The Wheaton Thunder (11-2) travel to face the Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons (11-1) in a gripping NCAA Division III Football Quarterfinals matchup on Saturday, December 13, 2025. Wheaton, CCIW co-champions riding a six-game win streak into their first quarterfinal since 2018, unleashes a high-scoring offense led by All-CCIW QB Mark Forcucci. The host Falcons, WIAC runners-up and program-record 11-win team, counter with Gagliardi Trophy semifinalist Kaleb Blaha’s dual-threat wizardry and a defense that has suffocated playoff foes. This first-ever clash at Smith Stadium tests Wheaton’s explosive passing against UWRF’s opportunistic front seven, with the winner earning a semifinal date on December 20. Broadcast on ESPN+.
Venue Location
Smith Stadium at Ramer Field
University of Wisconsin-River Falls, 185 Emogene Nelson Ave, River Falls, WI 54022
The Falcons’ 2,500-seat synthetic turf venue has been a playoff haven, where UWRF is 6-0 this season with a +24.8 average margin in home postseason games. Named elements like the Champions Gate honor past title runs, amplifying the electric atmosphere.
Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. CT (4:00 p.m. ET local time)
Weather Forecast
Frigid Midwest winter grips River Falls, with kickoff temperatures around 22°F (-6°C) amid overcast skies and a 70% chance of steady snow showers (3-5 inches accumulation expected). Highs peak at 25°F (-4°C), but winds from the ENE at 10-15 mph (gusts to 20 mph) will chill wind-chill to 10°F (-12°C). The turf holds moisture well, but accumulating snow could slicken footing, favoring UWRF’s run-heavy scheme over Wheaton’s aerial attack.
Injury Report
Both programs report robust health entering the quarterfinals, with full-squad practices on December 8-9 confirming starter availability. Wheaton’s depth shone in their DePauw win, while UWRF managed tweaks from the St. John’s rout.
| Team | Player | Position | Status | Injury Details | Est. Return |
| Wheaton Thunder | None major | – | – | – | – |
| Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons | None major | – | – | RB backup (minor hamstring, full practice Dec. 9) | Dec. 13 |
Updates: UWRF’s depth chart is intact, with Blaha logging full reps. Wheaton’s medical team cleared All-CCIW WR Collin Kortenhoeven after a minor shoulder ding in the second round.
Key Player Matchups
Wheaton’s pass-heavy attack (298.6 ypg passing, No. 4 in DIII) collides with UWRF’s turnover machine (24 forced, top-10 nationally) in a duel of efficiencies and execution.
Mark Forcucci (Wheaton QB, 264-9 passing, 2,975 yds, 28 TDs; First Team All-CCIW) vs. UWRF Secondary (13 INTs, led by DB Taylor Sussner, 4 picks): Forcucci’s quick release (9.68 YPA) and mobility (45 rush yds/game) test Sussner’s ball skills in man coverage. Sussner has 2 INTs in playoffs, but Forcucci’s 68% completion exploits zones.
Matt Crider (Wheaton RB, 654 rush yds, 9 TDs, 6.7 YPC; Second Team All-CCIW) vs. UWRF Front Seven (3.1 YPC allowed, anchored by LB Clark Griffin equiv., 100+ tackles): Crider’s burst between tackles meets a unit that stuffed St. John’s for 112 rush yds. UWRF’s 18 sacks highlight edge pressure on misdirection.
Collin Kortenhoeven (Wheaton WR, 49 rec, 777 yds, 8 TDs, 15.9 YPC) vs. UWRF CBs (No. 8 pass efficiency defense): Kortenhoeven’s deep routes (17.6 YPC in CCIW) stretch a secondary with 7 picks in conference. His slot fades could isolate vs. press.
Peter Johanik (Wheaton DL, 4.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks; All-CCIW) vs. Kaleb Blaha (UWRF QB, Gagliardi semifinalist, 361-9 passing, 3,412 yds, 30 TDs; 450+ rush yds): Johanik’s career TFL record (team-high) disrupts Blaha’s option reads (7.83 YPA). Blaha’s elusiveness (WIAC OPOY) has 3 rushing TDs in playoffs.
Wheaton LBs (top-15 rush defense, 2.9 YPC allowed) vs. UWRF RB Group (285 ypg rush, led by Caden Wick equiv., 800+ yds): Thunder’s gap control vs. Falcons’ power runs in snow—UWRF’s 6.6 yds/play could grind clock.
