November 5, 2012-November 11, 2012

Offense: Joel Sweeney, Tailback, 6-1, 249, Junior, Tomah, Wis.
Sweeney had a career day Saturday as the Blugolds beat UW-River Falls 28-7 to end the season. Sweeney completed the game with 281 rushing yards, a mark that ranks fourth best on the Blugolds' single game rushing records list. He carried the ball 32 times, an average of 8.8 yards per carry. Sweeney also had two rushing touchdowns, the first being a 65-yard run, tying for the 19th longest run in school history. For the season, Sweeney finished with 1,223 rushing yards and 264 carries, which both rank fifth best in a single season for Eau Claire.
Also Selected Conference Player of the Week

Defense: Coltan Ellis, Safety, 6-2, 200, Junior, Rice Lake, Wis.
Ellis was third on the team with five tackles as the Blugolds defeated UW-River Falls 28-7 on Saturday in the season finale. In addition to his five tackles, Ellis also intercepted one pass in the end zone of stop a Falcon drive in the second quarter. For the season, Ellis was fourth on the team with 55 tackles.

Special Teams: Josh Albrecht, Kicker, 5-10, 176, Senior, Eau Claire, Wis./North
Albrecht nailed four extra points Saturday on Senior Day as the Blugolds beat UW-River Falls 28-7 in the final game of the season. He also finished with five kickoffs for 286 yards, an average of 57.2 yards per kickoff. Albrecht finished the season averaging 55.3 yards per kickoff and was second on the team with 39 points coming from five field goals and 24 extra points.

October 29, 2012-November 4, 2012

Offense: Cody Gerver, Wide Receiver, 6-4, 182, Sophomore, Mahtomedi, Minn.
Gerver caught three passes this weekend, one of which was a touchdown, against UW-Whitewater. He caught a 23-yard touchdown late in the second quarter to get the Blugolds to within three points by halftime (13-10). For the game, he finished with 44 receiving yards. The Blugolds stuck right with the Warhawks but came up short in the end 19-10.

Defense: Nick Slade, Inside Linebacker, 6-2, 223, Senior, St. Cloud, Minn./Tech
Slade tied for a team-high in tackling as the Blugolds faced UW-Whitewater on Saturday, falling just short 19-10. He tied two other teammates with 11 tackles, six solos and five assists. One of his tackles was for a loss. Slade also intercepted a pass in the first quarter and Eau Claire got on the board on the ensuing drive with a field goal.

Special Teams: Tyler Janus, Cornerback, 5-11, 190, Senior, Sussex, Wis./Hamilton
Janus provided great coverage on special teams this weekend against UW-Whitewater, a game the Blugolds lost 19-10. He recorded two tackles covering Blugold punts and finished with a total of 10 tackles on the day.

October 22, 2012-October 28, 2012

Offense: Nick Hirsch, Wide Receiver, 6-3, 195, Junior, Wind Lake, Wis./Muskego
Hirsch led the Blugolds with 82 receiving yards on four catches this weekend against 18th-ranked UW-Platteville. On the Blugolds' final touchdown drive, he caught a 25-yard pass and followed with a 31-yard catch and the Blugolds then scored a two-yard rushing touchdown on the following play.

Defense: Nate Johnson, Defensive Lineman, 6-3, 289, Senior, Madison, Wis./La Follette
Johnson finished with five tackles this weekend, tied for second most on the team, as the Blugolds faced 18th-ranked UW-Platteville on Saturday. One of his tackles was for a loss.

Special Teams: Scott Burzynski, Outside Linebacker, 5-11, 198, Junior, Stanley, Wis./Stanley-Boyd
Burzynski provided good coverage on the special teams units this weekend against 18th-ranked UW-Platteville. He had one tackle covering a kickoff and also had one return on the final kickoff of the first half.

October 15, 2012-October 21, 2012

Offense: Austin Goetsch, Tight End, 6-1, 227, Senior, Waunakee, Wis.
Goetsch led the Blugolds in receiving in a 17-14 win over UW-Stevens Point on Saturday. Goetsch caught 12 passes, one of which was a 29-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that gave Eau Claire a 14-7 lead. He completed the game with a season-high 124 receiving yards, which was also the second highest total in his career.

Defense: Sean Graham, Inside Linebacker, 6-0, 211, Junior, Hales Corners, Wis./Whitnall
Graham led the Blugolds in tackling in a 17-14 victory over UW-Stevens Point on Saturday. He finished with nine tackles, five solo and four assists, one-and-a-half for a loss. On the Pointers' final drive of the third quarter, he also recovered a fumble and the Blugolds then used 10 plays on the ensuing drive to score a touchdown to take a 14-7 lead, their first lead of the game.

Special Teams: David Arbetan, Inside Linebacker, 6-0, 208, Senior, Rice Lake, Wis.
In a 17-14 victory over UW-Stevens Point on Saturday, Arbetan returned one kickoff and also helped on special teams' coverage. His kickoff came at the beginning of the game and he returned it 15 yards.

October 8, 2012-October 14, 2012

Offense: Joel Sweeney, Tailback, 6-1, 249, Junior, Tomah, Wis.
Sweeney had 185 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns as the Blugolds defeated UW-La Crosse 24-9 on Saturday at Carson Park. Sweeney scored both of the Blugolds' touchdowns in the first half and added another in the fourth quarter, the fourth time in his career he has rushed for three touchdowns. His 185 yards is the second largest total Sweeney has accumulated in a single game in his career. In the first quarter alone, Sweeney recorded 112 yards on 17 carries.
Also Selected Conference Player of the Week

Defense: Tyler Janus, Cornerback, 5-11, 190, Senior, Sussex, Wis./Hamilton
Janus led the Blugolds in tackling Saturday as they defeated UW-La Crosse 24-9 at Carson Park. He recorded eight tackles while breaking up one pass. In the fourth quarter, Janus also intercepted a pass at mid-field and returned it five yards.

