La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse football team fell 35-24 to the University of Dubuque (Iowa) Saturday night at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex in the season-opener for both teams. It was the first meeting between the teams since 1937.

In a contest with the heat index at 97 degrees at kickoff, Dubuque took the opening kickoff and drove 86 yards in 14 plays and 6:26 to take a 7-0 lead. Bryan Bradshaw hit Tyler Dobratz with an 18-yard touchdown pass and Curtis Prull converted the extra point. Bradshaw went seven-for-nine on the opening drive.

UW-L's Andy Sires completed a 21-yard pass to Jeff Haffemann on its first offensive play to its own 46-yard line, but the Eagles were later forced to punt. The Spartans responded with a four play and 74 yard drive in 1:44 to take a 14-0 advantage with 5:27 left in the first as Bradshaw connected with Tyler Rutenbeck on a 64-yard touchdown pass.

Dubuque took a 21-0 lead with 12:43 remaining in the second quarter as Reggie Cole, Jr. returned a Sires interception 22-yards for a touchdown.

The Eagles got on the board with 7:50 left in the first half on Matt Van Druten's 32-yard field goal. UW-L went 75 yards on 18 plays in 4:54 to cut its deficit to 21-3.  The Eagles had a chance to cut into the lead on the final play of the first half, but Van Druten's 32-yard attempt went wide left.

UW-L cut the lead to 21-10 with 6:42 remaining in the third quarter as Sires hit Chase Montgomery on a 24-yard touchdown play. Van Druten converted the extra point, but Dubuque came right back on its next possession as Rutenbeck caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from Bradshaw with 5:31 left in the third quarter to make it 28-10. The Spartans went 65 yards in three plays in 1:20.

It only two offensive plays for the Eagles to cut the deficit back to 28-17 with 4:34 left in the quarter as Sires and Tony Favre connected on a 74-yard touchdown catch.

Kyle Acker gave Dubuque a 35-17 advantage with 10:40 left in the fourth quarter on a two-yard touchdown run. The drive went 12 plays and 75 yards in 4:54. Sires was intercepted on the next two drives for the Eagles before he threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Haffemann with :14 remaining to make it 35-24. UW-L went 60 yards in six plays and 1:37.

UW-L finished with 472 yards of offense, including 74 rushing and 398 passing. Sires finished 32-of-55 passing for 398 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions. The 32 completions ties the single-game school record set by Nick Anker versus UW-Eau Claire November 6, 2010. Sires' 55 attempts is second in single-game school history behind the 57 attempted by Anker against UW-Eau Claire November 7, 2009. The 398 yards passing for Sires ranks fourth in UW-L history. Bob Krepfle threw for a school record 509 yards versus UW-River Falls November 12, 1983.

Haffemann (73 yards) and Chris Stackhouse (41) both had five catches for the Eagles with Haffemann finishing with one touchdown catch. Montgomery had four receptions for 46 yards and a touchdown while Jared Stan, Ben Hertrampf, Alex Lepp and Mark Dorlack each had three catches. Eleven different players caught a pass for UW-L.

Stan led UW-L with 55 yards rushing on 13 carries while Hertrampf finished with 23 yards on seven attempts.

The Eagles were seven-of-15 on third-down and two-of-four in red-zone opportunities. Sires was sacked five times.

Dubuque recorded 455 yards on offense, including 129 rushing and 326 passing. Bradshaw was 21-of-34 for 326 yards and three touchdowns. Rutenbeck had five catches for 170 yards and two touchdowns while Sean Anderson finished with five receptions for 54 yards. Dobratz had four catches for 40 yards and a touchdown.

Acker finished with 104 yards rushing and one touchdown on 25 carries.

The Spartans were also seven-of-15 on third down and finished two-of-two in the red-zone. Dubuque won the time of possession, 32:20 to 27:40.

Shane Rockweiler (seven solo) and Jay Wussow (five solo) led UW-L with eight tackles. Mitch Hawkins and Jacob Flegner each had seven tackles. Flegner had two pass break-ups.

Oscar White and Blaine Snitker led Dubuque with seven total tackles. Andrew Mariotti had two quarterback sacks while four different players had an interception.

UW-L returns to action Saturday, September 14 hosting sixth-ranked North Central College (Ill.) at 1 p.m.