The University of Wisconsin-River Falls football team rolled up another 586 yards and took down Wheaton (Illinois) in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III playoffs Dec. 13, 46-21.
Already deeper in the postseason than ever before in school history, River Falls (11-1) now gets a crack at the semifinals against Johns Hopkins on Dec. 20 at home, inside Smith Stadium at Ramer Field.
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The winner of that game will advance to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl against either North Central (Illinois) or John Carroll University (Ohio).
Coach Matt Walker and the UW-River Falls football team have won an outright WIAC title and are in the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time since 1996.
Quarterback Kaleb Blaha threw for 407 yards and four touchdowns, and running back Trevor Asher ran for another three scores, with 22 rushes for 106 yards.
Jake Hilton caught three passes for 126 yards (two touchdowns), and Blake Rohrer caught seven passes for 119 yards and another score.
On defense, Taylor Sussner finished with 11 tackles (three for loss), an interception and forced fumble.
Blaha, named the WIAC Offensive Player of the Year, was just named first-team All American in Division III by the American Football Coaches Association. Linebacker Gage Timm, who attended Shawano High School, was named second-team All-American.
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Wheaton did accumulate 582 yards of its own in the quarterfinal but went a mere 5 for 15 on third down and 2 for 8 on fourth down.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: River Falls wins in lopsided fashion yet again, advances to NCAA semis
