When: Saturday, Sept. 10
Where: River Falls, Wis.
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Ramer Field
Enrollment: 5,800
Head coach: John O'Grady (17th season 89-68-3 overall record)
(best time to reach O'Grady is early mornings, phone: 715/425-3135)
Assistant coaches: Kevin Bullis, Jamie Herrick, Tom Caflisch, Damon Clare, Woody Fangmeier, Ben Gray, Nate Gray, Jeremy Kerg, Al Nutt, Carmen Pata, Dave Young
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, 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: 3-5-3
2005 overall record: 0-0-0
2005 conference record: 0-0-0
2004 overall record: 3-7-0
2004 conference record: 3-4-0
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/sports0506
Football web site: http://www.uwrf.edu/sports/sports0506/fb_menu.htm
Sports information fax: 715/425-4486

Falcons Open Season Hosting Concordia-St. Paul
The Falcon football team opens its 2005 season on Saturday hosting Concordia-St. Paul in the annual Shrine Game at Ramer Field. Kick off is set for 1 p.m.

CSP has already played twice this year and enters the game with a 1-1 record. CSP opened its season with a 33-30 win over Augustana but dropped a 31-10 decision to UM-Duluth last weekend. The Golden Bears hold a 3-0-0 lead over the Falcons in the series - including a 47-25 win last year.

UW-River Falls
Falcon Coach John O'Grady, who has an 89-68-3 overall record in 16 seasons at UW-RF, will rely on the wishbone offense and a defense that has shown recent improvement.

At the start of practice this fall there was a battle between three players for the starting quarterback position. But O'Grady has decided on Jeremy Wolff to handle that spot. "It's become obvious since our scrimmage last week that Jeremy is the starter," said O'Grady. "He brings more to the table as a quarterback than anyone I have coached here." Wolff was a starter at halfback last year and rushed for 177 yards and averaged 5.2 yards per carry. O'Grady has confidence that Wolff will also be able to throw the ball with success. "He has an uncanny ability to throw the ball accurately."

Last year's quarterbacks, Dave Affeldt and Andy Kolstad, could see action under center or as halfbacks. "There might be times in games when we will use all three and that gives us a lot of options," said O'Grady. Affeldt rushed for 349 yards and Kolstad for 114 yards in 2004.

The fullback spot is in solid shape with last year's starter, Nathan Anderson, back. He was second in rushing last year with 876 yards. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry and scored four touchdowns. Also returning is B.J. LeRoy and John Ward and Nathan Litscher has been moved from defense to the fullback spot.

Zeke Secrist and Jaime Zavala will spend most of the time at halfback. Both are relatively new to the offense. The graduation of leading rusher and all-WIAC performer John Peterlik, leaves a hole.

The offensive line will have a combination of veterans and new faces. Jordan Miller and Nathan Cook will be at the tackles, Nathan Tenut and Ryan Abbott will be at the guard spots and Steve Bernard will be at center. Others who could play in the interior line include tackles Pete Kolpack and Brad Vanderveren, guards Tom Olson and Mike Fedie and center Dave Kapping.

Returnee Andy Marx will be at tight end while Ryan Hansen has played very well in the pre-season. Chris Anderson will be the starter at wide receiver with Josh Grover and Josh Nelson also helping.

The Falcon defense made a huge improvement in not giving up the big play in 2004. Last year the Falcons allowed only two touchdown passes covering more than 25 yards. In 2003, the Falcons allowed 10 touchdown passes covering more than 25 yards. The defense forced 19 turnovers in 2004 compared to 12 in 2003.

Returning to the line is a key to the Falcon team in tackle Aaron Retzlaff, who was named to the first All-WIAC team in 2004. He had 36 tackles including five tackles for loss. Dan Buker returns at linebacker. He had 48 tackles including a team-high seven tackles for loss. He recovered one fumble. Both corners also return. Matt Jordan had 52 tackles, two interceptions and a team high five pass break ups. Shane Hanson had 17 tackles and he broke up three passes.

