Welcome
Gustavus welcomes the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire to Lloyd Hollingsworth Field for a non-conference matchup. The Gusties enter the game with a record of 1-5 overall, 1-4 in the MIAC. The Blugolds are 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the WIAC. Last week, Gustavus lost to St. Olaf 23-18 in St. Peter, while UW-Eau Claire took a big step towards winning the WIAC title with a 20-10 win over UW-La Crosse in La Crosse.
The Gusties will face their fourth nationally rated opponent of the season today when they battle the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The Blugolds are currently rated #8 in the d3football.com poll. Coach Todd Hoffner saw his team claim a very important win over #3 UW-La Crosse on the road last week. The Blugolds are currently tied with UW-Whitewater for first place in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. While the Gusties and Blugolds have scrimmaged each other in the past few years, this will be the first meeting between the two schools in an official game since 1970. Next year, Gustavus will travel to Eau Claire in the second game of a two-year contract.
The Series
This will be the second meeting between the Golden Gusties and the Blugolds from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire. Gustavus won the first meeting 42-6 back in 1970. That game was played in Eau Claire so this will be the first game between the two teams in St. Peter. Gustavus is in its 89th season with an all-time record of 433-285-21, while UW-Eau Claire is in its 86th season with an all-time record of 339-338-34.
Meet the Head Coaches
Gustavus Head Coach Jay Schoenebeck is in his eleventh season directing his alma mater. Schoenebeck has compiled an overall record of 53-53-0, 48-45 in the MIAC. Schoenebeck’s squads have placed in the top four in the MIAC for six consecutive seasons.UW-Eau Claire Head Coach Todd Hoffner, who is in his sixth season with the Blugolds, has an overall record of 25-16.
A Look at Today’s Game
A Glimpse of the Gusties
Coach Jay Schoenebeck and his squad will keep pushing ahead after suffering a disappointing 23-18 loss to Saint Olaf last week. The Gustavus offense had success passing the ball as quarterback Jordan Stolp completed 23-of-49 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns. The Gusties were able to break numerous big plays on the day as seven plays went for 10 yards or longer including touchdown passes of 20 and 31 yards to Kerry Zajicek. Zajicek turned in his most productive performance of the year with seven catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns. The defense, while giving up 319 yards of total offense, allowed only one long scoring drive in the contest and forced Saint Olaf to punt six times. The Gusties did force a turnover in the game when Isaac Sieling intercepted a pass and returned it 10 yards in the second quarter. The Gustavus defense has forced at least one turnover in every game this season.
The Gustavus offense is averaging 321.7 yards per game, but the past two games this group has shown solid improvement averaging 358.5 yards per game. The defense,which is allowing 453.3 yards per game through six games, has allowed only 392.5 yards per game in its last two games. Both groups will have to perform at a high level this week if the Gusties hope to challenge a UW-Eau Claire squad that has allowed only 16 points a game in posting a 3-1 mark in the rugged Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
A View of the Blugolds
After suffering a heartbreaking 12-7 loss to UW-Whitewater on September 25, the Blugolds have bounced back with impressive wins over UW-River Falls (37-15), UW-Stevens Point (28-27) and UW-La Crosse (20-10). Last weekend, the UW-Eau Claire defense forced four turnovers in the second half leading to all 20 Blugold points and an impressive league win on the road. Quarterback Nels Fredrickson completed 8-of-16 passes for 63 yards and 1 touchdown, while running back Joe Gast rushed 25 times for 94 yards and 2 touchdowns. Defensively, the Blugolds gave up 334 yards of total offense, but intercepted three passes and recovered two fumbles which stopped several UW-La Crosse scoring drives.
The Blugold offense is averaging 311.2 yards per game with 135.7 of it coming on the ground and 175.5 coming through the air. The defense is allowing 341.2 yards per game including 124.2 rushing yards and 217.0 passing yards. Quarterback Nels Fredrickson has completed 89-of-160 passes for 1,026 yards and 8 touchdowns with six interceptions. The Blugolds leading rusher is Joe Gast who has carried 140 times for 564 yards and 10 touchdowns. Frederickson has spread his passes between four primary targets including Matt Evensen with 23 catches for 330 yards, Tony Hull with 22 catches for 284 yards, Don Kahl with 20 catches for 147 yards and Darin Krzyzanowski with 17 catches for 236 yards. All four receivers have caught 2 touchdown passes. Defensively, junior cornerback Derek Sikora leads the team with 53 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries and an interception. Senior defensive end Ben Crank, who has recorded 23 tackles, leads the team in tackles for loss with 7 and sacks with 3.
