It all comes down to this. The spectacular UW-River Falls Falcons are 13-1, WIAC champions and heading to the Stagg Bowl to compete for a National Championship. In what has become the greatest season in school history, some key contributors from the Paperboy’s home bases have led the way.

Pierce County
Junior running back Ashten Quade of Ellsworth - Quade has accumulated 100 rush yards and a touchdown along with 36 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Junior defensive lineman Brady Block of Prescott - Block has 12 tackles and a pass deflection on the year, but his true biggest moment came on the final defensive play of a 48-41 win over Johns Hopkins, dropping back into a spy position and snatching an interception to seal the win.
Senior defensive lineman Jack Olson of Prescott - Olson is both an off-field and on-field leader for the Falcons. With 40 tackles, five sacks and a forced fumble, Olson is making his senior season count.
Sophomore running back Trevor Asher of Elmwood - Asher took over lead back duties around the start of the postseason and has shined, taking 182 carries for 892 yards and nine touchdowns with 257 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Asher has four postseason touchdowns.
Sophomore offensive lineman Payton Kopp of Plum City - Kopp has received heavy involvement in just his sophomore season, participating in all 14 games.
Freshman Diego Schmitt of Spring Valley - What a way for Schmitt to get his first taste of college football, joining the Falcons for a run all the way to the National Championship game.
Freshman defensive back Cal Usgaard of River Falls - Usgaard, a 2025 graduate of River Falls High School, received a grayshirt this year, meaning his eligibility clock is delayed until his second semester. Usgaard is set to make a big impact when he does join the roster.

Cottage Grove
Sophomore linebacker Alex Carr - Carr has nine tackles on the year and has played in 12 games. He recorded a pass breakup Sept. 20 against Belhaven.
Sophomore defensive lineman Jesse Truax - Truax made one appearance this year Sept. 20 against Belhaven.
Sophomore linebacker Owen Rose - Rose has not made an appearance thus far this season, but with a front seven loaded with seniors, there will be room to work into the lineup during the offseason.
Freshman long snapper Logan Zywiec - Zywiec has not made an appearance in his freshman campaign. A trip to the National Championship game is not a bad way to kick off a collegiate career, though.

Hastings
Junior wide receiver Stephen Reifenberger - Reifenberger has been a dependable receiver for the Falcons, taking 34 catches for 579 yards and six touchdowns. Reifenberger caught a touchdown in the Nov. 29 playoff opener against Chapman and had 79 yards in the semi-finals against Johns Hopkins.

Stanley-Boyd
Freshman running back Rudy Kletsch - Kletsch has yet to make his first appearance, but being his freshman season, there will be more opportunities in the coming years.
All these student-athletes, and everyone else on the roster, have played a role in making this the winningest UWRF football team in school history.
“This group is so special, and they care about each other so much and we’ve spent so much time together,” Head Coach Matt Walker said, mentioning part of the motivation is that they do not want to go their separate ways in the offseason. “They love being around each other. They love getting back to work. They’re saying and doing all the right things.”
The Stagg Bowl is 8 p.m. Jan. 4 in Canton, Ohio, against North Central (Illinois).