No. 16 Pioneers bounce back with big win over Blue Devils

Written by: Jeremy Williamson, Sports Information Student Assistant

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. -- The Pioneer football team bounced back from last week's disappointing loss with a huge victory over the University of Wisconsin-Stout Blue Devils on Saturday, 43-10, at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.

The No. 20 Pioneers accumulated 598 total yards and held the Blue Devils to just 258 yards of total offense. Junior quarterback Tom Kelly racked up 273 of those yards through the air completing 20 of his 30 passes along with five touchdowns and two interceptions. Junior receiver Quinn Buschbacher was Kelly's main target amassing 156 yards off of 12 targets and put up three scores.

The first score came from a Blue Devils safety following a fumble recovered by the Pioneers. The second score also came in the first quarter when Kelly scrambled and dove in for the first touchdown of the game.

In the second quarter Kelly began his air attack with a 30-yard bomb to sophomore receiver Tim Jansen up the left sideline and freshman kicker Michael Pratle put up a good extra point. The next two scores came through the efforts of Kelly and Bushbacher as Quinn scored from 54 and seven yards and the Pioneers went into the half up 29-0.

 The Pioneers received the ball in the second half and a combination of junior running back Ryan Fish's carries and a 22-yard completion to Patrick Sheehan set up Bushbacher's final score from Kelly, 36-0. Kelly continued his air barrage with a 19-yard dart to junior receiver Mitch Munda for the Pioneer's finalscore of the game.

The Blue Devils mustered a trivial comeback late in the third quarter and into the fourth as they managed to put up a field goal and a score before the time ran out, 43-10.

Senior linebacker Andrew Belken led the defensive efforts for the Pioneers with nine tackles, while junior Austin Young garnered two and a half tackles for loss and Jason Flagg had the Pioneers' only interception, which he returned for 49 yards.

The Pioneer football season continues next Saturday as the men travel to UW-Eau Claire to take on the Blugolds witht eh kickoff set to begin at 1 p.m.