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Game Date: Saturday, Oct. 9
Where Played: Platteville, Wis.
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: River Falls, WI 54022
Enrollment: 5,800
Head coach: John O'Grady
(16th season 85-62-3 overall record)
(best time to reach O'Grady is early mornings, phone: 715/425-3135)
Assistant coaches: Kevin
Bullis, Jamie Herrick
National affiliations: National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) Div. III
Conference: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Conference members: Eau Claire, La Crosse, Oshkosh, Platteville,
River Falls, Stevens Point, Stout, Superior, Whitewater
Nickname: Falcons
Colors: Red and White
WIAC championships: (18) 1915, 1916, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1933, 1938,
1947, 1958, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1998
Offensive formation: Wishbone
Defensive formation: 4-4
2004 overall record: 0-4-0
2004 conference record: 0-1-0
2003 overall record: 2-7-0
2004 conference record: 2-5-0
Home field, phone: Ramer Field (4,300) press box phones, 715/425-3746
and 715/425-3369
Trainer: Gary Eloranta 715/425-3130
Sports information director: Jim
Thies 715/425-3846
Web site: http://www.uwrf.edu/sports/sports0405
Football
web site: http://www.uwrf.edu/sports/sports0405/fb_menu.htm
Sports information fax: 715/425-4486
Falcons Travel to UW-Platteville For WIAC Game
The Falcons play at UW-Platteville Saturday in the team's second WIAC
game of the season. Kick off is set for 2 p.m.
The Falcons are a option running team with an 0-4, 0-1 record while the
Pioneers are a spread formation passing team with a 4-0, 1-0 record. The
Falcons are coming off of a 37-15 defeat at Eau Claire while Platteville
is riding high after a one point victory over 13th ranked UW-Whitewater,
7-6.
In the last two weeks the Pioneers have beaten two teams in the top 20
by a combined three points. "Platteville lost a lot of stars off
last year's team; they do what they need to, to win," said Falcon
Coach John O’Grady. The Falcons hold the advantage in the series
28-17-2 and have won the last 11 games against the Pioneers. The Falcons
have not lost to Platteville since 1992 (10-0). For the second straight
week River Falls travels into a homecoming environment.
The Pioneers, a finesse style team, proved that they can win ugly. Last
week at home against Whitewater, Platteville was held under 250 yards
passing for the first time all season, they had 177. The defense held
it together for the Pioneers allowing the Warhawks to score only six points,
gain only 138 yards rushing on 48 attempts and complete only 9-33 passes
for 118 yards. The UWP defense is succeptable to the run. Two weeks ago
Augustana ran the ball 66 times for 318 yards. This is a stat the River
Falls offense hopes to duplicate or better, and judging by the past few
seasons they have a good shot at it. Last year RF ran the ball 73 times
for a total of 516 yards in 44-21 victory at Ramer Field.
Both offenses will look to improve on their performances last week but
in different areas. River Falls will look to improve on 180 yards of total
offense, all rushing, and eliminate fumbles and interceptions. Platteville
will want to improve on completing only 16-40 passes for 177 yards and
one interception.
The Falcons will need to pick up more first downs, so they can control
the clock and give the defense time to rest; something they couldn’t
do against the Blugolds. For that to happen the Falcon rushing game has
to step up. River Falls is averaging 264.2 yards per game on the ground
and 4.3 per rush. "We need to go out and establish the line of scrimmage
on both sides of the ball," said O’Grady.
Since the Pioneer rushing attack only averages 2.5 yards per carry Platteville
will rely on the arm of sophomore quarterback Brent Nelson to increase
offensive production. The Pioneers have thrown over 40 passes in each
game this season, and have completed over 20 three times. With the ball
in the air so much turnovers are bound to happen. Platteville QBs have
thrown at least one interception in three games this year, including a
three interception performance at Drake. Nelson is 81-146 for 1,028 yards
(second in the WIAC) with nine touchdowns and four interceptions. The
sophomore's efficiency rating is 129.49, which is fourth in the WIAC.
Platteville does not have a go to receiver. Sophomore wide out Brian Gallick
leads the Pioneers with 21 catches for 216 yards and two touchdowns, but
three other players have 18 or more receptions and at least one touchdown.
Junior running back Damien Droessler is UWP’s most versatile weapon.
Droessler has five total TDs, is second on the team in receptions with
19 for 144 yards and is the Pioneers leading rusher with 62 attempts for
172 yards.
The Falcons senior captain John Peterlik serves that same type of roll,
but with heavier emphasis on rushing. Peterlik has 436 yards on 77 attempts
to lead RF and is tied for the team lead in receptions with five for 53
yards. He is third in the WIAC in rushing with 109 yards per game. Peterlik
also leads River Falls in touchdowns with five, all rushing.
The River Falls defense is giving up an WIAC worst 42.5 points per game.
The Pioneers allow 16.5 points per contest, fourth in the conference.
The Falcon defense is third to last in the WIAC in pass defense (187.5
yards per game) while the Platteville offense is second in conference
in passing offense (296.2). The Pioneer defense, which historically has
not been able to even slow down the RF rushing attack, is third to last
in the WIAC in run defense (187.8). The Falcon offense is the conference
leader in rushing (264.2). The game is going to be a shootout unless one
of the defenses step up. Both teams are in the bottom half of the conference
in total defense.
One aspect of the game that can make things easier on defense is special
teams. The Falcons and Pioneers are both at the bottom of the conference
in kick returns but in the upper half in punt returns. Field goal kicking
is a different story. UWP freshman kicker John Heck was named WIAC special
teams Player of the Week after hitting the 25-yard game winning field
goal to beat Augustana two weeks ago. Heck has made his only two attempts
this year. River Falls kicker, sophomore Spasimir Bodurski, is 2-4 on
the season but does have the ability to kick from over 50 yards and one
of his misses was blocked. Bodurski has also not missed a PAT while Heck
is 9-14. Platteville is first in the WIAC in kickoff coverage with an
average of 14.7 yards per return. River Falls is second to last with a
21.2 average.
To find the true impact of Falcon special teams you have to look beyond
the statistics. So far this year RF has recovered two onside kicks, converted
a fake punt and blocked a punt. River Falls sophomore punter Jovin Kroll
averages 34.5 yards per punt while Platteville junior Dan Lilla averages
34.6 yards per punt.
This will be the final stop on the Falcons five game season opening road
trip. River Falls will return to Ramer Field next week for the season
home opener against UW-Whitewater. Kick off is set for 1 p.m.
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John O'Grady
85-62-3 overall record
12-2-1 vs. Platteville
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