On a historic night in Canton, Ohio, Wisconsin-River Falls etched its name in the annals of college football by clinching its first-ever Division III title.
The Falcons, led by the stellar performance of Kaleb Blaha, overcame the formidable North Central Cardinals, ending their 29-game win streak.
This victory marked a milestone for UWRF and showcased the grit of a team that hadn’t seen postseason action since 1996.
Kaleb Blaha: The Game Changer
Kaleb Blaha’s performance? Absolutely electric.
The quarterback threw a touchdown pass and added two second-half rushing touchdowns, propelling his team to a 24-14 victory.
He completed 27 of 41 passes for 291 yards and rushed for another 126 yards on 18 carries.
His total yardage for the season hit an eye-popping 6,189 yards, breaking Joe Burrow’s all-divisions NCAA single-season record of 6,039 yards from 2019. That’s wild.
Breaking Down the Game
The game started with a jolt—Donovan McNeal raced 48 yards for a touchdown just over two minutes in.
Justin Scheberl added a 25-yard field goal for UWRF, and suddenly it was 10-0 early in the first quarter.
North Central’s McNeal answered back with a 2-yard touchdown run, finishing off a 15-play, 73-yard drive that ate up more than nine and a half minutes.
That drive gave the Cardinals a 14-3 lead, which was actually the largest deficit the Falcons had faced all season. Hard to believe, right?
Turning Point: Sussner’s Interception
As the first half was winding down, Falcons freshman Taylor Sussner came up huge with an interception in the end zone.
It was his seventh pick of the year and kept the Cardinals from stretching their lead. That play really felt like a momentum shift.
Second-Half Surge
Blaha’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Blake Rohrer late in the first half cut the deficit to 14-10.
In the third quarter, Blaha ran for a 7-yard touchdown, and just like that, the Falcons led 17-14.
He added another rushing score from 12 yards out in the fourth quarter, pushing the lead to 24-14. North Central couldn’t claw back after that.
Defensive Masterclass
The Falcons’ defense was locked in all night.
They managed to contain North Central’s high-powered offense, which usually averaged 49.4 points per game—the best in Division III.
The Cardinals’ quarterback, Wilson, was limited to 194 yards passing, completing 18 of 28 attempts.
He threw two interceptions and lost a fumble deep in Falcons territory, putting a real dent in North Central’s hopes.
McNeal’s Efforts
Even in defeat, Donovan McNeal kept battling for North Central, rushing for 133 yards on 23 carries.
His early touchdown runs gave the Cardinals a fighting chance, but it just wasn’t enough against UWRF’s relentless push.
A Season to Remember
Wisconsin-River Falls’ journey to the championship was honestly something else.
The Falcons rattled off 11 straight wins to close out the season, showing a level of resilience and determination that’s rare.
Looking Ahead
With this championship win, the future feels pretty bright for Wisconsin-River Falls. The team’s success this season is bound to draw some eyes from recruits and probably bump the program’s status a notch in Division III football.
Kaleb Blaha’s record-breaking year? Well, it’s safe to say he’s left a mark as one of the greatest players in UWRF history.
If you’re curious for more details about the game or just want to relive the season, check out the full article on ESPN.
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