UW-Stout Defeats UW-Eau Claire 28-16 in Rivalry Game

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire football team suffered a 28-16 defeat against UW-Stout Polytechnic during their rivalry game on Saturday, according to a game recap from blugolds.com.

Despite a high-performing passing attack that significantly exceeded their seasonal norms, the Blugolds were unable to overcome a prolific offensive performance by the Stout Blue Devils in Menomonie. While Eau Claire found success through the air, the inability to contain Stout’s passing game proved to be the deciding factor in the contest.

Statistical Divergence in the Air and on the Ground

The game was defined by a stark contrast in offensive efficiency. The Blugolds’ passing game showed significant improvement, recording 244 yards through the air—a sharp increase from their season average of 159.75 yards. Quarterback Ayden Helder led this effort, completing 14 of 36 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown, while also contributing 31 rushing yards and a score on 12 carries. Helder’s performance brought his season total to 1,506 passing yards.

Receiver Nick Kihn provided much of the vertical threat for the Blugolds, catching three passes for a career-high 120 yards. However, the Blue Devils countered with a dominant aerial display, generating 361 of their 417 total yards through the air. Stout’s ability to move the ball through the air allowed them to pull away, particularly in the third and fourth quarters.

The ground game told a different story for both programs. The Blugolds managed 128 rushing yards, led by Paxton Rothmeier, who carried the ball 34 times for 97 yards and added 17 receiving yards. In contrast, the Eau Claire defense was highly effective against the run, holding the Blue Devils to a minus-1 rushing yard for the duration of the game.

The following table summarizes the key scoring and performance metrics from the matchup:

Statistic	UW-Eau Claire (WEC)	UW-Stout (WST)
Final Score	16	28
Total Passing Yards	244	361
Total Rushing Yards	128	13
Conference Record	3-3	3-3
Overall Record	6-3	5-4

Momentum Shifts and Defensive Stand

The contest began as a defensive struggle. In the first quarter, the Blugolds defense held Stout to zero points and limited them to just 20 rushing yards and a single 11-yard completion. Max Marty forced a fumble during this period, which Jack Scheldroup recovered at the UWEC22 to set the tone for the early defensive battle.

Eau Claire found their rhythm in the second quarter with a 92-yard scoring drive. Ayden Helder connected with Nick Kihn for a 41-yard completion before finding Madden Mahr for a 34-yard touchdown, allowing Connor Radaj to tie the game at 7-7 with a successful kick.

The third quarter saw the Blugolds briefly seize control. Helder orchestrated a four-play, 75-yard drive highlighted by a 65-yard pass to Kihn, followed by a 10-yard touchdown run by Helder himself to tie the score at 14-14. However, the Blue Devils responded immediately, outscoring the Blugolds 14-7 in the quarter to take a 21-14 lead heading into the final period.

The Eau Claire defense provided a late spark in the fourth quarter when Carson Clark sacked Chase Pemberton in the end zone for a safety, cutting the deficit. While the defense managed three tackles for loss and a red-zone stop on Stout’s final possession, the Blue Devils’ 53-yard touchdown pass in the final frame ultimately sealed the victory for Stout.

Individual defensive standout Jack Scheldroup recorded a season-high 14 tackles and recovered a fumble, marking a personal best following his previous career high of 13 tackles.

Looking Ahead to Senior Day

The Blugolds will look to rebound from the rivalry loss as they return home to Carson Park. The team is scheduled to host UW-Whitewater on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 1 p.m., an event that will also serve as the university’s Senior Day celebration.