Sports
Quarterback Jared Beckwith practices for week two.
After loss, football confident for week 2
The Pointer
Dneck184@uwsp.edu
Following a one-point loss against Central Iowa College last weekend, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point football team is preparing for their second non-conference game of the season.
This Saturday, the team heads to the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Missouri to play against the Miners in what head coach John Miech calls “the toughest team we’ll play all year.”
Last weekend’s game was mostly in the Pointers’ favor as they went into the fourth quarter with a lead of 21-10. Wide receiver Jared Jenkins caught eight passes for 120 yards and quarterback Jared Beckwith threw for 254 yards and three touchdowns. On special teams, wide reciever Marc Young excelled by blocking one punt, tipping another and successfully faking two punts as the punter.
It was not until the end of the fourth quarter that the Pointers began to slip. Central Iowa quarterback Matt Snead ran for a total of 90 yards and scored all three of the team’s touchdowns, including the game winner.
“This was really outstanding football between two high-ranked teams,” said Miech. “I think what it really came down to was conditioning.”
“Our players practiced in mild weather all summer and played their first game at 95 degrees,” said Miech. “As a coach, all you can ask for is your players to give it their all, and they surely did.”
But Jared Beckwith is sure that the Pointers have moved on to next week.
“Coach Miech says you’ve got 24 hours to celebrate a win or to mourn a loss. We’re a tight-knit team and our attitudes are up,” said Beckwith.
Miech said that adjustments for the next game would include stepping up in conditioning, along with increased attention on special teams, which he called “average” after last week. He also added that he expects a better performance from the Pointers’ running game.
”We’re getting ready for a lot of blitzes next week,” said Beckwith. “Their corners and safeties are very athletic, and great tacklers. After watching some of the films, I think this will be one of the best teams we play all year,” he said.
Missouri S&T is a Division II team. Playing them will put the Pointers on a long road trip.
“The reason we’re playing teams from Missouri and California for the non-conference games is because the Division III teams we normally play know we’ll beat them,” said Miech.
”Losing close games really tells you who the leaders are on your team,” said Beckwith. “The biggest improvements come between games one and two, and I think we’re going to see that this weekend,” he said.
Beckwith added that the Pointer’s defense looked strong in the last game, and that the offensive line gave him a lot of time to pass.
After facing the Miners on Sept. 19, the Pointers will travel across the country to Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, Calif. on September 26. Their first home game is against UW-Eau Claire on Oct. 3.