Bench roles: Wheaton’s Jack Titherington (509 rec yds, 6 TDs) as slot option; UWRF’s Cade Fitzgerald (QB2) for packages.
Recent Team Forms
Wheaton’s offense erupts in playoffs (42.6 PPG), while UWRF’s defense peaks late (held foes to 10.2 PPG in last three). Both on tears.
Wheaton Thunder (5-0 in last 5; 9-1 in last 10):
Dec. 6: W 49-24 @ DePauw (QF; Forcucci: 280 pass yds, 3 TDs; +14 turnover margin, pulled away post-halftime)
Nov. 29: W 28-24 @ Wartburg (2nd round; Crider: 110 rush yds, 2 TDs; defense 2 INTs seals rally)
Nov. 22: W 76-14 vs. Crown (1st round; Kortenhoeven: 3 rec TDs; 600+ total yds)
Nov. 15: W 52-6 @ North Park (regular; Forcucci: 300+ yds, 4 TDs; shutout 2H)
Nov. 8: W 61-14 vs. Millikin (regular; Johanik: 2 sacks; held foes under 200 yds)
Wheaton averages 53.2 PPG in wins, forcing 12 turnovers in playoffs. Road: 5-1.
Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons (5-0 in last 5; 9-1 in last 10):
Dec. 6: W 42-14 vs. No. 7 St. John’s (MN) (QF; Blaha: 250 pass/60 rush yds, 3 total TDs; defense 3 FF, first win over SJU since 1937)
Nov. 29: W 58-7 vs. Chapman (2nd round; Wick group: 200+ rush yds; +20 time of possession)
Nov. 15: W 29-19 @ Wisconsin-Stevens Point (regular; Blaha: 220 pass yds, game-winning drive)
Nov. 8: W 41-7 vs. Wisconsin-La Crosse (regular; Sussner: 2 INTs; 400+ total offense)
Nov. 1: W 35-21 @ Wisconsin-Whitewater (regular; 4th-qtr explosion, 5 rush TDs)
UWRF’s run game: 320 ypg in wins, with 4 comebacks. Home: 7-0.
Conference vs Conference
The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) boasts a narrow edge over the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in DIII football history, winning 16 of 28 cross-conference matchups since 2010 (57.1%). CCIW teams (8 national titles) dominate passing efficiency (7.2 YPA avg. in playoffs), while WIAC squads (5 titles, including UWRF’s 2007-08 back-to-backs) excel in run defense (2.8 YPC allowed). Recent quarters: CCIW 4-3 vs. WIAC; WIAC homes win SU 9-2 but 5-6 ATS.
Team Records
| Team | Overall Record | Home/Away/Neutral | ATS Record (est.) | Over/Under Record (est.) |
| Wheaton Thunder | 11-2 (.846) | 6-1 Home / 5-1 Away | 9-4-0 | 10-3 |
| Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons | 11-1 (.917) | 7-0 Home / 4-1 Away | 10-2-0 | 8-4 |
Wheaton leads DIII in scoring (44.2 PPG); UWRF tops total defense (237.5 ypg allowed).
Series History
First-ever meeting between the programs—no prior regular-season or playoff history. Wheaton is 1-0 all-time in DIII quarterfinals (2021 win); UWRF is 1-0 (2011 appearance, deepest since).
| Date | Result | Score | Key Stat |
| N/A | First Meeting | – | – |
Betting Trends
Spread Trends: UWRF 8-2 ATS as home favorites; Wheaton 7-2 ATS in road underdog spots (covering QF by 25).
Total Trends: 10 of Wheaton’s 13 games hit over (77%); UWRF unders in 6 of 8 home (defensive). DIII quarters avg. 51.4 points.
Moneyline Trends: UWRF 10-1 SU as favorites; Wheaton 6-1 SU as underdogs.
Historical Betting Results
DIII quarterfinal favorites are 21-11 ATS since 2015 (65.6%), covering by 4+ in 10 of 15 home games. Underdogs cover 8-5 in first meetings; totals under in snow (8-3 under 55 since 2018). Home WIAC teams win SU 11-4 but 6-9 ATS vs. top-10 offenses.
Game Odds
Wheaton (IL) Thunder 52.5
Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons – 3.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, December 12, 2025
