By Colin Marklowitz _
A week after capturing their first win of the season in the team’s home opener, the University of Wisconsin–Stout’s football team hit a rough patch in the form of a sound defeat at the hands of the Wartburg College Knights. With the game tied 7-7 going into the second quarter, the Knights scored touchdowns on three consecutive drives to go up 28-7 at the half on the way to a 45-14 victory.
Wartburg’s passing attack and UW–Stout’s inability to contain it was the key matchup in the game, as Knight’s quarterback Logan Schrader threw for 308 yards and five touchdown passes. His favorite target for the afternoon, wide receiver Taylor Jacobsme, caught seven passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns in addition to throwing a scoring pass.
For UW–Stout offensively, the running game was on point with running backs Tanner Kuehn (Sr, Fairchild, Wis.) and Adolfo Pacheco (So, South Elgin, Ill.) combining for 173 of the Blue Devil’s 175 total rushing yards. Kuehn had a career day, rushing for 88 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, including a 27-yard gallop to the end zone to tie the game in the first quarter. Pacheco finished with 85 yards on 13 carries, an average of 6.5 yards per carry.
Passing the ball however, was a completely different story. Wartburg’s tough defense largely stymied a Blue Devil passing attack that features wide receiver Aaron Jenny (Sr, Spicer, Minn.). Jenny, who caught three touchdowns in the home opener, grabbed his fourth touchdown of the year from quarterback Aaron Koerner (So, Colby, Wis.) late in the third.
Other notable players for the Blue Devils include linebacker and Team Captain Luke Bakkum (Sr, Oconomowoc, Wis.), added eight tackles, bringing his team-leading total to 27. Included in those eight tackles were 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Bakkum leads the team in these categories as well, with nine tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. The safety trio of Collin Laursen (Jr, Mondovi, Wis.), Austin Ludowese (So, Stewart, Minn.) and Tyler Naatz (Sr, Menomonie, Wis.) each chipped in seven tackles for UW–Stout.
Up next, the Blue Devils are off this week before traveling to University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh on Saturday, Oct. 4. UW–Stout returns home for a showdown with the defending Division III National Champion University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks on Oct. 11 in UW–Stout’s homecoming game.