UW-Stout Polytechnic football team braces for first-game rematch with Dubuque

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

MENOMONIE — The first game of the season is the tried and true test of a football team.

Nothing answers questions about the strengths and weaknesses of a team more than a new foe across the line of scrimmage.

Nobody knows that more than UW-Stout Polytechnic coach Clayt Birmingham.

“Going into your first game, every year you don’t know what you really have until you actually play your first game,” Birmingham said. “You kind of have an idea, but there’s lots to learn from a new team each year.”

The Blue Devils’ first game a year ago proved that point to a tee, as they faced off against the University of Dubuque for the first time in their history.

In a scoring frenzy that featured seven lead changes and 738 yards of total offense, Stout ultimately held the last change of lead, clinching a 38-35 home win thanks to a Chandler Ross seven-yard fourth quarter touchdown run.

“Last year when we entered Dubuque, it was a sloppy game on both sides,” Birmingham said. “A lot of turnovers, a lot of big plays, a lot of mistakes on special teams.”

Stout and Birmingham hope they can learn from those mishaps this year, as they travel to Dubuque for a rematch on Saturday night.

“Hopefully we can clean it up a little bit in game one this year and play a more complete game than we did last year,” Birmingham said.

Stout will be without a few key players that aided last year’s win, including Ross, who is now on Birmingham’s staff as a student assistant, and quarterback Adam Moen, who had 232 passing yards and a touchdown while rushing for 56 yards and a score.

In Moen’s place, transfer freshman quarterback Chase Pemberton will man the Blue Devils’ offense.

“He’s a very mature kid, and has all the intangibles, so we’re excited about him,” Birmingham said. “He’s a question mark too like any new player that joins your team. It’ll be fun to watch him grow every game this year.”

Outside linebacker Hunter Scafe, who sealed last year’s win with a late interception, will also be missed.

Senior linebacker Braxton Munnikhuysen will replace Scafe as the man in the middle of the Blue Devils defense, backed behind by senior defensive back Brooks Brewer.

Brewer will look to emulate his 66-yard pick six from last year’s game, while sophomore receiver/return specialist Jojo James will look to find the endzone similarly to his 96-yard kickoff return TD a year ago.

“Both of them are playmakers,” Birmingham said. “Special teams played a big factor in the game, along with just big plays. Brooks and JoJo both are leaders on this team and are very productive for us.”

Dubuque brings back a star duo of sophomore quarterback Joey Rhomberg and junior wide receiver Kali Freeman. Rhomberg threw for 306 yards and four touchdowns last year against the Blue Devils, with three going to Freeman, who had 128 receiving yards on nine catches.

“They have some very explosive players on both sides of the ball,” Birmingham said. “Their quarterback’s back, who (has a) really good arm and makes quick decisions. They have a really good receiving core.”

Birmingham said every team develops new wrinkles in their identities every year. So, he and Stout can’t solely rely on last year’s Dubuque film.

“This first game, you really don’t know what they got,” Birmingham said. “It’s going to be the first couple of drives you have to feel them out to see how much they actually change from the year before.”

Birmingham’s questions will finally be put to test at the first snap on Saturday, and he cannot wait for it.

“Towards the end (of camp), we’re just ready to play somebody else,” Birmingham said. “I get most excited for the first game because I don’t know what this team’s going to do. I think after Saturday we get a lot of those questions answered, and then we can move forward with what we really need to work on.”

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos