By Chad Zutter - Sports Reporter
The River Falls Wildcats exploded with 29 second half points, after getting shutout in the first half, to gain a 29-19 victory over the Menomonie Mustangs.
In that second half, “River Falls owned the line of scrimmage and hit on some big plays,” according to head coach Mike Sinz.
Both teams traded a few possessions in the first quarter, before sophomore DJ Butler started the scoring in the 2nd quarter with his first varsity touchdown on a 9-yard run. River Falls almost answered on their next drive, but a 77-yard touchdown pass from Tino Massa to Eli Johnson was called back on a holding penalty. A special teams blunder two plays later by the Wildcats gave the Mustangs a short field and Butler touched paydirt again, this time from 11 yards.
The Wildcats received the second half kickoff and scored in the first 24 seconds as Massa connected with Johnson from 22 yards out. On River Falls' next drive, it took them just three plays to go 80 yards and took the lead on a 65-yard touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Charlie Burke. Junior quarterback Massa had one of the best games of his season tossing four touchdown passes with Iowa recruit Johnson being on the receiving end of two of those.
Issac Ellison did not play in the second half due to injury.
The Mustangs will close out the regular season next week at Chippewa Falls while River Falls travels to Wausau West.
Scoring Summary & Box Score
1st Quarter
No scoring
2nd Quarter
M - 9 yd run Butler (Zydowsky kick), 9:23
M - 11 yd run Butler (kick blocked), 5:55
3rd Quarter
RF - Johnson 22 yd pass from Massa (Carufel kick), 11:36
RF - Burke 65 yd pass from Massa (Carufel kick), 7:43
M - 1 yd run Higbie (pass failed), 3:26
4th Quarter
RF - Loesch 3 yd pass from Massa (Loesch run), 11:56
RF - Johnson 26 yd pass from Massa (Carufel kick), 7:13
Individual Stats
RUSHING (att-yds) – Menomonie: Higbie (19-128), Butler (13-53), Weir (6-27), Hoff (1-12), Stoll (2-9), Johnson (2-(-16)); Totals (43-213) / River Falls: Tarasewicz (22-89), Loesch (5-50), Massa (1-2); Totals (28-141)
PASSING (comp-att-td-int-yds) – Menomonie: Johnson (11-23-0-2-106) / River Falls: Massa (11-17-4-0-210)
RECEIVING (rec-yds) – Menomonie: Thornton (3-21), Mikesell (3-21), Rue (2-21), Ellison (1-12), Bystol (1-21), Butler (1-10); Totals (11-106) / River Falls: Johnson (4-100), Burke (2-70), Tarasewicz (2-15), Novak (1-20), Loesch (1-3), DuMond (1-2); Totals (11-210)
1ST DOWNS: Menomonie: 20 / River Falls: 11
3RD DOWN CONV: Menomonie: 6-14 / River Falls: 3-7
4TH DOWN CONV: Menomonie: 1-4 / River Falls: 0-2
TURNOVERS: Menomonie: INT - 2, FUM - 0 / River Falls: INT - 0, FUM - 1
PENALTIES: Menomonie: 4-30 / River Falls: 4-50
Game Notes:
Menomonie is ranked #10 in Wisports.net Division 3 Football Coaches Poll
Menomonie has been ranked in top ten Wisports.net Division 3 Football Coaches Poll since week 2
In Week 1, River Falls was ranked #3 in Wisports.net Division 2 Football Coaches Poll
Since 1920: Menomonie leads the matchup 61-23-4
Coach Mike Sinz is 3-2 vs the River Falls Wildcats
Records: Menomonie 5-3 (3-3 BRC) / River Falls 3-5 (2-4 BRC)