UWEC, UW-Stout Begin Preparing For WIAC Opener - WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and Sports

Eau Claire, Menomonie (WQOW) -- The WIAC portion of the football season kicks off Saturday with the War On 94, between UW-Stout and UW-Eau Claire.

The Blugolds have stumbled out of the gate with three non-conference losses, while the Blue Devils have gone 2-1.

Despite the slow start, UWEC head coach Todd Glaser says his guys will be ready for their long-time rivals.

"It's a big one for us because it is a rivalry," says Glaser, "it's a league game. That's why you play, to face your conference schedule. I know our kids are excited to get back home and play."

UW-Stout is coming off a non-conference win over another local rival, UW-River Falls, 20-9.

"Everyone knows they are our rivals," says Blue Devils head coach Clayt Birmingham, "there's really not much hype you have to do with it. It just comes naturally to the kids. Offensively they have a lot of weapons. Very good quarterback, very good running back. He's going to be a hard guy to get down on the ground. He's a big kid and we have to try to stop their run game. But then they have a arsenal attack to, so it'll be a good game."

UW-Stout and UW-Eau Claire will kick it off at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, at Carson Park.