GAME NOTES
Linebacker Isaac Sieling Surpasses 200 Career Tackles — Senior linebacker Isaac Sieling became the 11th player in Gustavus football history to accumulate 200 career tackles in the game against St. Olaf this past Saturday. Sieling recorded 19 tackles in the game pushing his season total to 100 and his career total to 209. Seiling currently leads Division III in tackles with an average of 16.6 tackles per game. He is also on pace to shatter the Gustavus single season tackles mark which is currently 136 set by Brian Bergstrom in 1999.
No Rest for the Weary — The Gusties will play a team ranked in the top ten nationally for the fouth time this season today as the Blugolds are currently ranked #8 in Division III. The other top ten teams that the Gusties have faced include Wheaton (currently #6), Concordia (currently #10) and Saint John’s (currently #17). According to the Massey ratings (a computerized rating system that ranks strength of schedule by a statistical formula), the Golden Gusties 2004 schedule is the 11th toughest in Division III and the most difficult schedule among the nine MIAC schools. You can find the Massey Ratings at masseyratings.com.
Stolp Continues to Post Impressive Numbers — Freshman quarterback Jordan Stolp is putting together some pretty impressive numbers in his first year directing the Gustavus offense. He has completed 93-of-167 passes for 1,154 yards and 10 touchdowns with three interceptions. Stolp leads the MIAC in passing with an average of 213.2 yards per game and ranks fourth in passing efficiency at 123.5.
Havemeier Returning to Form — Junior kick returner Loren “Bear” Havemeier has broken into the top ten in several different career kick return categories. He currently ranks ninth in career kick return yards with 640 and ninth in career kick returns with 29. He ranks 10th in career kick return average at 22.06 per return. This season, Havemeier has returned 11 kicks for 261 yards for an average return of 23.7. His longest return this season is 50 yards which came against Hamline.
STARTING LINEUPS
Gustavus Adolphus College
OFFENSE
08 Sean Smith WR
17 Kerry Zajicek WR
68 Andy Klaers LT
76 Brian Trussell LG
68 Dan Tiegen C
79 Mark Iverson RG
70 Anders Haugen RT
85 Jamie Germschied TE
03 Clint Riegelman WR
11 Jordan Stolp QB
31 Blake Thiesen RB
05 Drew Stifter RB
DEFENSE
52 Adam Miron LE
94 Karl Spilseth LT
53 Nick David RT
95 Jared Chapman RE
54 Jay Frederickson SAM
99 Isaac Sieling MIKE
04 Jared Sieling WILL
29 Loren Havemeier CB
36 Tyler Ringquist S
02 Chris Thorson S
21 Brian Evans CB
SPECIAL TEAMS
16 Kevin Hegland LS
15 A.J. Bouquet H
32 Wade Vrieze KR
29 Loren Havemeier KR/PR
11 Jordan Stolp K
22 Mike Leonard P
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
OFFENSE
17 Matt Evenson WR
81 Tony Hull WR
76 Dan Karcz LT
65 Pete Monfre LG
58 Devon Disrude C
78 Brandon Basken RG
66 Dennis Peterson RT
33 Don Kahl TE
16 Nels Frederickson QB
11 Mike Hennessey RB
32 Joe Gast RB
DEFENSE
50 Brent Crank DE
51 Dave Maas NG
98 Nate John DT
41 Anthony Pizzo OLB
04 Jared Rocker ILB
02 Mike Lansing ILB
39 Dan Rogney OLB
20 Brent Tieri Rover
18 Zach Paul FS
30 Derek Sikora CB
05 Brent Weber CB
SPECIAL TEAMS
93 Steve Van Meter LS
10 Jesse Kryzanowski H
17 Matt Evenson KR
81 Tony Hull KR
30 Derek Sikora PR
81 Tony Hull PR
01 Andy Schneider K
26 Mitch Schaeuble P