UW-River Falls Tops WashU In Inaugural Culver’s Isthmus Bowl

**Release courtesy of UW-River Falls Sports Information

VERONA, Wis.--The No. 22/25-ranked UW-River Falls football team defeated Washington University- St. Louis (Mo.) 48-27 in the inaugural Culver’s Isthmus Bowl at Verona Area High School on Nov. 20.

After trailing 21-20 at halftime, a second-half surge, including four touchdowns propelled the Falcons to the three-score victory. The win moves the Falcons' overall record to 9-2 during the series finale, tying the program record for wins in a season. The nine wins matches the win totals from 1979, 1995, and 1996.

UW-River Falls tied an NCAA Division III single-game record with 44 first downs, matching the University of Massachusetts-Maritime total from 2013.

Senior quarterback Kole Hinrichsen broke a UW-River Falls single-game record with 44 completed passes, throwing for a career-high 347 yards. His pass total broke Ben Beckman's total of 40 versus UW-La Crosse in 2019.

Hinrichsen threw three passing touchdowns and rushed for two touchdowns, logging 99 rushing yards. Jager Reissmann collected a career-high 16 receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown. Luke Fugate rushed for 125 yards on 25 attempts.

After WashU opened the game's scoring, the Falcons answered as Michael Brown picked up his second interception in as many games and his third of the season. Hinrichsen then connected with fellow senior Charlie Huschka for an 11-yard touchdown on the ensuing drive, but the Falcons' two-point conversion failed and UW-River Falls trailed 7-6 with 3:31 left in the first quarter.

With seconds left in the first period, Hinrichsen completed a 13-yard yard pass to Reissmann and Cade Henry completed the PAT attempt as UW-River Falls led 13-7 heading into the second quarter.

After forcing a Falcon fumble, WashU scored with 11:30 remaining and regained the lead, 14-13. UW-River Falls answered again with a Luke Fugate 17-yard rushing score. It was a 14-play, 71-yard drive and the Falcons took a 20-14 lead with 1:56 left in the half.

With 40 seconds remaining in the first half, the Bears scored and took a 21-20 lead into halftime.

The Falcons scored twice in the third quarter without a WashU answer to take a 33-21 lead. The Falcons opened the second half scoring with a Hinrichsen rushing touchdown from 19 yards out and came up short on the two-point conversion. Later in the quarter, Hinrichsen and Huschka once again connected to give the Falcons a 33-21 lead near the end of the third quarter, a 29-yard passing touchdown.

UW-River Falls extended its lead to 48-21 with Ben Beise and Kole Hinrichsen rushing scores. A Hinrichsen to Beise two-point conversion put the Falcons up 27 points with 7:32 left in regulation, enough cushion to cruise to victory.

Defensively, the Falcons tallied five sacks and limited WashU to just 14 rushing yards. Jake Halsey led the way with three tackles for loss, including two sacks.

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