Special Teams: Austin Neu, Punter/Quarterback, 6-1, 202, Senior, Iron Ridge, Wis./Hustisford
Neu punted six times in the Blugolds' 24-9 victory over UW-La Crosse on Saturday at Carson Park. His six punts totaled 218 yards, an average of 36.3 yards per punt, while he put the ball inside the 20 once and had a long of 41 yards. Neu is currently fifth in the WIAC averaging 36.7 yards per punt. He also rushed for 74 yards on 14 carries and passed for 57 yards, going 4-for-12.

October 1, 2012-October 7, 2012

Special Teams: Tra Ross, Wide Receiver, 5-11, 169, Freshman, Quincy, Calif.
Ross returned kickoffs Saturday in a game against nationally-ranked UW-Oshkosh. He returned seven of eight kickoffs and compiled 128 yards. In the third quarter, Ross had a return of 33 yards, his longest of the day. He also had one pass reception for 11 yards on the Blugolds' final play of the first half.
Also Selected Conference Player of the Week

September 24, 2012-September 30, 2012

Offense: Austin Neu, Quarterback, 6-1, 202, Senior, Iron Ridge, Wis./Hustisford
Neu led the Blugolds in rushing and passing as they picked up their first win of the season Saturday, defeating UW-Stout 21-13 for Homecoming. Neu threw two touchdown passes as he went 16-for-25 for 181 yards. He also finished with 93 rushing yards and one touchdown. Neu's rushing touchdown came with less than two seconds remaining in the third quarter as he found an opening and scrambled for 32 yards to the end zone, helping give the Blugolds a 14-10 lead, a lead they never gave up.

Defense: Tyler Janus, Cornerback, 5-11, 190, Senior, Sussex, Wis./Hamilton
Janus finished with five tackles as the Blugolds defeated UW-Stout 21-13 for Homecoming on Saturday. He made a key play at the end of the game, which helped the Blugolds secure their first win of the season. With the Blugolds driving with less than three minutes remaining, Janus picked off a pass in the end zone, giving the Blugolds the ball back and they were able to run out the clock after recording two first downs on the final drive.

Special Teams: Max Goettl, Tailback, 5-6, 159, Sophomore, Stanley, Wis./Stanley-Boyd
Goettl returned two kickoffs for 52 yards Saturday on Homecoming as the Blugolds defeated UW-Stout 21-13 for their first win of the season. His first kickoff return of 16 yards came early in the second quarter while he had a 36-yard return at the start of the second half.

September 17, 2012-September 23, 2012

Offense: Jake Holterman, Offensive Line, 6-3, 292, Senior, Muskego, Wis.
Holterman started at left guard as the Blugolds faced 16th-ranked UW-Platteville on Thursday. The Blugolds finished with 406 yards of total offense, the most in a single game this season.

Defense: Nate Johnson, Defensive Line, 6-3, 289, Senior, Madison, Wis./La Follette
Starting at right end on Thursday at 16th-ranked UW-Platteville, Johnson recorded one solo tackle.

Special Teams: David Arbetan, Inside Linebacker, 6-0, 208, Senior, Rice Lake, Wis.
Arbetan was part of the punt and kicking teams for the Blugolds as they faced 16th-ranked UW-Platteville on Thursday.

September 3, 2012-September 9, 2012

Offense: Joel Sweeney, Tailback, 6-1, 249, Junior, Tomah, Wis.
On Saturday against Saint John's University (Minn.), Sweeney scored three rushing touchdowns and compiled 182 rushing yards on 28 carries. It was the third time in his career he scored three rushing touchdowns and the yardage total was the second most he has ever achieved in a single game. Sweeney has rushed for over 100 yards in each of the first two games of the year.

Defense: Sean Graham, Inside Linebacker, 6-0, 211, Junior, Hales Corners, Wis./Whitnall
Graham led the Blugolds in tackling this weekend as the team faced Saint John's University (Minn.) at Carson Park. He finished the contest with a total of seven tackles (six solos and one assist).

Special Teams: Josh Albrecht, Kicker, 5-10, 176, Senior, Eau Claire, Wis./North
Albrecht was a perfect 4-for-4 kicking extra points in the Blugolds' game against Saint John's University (Minn.) at Carson Park on Saturday. Kicking off four times, he averaged 57 yards per kick and had one touchback.

August 27, 2012-September 2, 2012

Offense: Paul Santi, Offensive Line, 6-1, 282, Junior, Kingsford, Mich.
Santi started at center Saturday in the Blugolds' season and home opener against eighth-ranked University of St. Thomas (Minn.). The Blugolds led much of the game but fell at the very end 27-24. Santi was part of an offensive line that allowed running back Joel Sweeney to finish with a game-high 104 rushing yards. Quarterback Austin Neu also passed for 196 yards.

Defense: Nick Slade, Linebacker, 6-2, 223, Senior, St. Cloud, Minn./Tech
Slade recorded five tackles (four solo, one assist) facing eighth-ranked University of St. Thomas (Minn.) on Saturday in the season opener. He started the game at inside linebacker.

Special Teams: Killy Kitzmann, Long Snapper, 6-1, 223, Freshman, Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial
Kitzmann served as the Blugolds' long snapper this weekend as Eau Claire opened the 2012 season against eighth-ranked University of St. Thomas (Minn.).