O'Neal Hampton also returns in the secondary after finishing third in tackles last year with 55. Jeff Cassellius returns at an end spot after playing in 10 games in 2004. He had 26 tackles including five for loss. Gregg Neumann is another returning end who also played in 10 games and finished with 15 stops. Dylan Dabrowski will play at tackle. He played in 10 games in 2004 and had 10 tackles. Mike Larson, Ryan Agrimson and Tony Dorner will help the Falcons at linebacker. Larson played in eight games while Agrimson and Dorner played in nine. Agrimson had 31 tackles, Dorner nine and Larson three. Andy Acosta and Bruce Baillargeon will man the strong safety spot. Acosta played in seven games and made five tackles while Baillargeon played in 10 games and had 27 stops. Robby Nesvig will play at free safety along with Hampton. He played in nine games and had 14 tackles.

"Coach (Kevin) Bullis is in his second year as defensive coordinator and has spent a lot of time with the coaches. They all feel more comfortable. As coaches gain experience you'll see overall improvement," said O'Grady.

Concordia-St. Paul
?Halfback Aaron Cawthorn and quarterback James McNear have both rushed for over 100 yards already this year. Cawthorn has 257 yards and averages 5.8 per carry. McNear has rushed for 109. Both have scored once. McNear, a multitalented quarterback who can hurt defenses by either running or passing, has completed 31-62 passes for 294 yards and two touchdowns. Antwon Williams leads the team with seven receptions for 95 yards and Jason Simmons has caught five for 52 yards.
Linebackers Doug Cox and Brad Scherer lead CSP with 13 tackles. Linebacker Travis Johansen leads the team with two tackles for loss.
"Concordia depends on their quarterback, James McNear, who can run and throw the ball very well," said Falcon Coach John O'Grady. "He was the MVP last year in the NSIC's track & field meet; that gives you an idea of his athletic ability. They have great size and great athletes at almost every position. Last year we hurt ourselves with turnovers (six fumbles, five lost) and if we do that again, it will be a rout."

Up Next
The Falcons play another NSIC team, Bemidji State, on Sept. 17. The game is at Ramer Field and starts at 1 p.m. The Falcons are 1-2-0 all-time against BSU. Last year Bemidji took a 58-14 win.

UWRF Statistical Leaders (2004 Season Final Statistics)
GP Att Gain Loss Net Avg TD Long Avg/G
Nathan Anderson 9 178 881 5 876 4.9 4 26 97.3
Dave Affeldt 10 84 402 53 349 4.2 4 52 34.9
PASSING GP Effic Att-Cmp-Int Pct Yds TD Lng Avg/G
Andy Kolstad 6 127.20 26-13-2 50.0 208 2 46 34.7
Dave Affeldt 10 177.80 6-3-0 50.0 52 1 28 5.2
RECEIVING GP No. Yds Avg TD Long Avg/G
Jeremy Wolff 10 6 140 23.3 1 46 14.0
Chris Anderson 7 1 29 29.0 0 29 4.1
ALL PURPOSE G Rush Rec PR KOR IR Tot Avg/G
Nathan Anderson 9 876 0 0 0 0 876 97.3
Dave Affeldt 10 349 0 0 0 0 349 34.9
Tackles GP Solo Assist Total
O'Neal Hampton 10 30 25 55
Matt Jordan 10 32 20 52
Sacks Yds
Dan Buker 1-11
Aaron Retzlaff 1-2
Dylan Dabrowski 1-2
Tackles For Loss Yds
Dan Buker 5.5-28
Aaron Retzlaff 4.5-8
Interceptions-Yards
Matt Jordan 2-0
Bruce Baillargeon 1-4
Fumble Recoveries-Yards
Dan Buker 1-0
Ryan Agrimson 1-0
Dylan Dabrowski 1-0

John O'Grady
89-68-3 overall record
0-3-0 vs. CSP

This Week's WIAC Games
Saturday, Sept. 10
?Con.-St. Paul at River Fall1 p.m.
Illinois Wesleyan at Eau Claire, 1 p.m.
Platteville at Stout*, 4 p.m.
Concordia at Oshkosh, 6 p.m.
St. Xavier at Whitewater, 6 p.m.
La Crosse at Howard Payne, 7 p.m.

Series Results

2004 - Concordia-St. Paul 47, River Falls 25
2003 - Concordia-St. Paul 42, River Falls 20
2002 - Concordia-St. Paul 26, River Falls 21