Football team loses final game of season, finishes 3-7

The Falcon Football team lost its final game of the season to Eau Claire, 49-35, at Ramer Field on Nov. 14.

The team finished with a record of 3-7, making it the eighth season in a row with a final record of seven losses and three or less wins. The team also went 1-6 on the season in the WIAC.

The Blugolds finished with a winning 6-4 record on their season, going 4-3 in the conference.

The game was on a blustery Saturday afternoon, drawing roughly 500 fans for the team’s final game.

The game was a high scoring one, with River Falls leading at the end of the first quarter, 21-14. The Falcons took their biggest lead of the game, 28-14, in the middle of the second quarter. The Falcons took this lead on a one-yard touchdown run by Taylor Edwards.

Head Coach John O’Grady was impressed with the team’s early-game play.

“They looked good early,” he said. “The offense and the kicking game looked pretty good.”

However, the team could not hold their two possession lead, with Eau Claire scoring 35 unanswered points for a final score of 49-35. The Blugolds scored 21 points in the second quarter alone.

Eau Claire Quarterback Kyle Paulson picked the Falcons defense apart, going 26-35 and passing for 345 yards. Falcons starting Quarterback Ryan Luessenheide struggled, going 17- 35 for 283 yards.

O’Grady said that the senior quarterback Paulson “looked very good,” after the performance.

Playing from behind meant that the Falcons had to throw the ball more. Senior receiver Eric Brewster led the team in reception yards, with 117 yards on five receptions, including one of 58 yards.

The Blugolds were led in receiving by David Goodman, who had seven receptions for 111 total yards.

Edwards led the Falcons in rushing, with 18 carries for 84 yards, while Cory Sartorelli led the Blugolds with 173 yards rushing.

Eau Claire had more offense overall in the game, with 70 more yards offensively overall than the Falcons.

O’Grady said that the team will build on its “good young players” for next season, and will meet in the upcoming week to start talking about the off-season.

Junior running back Ahmad Palmer said that the team will soon be doing off-season workouts to get ready for next season.

The game was also the last for the team’s 18 seniors, who are done with their eligibility after the end of the season.

Senior Daniel Wolf said that his last game was “disappointing,” and playing in his last game was “bittersweet,” after playing football for most of his life.

The team used the game to have a Parents’ Day, to encourage parents to come watch the team’s final game.

Tammy Wolf, Daniel’s mother, noted how it felt to watch her son play in his last football game.

“It is bittersweet; I am proud of him giving 100 percent every day,” she said. “We enjoyed watching him in the game.”