The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) football team improved to 1-1 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) with a 9-3 win at UW-Eau Claire (2-3, 0-2) Saturday, Oct. 6, to spoil Eau Claire’s Homecoming.

Eau Claire kicked a field goal with 9:07 to go in the first quarter to take a 3-0 lead, while UWSP freshman Victor Ponterio had a 33-yard field goal with 2:27 left in the first quarter to tie the game at 3-3.

Ponterio nailed a 43-yard field goal with 58 seconds to play in the second quarter to give the Pointers a 6-3 lead, while Amherst native and UWSP freshman defensive lineman Michael Singer blocked a 41-yard field goal attempt from Eau Claire as time expired in the first half to take UWSP into halftime with a 6-3 lead.

It stayed that way until Ponterio hit a 26-yard field goal with 11:03 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Pointers a 9-3 lead.

Eau Claire turned the ball over on downs at its own 49-yard line on the next possession, and following a UWSP punt, it turned the ball over on downs at the UWSP 46-yard line after a hurry by Singer forced an incomplete pass on fourth down.

Following another Pointer punt, Eau Claire took over at its own eight-yard line with 1:53 to play and reached midfield in the closing seconds, before its drive ended with a completed pass to the UWSP 37-yard line as time ran out, as the Pointers won 9-3.

Freshman Max Herro rushed for 47 yards on 10 carries, senior wide receiver Christian Almonte caught four passes for 58 yards, and junior quarterback Matt Urmanski rushed for 27 yards on 10 carries and completed 15-of-26 passes for 114 yards, with zero touchdowns and one interception.

Senior defensive end Boyd Delebreau had seven tackles and two sacks, senior linebacker Ryan Strick finished with 10 tackles and one sack, sophomore safety Kameron Kryzanski recorded nine tackles, and Singer finished with seven tackles to go along with his blocked kick in the win.

UWSP (2-3, 1-1) will play at UW-La Crosse (3-2, 1-1) at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, before the Pointers return home to play UW-Stout (3-2, 1-1) for Homecoming at 1 p.m. at Community Stadium at Goerke Field Saturday, Oct. 20.