On Saturday, Sept. 4, the University of Wisconsin- River Falls football team defeated Elmhurst University 45-7. The blowout victory for the Falcons was the first home game they played since Nov. 16, 2019, due to the COVID19 pandemic canceling the 2020 college football season.

It had been more than 650 days since UWRF students got to see their college football team play at David Smith Stadium at Ramer Field on a fall Saturday afternoon. That fact was apparent, as the student section “The Nest” was at full capacity. The rest of the stands were also essentially full, consisting of parents, friends, community members and any other UWRF football fans.

The 2021 season opener against Elmhurst began when UWRF received the opening kickoff. Less than two minutes into the first drive of the season, quarterback Kole Hinrichsen threw a 45-yard pass over the top of the Blue Jay defense that connected with junior wide receiver Andy Groebner. The made PAT gave the Falcons a 7-0 lead.

With nine minutes remaining in the first quarter, UWRF added three more points on a 27-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Cade Henry. During the next possession, the Blue Jays were driving down the field. That’s when UWRF defensive back Bailey Germain jumped a route and intercepted a pass. Germain found a hole and returned the interception for a touchdown, breaking open the game and giving UWRF a 17-0 lead.

With just over 60 seconds remaining in the first half, Elmhurst had a pick-six of its own. It was a 48-yard interception returned for a touchdown, cutting the Falcon lead to 10 points going into the half. After the game, UWRF head coach Matt Walker gave credit to how hard Elmhurst played in the first half.

“I was impressed with their playing early, they gave us some problems,” Walker said. “I think we all expected to come out and have a nice day offensively and have production because I think we do have weapons everywhere, but they gave us some nice playing early – we struggled with it a little bit.”

The beginning of the second half was dominated by UWRF. The Falcons scored three touchdowns in the third quarter. Two of them were Hinrichsen touchdown passes to Groebner, who had three touchdown receptions in the 45-7 victory. Running back Luke Fugate and Anthony Silva had rushing touchdowns during the late third quarter and early fourth quarter. Those scores gave UWRF a 45-7 lead which was held throughout the rest of the game. Coach Walker noted the weapons he has at his offensive skill positions.

“I knew if we just kept getting opportunities, I thought we could be a mismatch for them outside,” Walker said. “Those receivers are good. If you just outside and take them, our slot kids are good. If you keep the box light, our running backs can get you. I think we’ve got the ingredients to be pretty special offensively.”

For as much love as the offense got from Walker and the home crowd, the defense was just as good, if not better. The only points scored by Elmhurst came off of an interception returned for a touchdown. The UWRF defense allowed no points in the season opener against the Blue Jays.

“I think the defense was the name of the game today,” Walker said. “We just were so good on defense. They were the players of the game today.”

The 45-7 victory to start the season 1-0 was a great feeling for Walker and his Falcon roster. However, he stated in the postgame that the public doesn’t truly understand the sacrifice that the players have made over the last year, having a season canceled and working to maintain physical shape throughout a pandemic.

“People in the general public cannot comprehend what these guys have been through,” Walker said. “They never stopped training, and it’s hard training, man, it’s a lot of sacrifice. To do it for a year and a half with no reward of game day, the average person can’t do what these guys do. They’re amazing. To get to finally do it and hit someone else is pretty special for everybody.”

Walker stated that the reason his team fought through so much adversity, including the pandemic, the loss of game day opportunities, and a total life shakeup for most of his players, is because of his senior leaders on the team.

“I got the best leaders that I’ve ever had,” Walker said. “No disrespect to the teams (in the past). I’ve had great kids and I’ve been so fortunate and so blessed. I’ve had incredible kids here. But this group of seniors is the best group I’ve ever had in terms of leadership – not even close. They just kept this thing going.”

The challenges will keep coming for UWRF and the seniors that are the leaders on the roster. Next week the Falcons travel to Conway, Arkansas, to take on Hendrix College, a program that is currently ranked 17 in the country for Division III college football.

“We’re facing a top 25 team in the country next week,” Walker said. “We were supposed to play St. Scholastica at their place, but they canceled on us in July – don’t want to play us and dropped the contract out of nowhere. They paid $10,000 to not play us at their place. Their administration and kids should know that. They paid $10,000 to not play us. Here we go to Arkansas.”

According to Walker, he and the UWRF athletic department weren’t given a reason for St. Scholastica dropping the contract less than two months before the regular season was scheduled to begin. Now, UWRF will go on the road to compete against one of the best teams in the country before beginning eight consecutive games against WIAC opponents.

The game against Hendrix is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 11. Kickoff for that contest is slated for noon.

Photos by Reagan Hoverman.