Johnson (So, Oregon) finished 20th and 21st, respectively, to lead the UW-Stout men's cross country team at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championships Saturday, Oct. 31 at Oshkosh.

Hanson, last week's conference runner of the week, nipped Johnson, clocking a time of 25-minutes, 30-seconds to Johnson's 25:32 as the Blue Devils finished sixth, the same spot as the past two years.

Clint Latz (Fr, Lublin) finished 30th (25:43), while Ethan Webinger (So, LaCrescent, Minn) was 45th (26:13) for the young Blue Devil squad.

UW-La Crosse claimed the title for the first time since 1994.

Stout will be back in action Saturday, Nov. 14 when they compete at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regionals at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.

WIAC Team Results
1. UW-La Crosse 48; 2. UW-Stevens Point 50; 3. UW-Whitewater 83; 4. UW-Eau Claire 103; 5. UW-Oshkosh 107; 6. UW-Stout 148; 7. UW-Platteville 183; 8. UW-Superior 260; 9. UW-River Falls 264.

Individual Results
(First place, all Stout finishers)
1. Jason Finch (EC) 24;19; 20. Eric Hanson 25:30; 21. Josh Johnson 25:32; 30. Clint Latz 25:43; 45. Ethan Webinger 26:13; 51. Ryan Hill 26:21; 60. Josh Webb 26:40; 67. Bryan Ott 27:00; 68. Jamie Block 27:07; 70. Chris Stevens 27:16; 72. Mike Schumann 27:24; 78. Todd Johnson 27:39; 90. Corey White 28:45.

Women's Cross Country

October 31, 1998

OSHKOSH - UW-Stout's Katy Olsen (Sr, Rice Lake) and Katie Jacobson (Sr, Eau Claire) not only broke the school cross country record, they completely shattered it as they led the Blue Devils to a fourth place finish at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Cross Country Championships Saturday, Oct. 31 at Oshkosh.

Olsen and Jacobson finished third and fourth, respectively, as Olsen clocked a time of 18-minutes, 1-second, and Jacobson finished in a time of 18:03. The former record of 18:29 was set by Jacobson two weeks earlier.

Katie Kuffel (Jr, Minneapolis, Minn) finished 32nd (19:18), while Heather Meyers (So, Comstock) was 37th.

UW-Oshkosh won their 13th consecutive conference title.

The Blue Devils will be back in action Saturday, Nov. 14 when they compete in the NCAA Division III Midwest Regionals at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.

WIAC Championship team results
1. UW-Oshkosh 41; 2. UW-La Crosse 76; 3. UW-Stevens Point 101; 4. UW-Stout 108; 5. UW-Eau Claire 139; 6. UW-Superior 167; 7. UW-Whitewater 171; 8. UW-River Falls 191; 9. UW-Platteville 217.

Individual Results
(First place, all Stout finishers)
1. Sarah Anderson (Sup) 17:54; 3. Katy Olsen 18:01; 4. Katie Jacobson 18:03; 32. Katie Kuffel 19:18; 37. Heather Meyers 19:31; 52. Amy Arndt 19:50; 55. Jen Wucherer 19:55; 65. Robin White 20:24; 71. Tanya Miller 20:28; 80. Jamie Souza 20:45; 81. Coryn Delaney 20:48; 83. Dana Piper 20:52; 86. Ellen Everson 21:08.

Men's Ice Hockey

October 31, 1998

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The UW-Stout hockey team struck first over NCAA Division I U.S. Air Force Academy, but the Falcons struck hard the rest of the way as Air Force shot down Stout, 5-1, Saturday, Oct. 31 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Shane Maher (So, Forest Lake, Minn) scored at the 17:13 mark in the first period on a power play goal. The Blue Devils held Air Force scoreless in the first period, but allowed the floodgates to open in the final two periods, allowing three goals in the second and two in the third.

The Blue Devils were outshot 37-12, but Stout goalie Ben Plester (Fr, Chemainus, B.C.) turned away 32 shots.

Stout (1-4) returns to action Friday, Nov. 6 when they travel to UW-Stevens Point, then comes home to the Dunn County Ice Arena, Saturday, Nov. 7 to host the Pointers. Both games will count as Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) and Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) games.

October 30, 1998

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Air Force freshman Brendan Connelly scored the first two goals of his career to lead the Falcons to a 3-2 win over Wisconsin-Stout Friday, Oct. 30, at the US Air Force Academy's Cadet Ice Arena in Colorado Springs, Colo.

But it was the Blue Devils who scored first, throwing a scare into the NCAA Division I Falcons. Stout opened the scoring at the 8:36 mark when Graham Lomen (Sr, Apple Valley, Minn) scored from Greg Foster (Sr, Roseau, Minn) and Shane Maher (So, Forest Lake, Minn).

Connelly notched his first goal ever at Air Force from Chad Shenk and Tony Lawrence at the 8:59 mark. Connelly's second goal gave the Falcons a 2-1 lead at the 12:46 mark. His power play goal was assisted by Justin Kieffer and Dan Davies.

With 15 seconds remaining in the first period, Blue Devil Luke Murray (Jr, Bloomington, Minn) sent a pass through a pair of Falcons that allowed Mark Corbett (Sr, New Hope, Minn) to score and tie the game at 2-2.

Sophomore James Ord, playing in his first game of the season, scored the game-winning goal at the 5:10 mark. The goal, the first of his career, was assisted by Kirk Zerkel. On a two-on-two, Zerkel took the puck behind the net, passed it out front to Ord who beat Blue Devil goaltender Todd Sether (Sr, International Falls, Minn).

Air Force (2-0-1) outshot Stout, 44-16, in the game. The Blue Devils (1-3) packed their defense in tight around the goal and used a phenomenal night from Sether to keep the game close. Sether turned away 41 Air Force shots, including 18 in the first period.

The series concludes on Saturday, Oct. 31, as the Falcons and Blue Devils face-off at 7 p.m. at the Cadet Ice Arena.

Men's Basketball

November 3, 1998

MENOMONIE - The UW-Stout men's basketball team were to play an exhibition game Thursday, Nov. 12 with the SuperSonics Basketball Club of Sierra Leone, West Africa, but due to unrest in the country, the team's tour has been cancelled.

Instead, both the men's and women's basketball teams will conduct Blue-White games beginning at 7 p.m. in Johnson Fieldhouse. No admission will be charged.

For more information about the game, call 715-232-2275 or 715-232-2224.