Falcon Sports Archive

Nov. 12, 2001

Offense: Halfback Taylor Hall (Sr., Shell Lake, Wis.) carried the ball just 13 times, but gained 119 yards, in the win over Platteville on Saturday. He averaged 9.1 yards a carry. He scored three of the team’s five touchdowns on runs of 12-yards in the first quarter, 31-yards in the second quarter and 3-yards in the third quarter.

Defense: Linebacker Matt Palas (Sr., Phillips, Wis.) helped limit Platteville to just 13 points in the team’s 38-13 win on Saturday. Not only that but he also contributed to the Falcons point total. He intercepted a Pioneer pass and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown with just 15 seconds to play in the first half to give UWRF a 31-0 halftime lead. In the third quarter, with Platteville driving, he intercepted a second pass in the UWRF end zone to stop the drive. He also broke up three other passes. He finished with one tackle and one assist.

Special Teams: Kicker Dan Toninato (Sr., Green Bay, Wis. Ashwaubenon HS) was successful on every kick he made in the win over Platteville on Saturday. He was a perfect 5-5 in extra points and also booted a 35-yard field goal in the second quarter.

Nov. 5, 2001

Offense: Fullback Rob Ohman (Jr., Glenwood City, Wis.) had a season-best game at UW-Oshkosh on Saturday. He led the team in rushing with 30 carries for 143 yards. He scored three touchdowns on runs of 3, 29 and 1-yard.

Defense: Tackle Jeremy Larson (Sr., Ashland, Wis.) was a key player in the Falcons defense against Oshkosh on Saturday. The Falcons limited Oshkosh to just 35 rushing yards. Larson had four solo and three assisted tackles. He had 2.5 sacks for 19 yards in loss and two quarterback hurries. He also forced a fumble and had a fumble recovery. The recovery set up a Falcon 37-yard field goal that made the score at the time 24-7.

Special Teams: Matt Farmer (Fr., Tomahawk, Wis.) had two two solo and one assisted tackle against Oshkosh on Saturday. The Titans averaged just 13 yards per kick off return. "Matt also helped by giving great punt protection," Coach John O’Grady said.

Oct. 29, 2001

Offense: Wide receiver Scott Kusilek (Jr., River Falls, Wis.) led the Falcons in receiving in the game against La Crosse. He caught four passes for 78 yards. He had a long play of 33 yards. Two of his receptions came in a crowd where he out jumped defenders for the ball.

Defense: Linebacker Ben Gray (Sr., Fond du Lac, Wis. St. Mary's Springs HS) was one of the team’s top defensive players against La Crosse. He made five solo and four assisted tackles.

Special Teams: Return man Aaron Greisen (Fr., Greenwood, Wis.) returned two punts and four kick offs against La Crosse. He handled every return for the team in the game. He returned the two punts for seven yards and the four kick offs for 72 yards with a long return of 28 yards.

Oct. 22, 2001

Offense: Fullback Rob Ohman (Jr., Glenwood City, Wis.) led the Falcon rushing attack at Stout on Saturday. He carried the ball 25 times and gained 103 yards. He scored one touchdown on a run of 20-yards in the first quarter.

Defense: End Nick Basham (Sr., Osceola, Wis.) set a school record with four sacks for 24 yards in the game at Stout on Saturday. He also had a half tackle for loss for another three yards. He finished with a pass break up, four tackles and three assists.

Special Teams: Matt Palas (Sr., Phillips, Wis.) blocked a Stout punt that was returned for the Falcons first touchdown Saturday at Stout. Palas also made two special team tackles.

Oct. 15, 2001

Offense: Wide receiver Dan Booth (So., Hayward, Wis.) played well for the Falcons on Saturday at Stevens Point. He didn’t catch any passes, but, "Dan blocked very well for us all gam elong," Coach John O’Grady said.

Defense: Corner Neil Mantor (So., Wausau, Wis. West HS) was one of the team’s top defensive players at Stevens Point. He intercepted two UWSP passes and broke up a third pass in the game. His first interception came on UWSP’s first drive and gave the Falcons the ball at the UWRF 42. His second interception came late in the first half at the UWRF 15 to sop a UWSP drive.

Special Teams: Snapper Brad Malpert (Fr., Ringle, Wis. D.C. Everest HS) was perfect on all of his long snaps in the game at Stevens Point on Saturday.

Oct. 8, 2001

Offense: Halfback Taylor Hall (Sr., Shell Lake, Wis.) played a key role for the Falcon offense in the team’s 24-23 overtime win over Eau Claire on Saturday. He led the team in rushing with 81 yards on 22 carries. He also scored all of the Falcon touchdowns on runs of 5- and 2-yards in the second quarter and an 11-yard run in the second overtime.

Defense: Inside linebacker Mike Hayward (Sr., Rochester, Minn. Mayo HS) was all over the field for the Falcon defense in the team’s 24-23 overtime win over Eau Claire on Saturday. He made five solo stops and assisted on eight other tackles. He was credited with two key quarterback sacks for a loss of 15 yards as the Falcons limited a potent UWEC offense to 345 net yards and 23 points.

Special Teams: Matt Palas (Sr., Phillips, Wis.) came up with two of the biggest plays in the game in the Falcon 24-23 overtime win over Eau Claire on Saturday. With the Falcons leading 14-7 in the third quarter, Palas blocked a 20-yard UWEC field goal attempt. He also recovered the ball and returned it to the UWRF 15. After the Falcons scored to take a lead in the second overtime, UWEC scored a touchdown to pull within a point. On the extra point try, Palas blocked the kick to help earn the win. He also had one tackle on special teams.

Oct. 1, 2001

Offense: Halfback Taylor Hall (Sr, Shell Lake, Wis.) led the Falcons offensive attack against UW-Whitewater. He rushed for 219 on 20 carries. He had 1 long run for 71 yards.

Defense: Jed Kennedy (Sr, Alma, Wis.) helped the falcons with 2 solo tackles and 4 assists.

Special Teams: Matt Farmer (Fr, Tomahawk, Wis.) had 2 tackles in the game against Whitewater, and made many exceptional plays.

Sept. 10, 2001

Offense: Guard Derek Hanson (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn. Washburn HS) was one of the team's top blockers in the game at Central on Saturday. He helped the Falcons rush for 267 yards and two touchdowns.

Defense: Tackle Jeremy Larson (Sr., Ashland, Wis.) made several good plays for the Falcons in Saturday's game at Central. He blocked a Central point-after touchdown attempt. He finished the game with two solo tackles, one was for a two-yard loss.

Special Teams: Nate Hendrickson (So., Prescott, Wis.) was an important member of the team's special teams play on Saturday. He downed a Falcon punt at the Central one-yard line, threw some great blocks on seven kick-off returns that averaged 28.8 yards a return and also had two tackles.

Sept. 4, 2001

Offense: Halfback Taylor Hall (Sr., Shell Lake, Wis.) carried the ball seven times and gained 27 yards and caught one pass for 41 yards against Chadron. "Taylor made a great catch that set up our first touchdown," coach John O'Grady said. "He also blocked and ran well."

Defense: Free safety Luke Miska (Jr., Silver Lake, Minn. Glencoe-Silver Lake HS) led the Falcons with nine solo tackles against Chadron. He had five assists. "Luke was all over the field making plays," said O'Grady.

Special Teams: Kicker Dan Toninato (Sr., Green Bay, Wis. Ashwaubenon HS) did not expect to play due to an injury against Chadron, but was forced into the game when the team's kicker was hurt. He punted seven times and averaged 30.4 yards a kick and also kicked off once.