http://cslab.uwlax.edu/~ander_rj/foot/RF.html (Internet on a CD, 07/1998)It all added up to a dramatic victory for unbeaten UW-L, and a stunning loss for previously undefeated UW-River Falls.
UW-L rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to shock River Falls 42-31 before a season-high crowd of 4,680 at Veterans Memorial Stadium. A crowd that witnessed an entertaining game, and rose to its feet numerous times to let both teams know how much they appreciated it.
While UW-L improved to 3-0 in the WSUC, 5-0 overall, the Eagles know that another unbeaten league power, UW-Stevens Point (3-0, 5-0), awaits them next week at Stevens Point.
The Eagles' 19-game winning streak - the longest in the nation, any division - will once again be on the line.
First, Bechtel and the Eagles took time to enjoy their biggest victory of the season. One that dispelled some doubts as to the character, and the heart, of this year's team.
``When you come right down to it, this is what I came here for,'' said Bechtel, who was UW-Stout's leading rusher and all-purpose yardage man before transferring to UW-L this fall.
``The bottom line is I wanted to experience what it was like to play for a winner. Football is a great sport, and I know I won't be going any farther with it. Why not go for it.?''
Bechtel went for it all right.
In perhaps the game's most critical play, he went 71 yards up the middle for a fourth-quarter touchdown which brought the Eagles to within 31-28, with 12 minutes, 41 seconds remaining.
On a delayed draw, Bechtel burst through the heart of the Falcons' defense, then simply outran everyone.
``I think it was a gut check, and they came up big. Bechtel's run really turned the momentum,'' UW-L coach Roger Harring said. ``That was really a key play in the game.''
Including Bechtel's run, UW-L exploded for 21 points in a 6-minute, 42-second span. The Eagles took advantage of two River Falls fumbles, and stuffed the Falcons' once-feared wishbone on fourth down on another series.
It was an incredible turnaround.
``I have never seen anything like it,'' River Falls quarterback Pat Simones said. ``We're up by 10 at one point, and down by 11 the next. A 21-point turnaround... unbelievable. All I can say is we'll see them again in November.''
While Bechtel's longest run of his Eagle career brought UW-L close, it took a stellar defensive play to put the offense back on the field.
UW-L's preseason All-America linebacker, Mike Maslowski, burst through the Falcons' line, then batted down a pitch by Simones. UW-L safety Brian Ghidorzi recovered the fumble at the Falcons' 32-yard line with 9:01 remaining.
Four plays later, Toby Krause shot through the line for a 4-yard touchdown run, putting UW-L back on top 34-31. Thad Dugan's extra-point kick made it, 35-31, UW-L.
``I am always up for any situation I get the ball,'' said Krause, whose four carries included TD runs of 2, 4 and 5 yards. ``It is the offensive line that did the work. I just followed them through the hole.''
River Falls appeared in disbelief at the sudden - and total - shift of momentum. The Falcons, who had racked up 197 total yards in building a 17-14 halftime lead, suddenly could not move - or hold onto - the ball in the fourth quarter.
On it's first play after Krause's second TD run, River Falls' fullback David Letourneau failed to corral a handoff from Simones, and UW-L's Chris Woreck recovered the fumble at the Falcons' 16-yard line.
Four plays later, Krause was again dancing in the end zone after a 5-yard scoring run. A run that put UW-L on top 41-31 with 5:59 remaining. Dugan added the PAT to account for the final margin.
``The game doesn't end after three quarters,'' River Falls coach John O'Grady said. ``We fumbled with the fullback; they batted a pitch down... It gets to a point where you don't want to make another critical mistake. That, coupled with the fact we couldn't get a first down, really hurt.''
UW-L made three mistakes, all interceptions, but only one turnover was turned directly into points. With UW-L leading 14-7 with 7:29 remaining in the first half, Damon Clare intercepted Jeff Baker at the 45 yard line, and returned it 11 yards to the Eagles' 44.
Letourneau capped an eight-play drive with a 1 yard scoring plunge to tie the game at 14-14.
``This is one of the better teams in the nation,'' Baker said of River Falls. ``When they went up on us, we didn't panic. We knew what we had to do, and we did it.''