2015 UW-La Crosse Football ScheduleLa Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has announced its 2015 football schedule. The Eagles will play 10 games, including four home contests at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. UW-L, which finished 3-7 overall and 2-5 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in 2014, opens its season Friday, September 4 hosting Luther College (Iowa).
The 2015 schedule features five teams ranked or receiving votes in the final 2014 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and D3football.com Top-25 Polls.
Luther (Iowa) finished 5-5 overall and 2-5 in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) last season. The Eagles lead the all-time series, 7-4, with the Norse. The teams haven't met since Luther (Iowa) earned a 33-14 victory to open the 1960 season. Kickoff time for the 2015 season opener, also slated as Band Day and featuring performances from local high school bands, is set for 7 p.m.
UW-L travels to The University of St. Thomas (Minn.) Saturday, September 12 at 1 p.m. The Tommies finished 8-3 overall last season and 6-2 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), earning an at-large bid to the NCAA playoffs. St. Thomas (Minn.) fell 37-31 at Wartburg College (Iowa) in the first round of the 2014 national playoffs. St. Thomas (Minn.) is 66-9 over the last six seasons with one national championship appearance (2012), one national semifinal appearance (2011) and two national quarterfinal appearances (2009, 2010).
The Tommies lead the all-time series, 4-2-2, with the Eagles, including a 46-0 victory last season in St. Paul, Minnesota. St. Thomas (Minn.) finished 14th in the final 2014 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top-25 Poll and 16th on the 2014 D3football.com Top-25 Poll.
UW-L travels to The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) Saturday, September 19 with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. The Crusaders finished 11-1 overall and 5-0 in the American Southwest Conference (ASC) last year, capturing their fifth straight outright league title. Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) has won or shared the conference crown the last 10 seasons.
The Crusaders, ranked fifth in the final 2014 AFCA Top-25 Poll and sixth on the final D3football.com Top-25 Poll, advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Championships in 2014 for the 11th straight season before falling to Linfield College (Ore.) by the score of 31-28. Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) is just one of two teams (University of Mount Union, Ohio) in Division III to win at least one playoff game in each of the past 11 seasons. The Crusaders lead the all-time series, 3-0, with the Eagles, including 41-22 in La Crosse last season.
After a bye week, UW-L opens WIAC play Saturday, October 3 at UW-River Falls at 1 p.m. The Falcons finished 3-7 overall and 2-5 in the WIAC last season, including a 16-13 overtime victory over the Eagles in River Falls. UW-L leads the all-time series, 60-31-7.
The Eagles return to Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex for their conference home opener against UW-Stout Saturday, October 10. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Varsity Homecoming/Wall of Fame Day. The Blue Devils were 2-8 overall in 2014 and 1-6 in the conference. UW-L leads the all-time series, 68-15-6, against UW-Stout and won last season's meeting, 21-7 in La Crosse.
A trip to defending NCAA III champion UW-Whitewater is up next for UW-L Friday, October 16 at 7 p.m. The Warhawks have won five of the last six national titles and nine of the past 10 conference championships. UW-Whitewater finished first in the final 2014 AFCA and D3football.com Top-25 Polls. The Warhawks pulled ahead in the all-time series, 32-31, after winning 38-7, in La Crosse a year ago.
The 47th Annual Shrine Game is scheduled for Saturday, October 24 at 11:30 a.m. as UW-L hosts UW-Eau Claire. It is also Family Weekend. UW-Eau Claire finished 1-9 overall last year, including 1-6 in the conference. The Eagles earned a 20-10 road victory last season over the Blugolds. UW-L leads the all-time series, 52-27-2.
UW-L travels to UW-Stevens Point for a Halloween matchup Saturday, October 31 at 1 p.m. The Eagles lead the all-time series against the Pointers, 44-13-4, who finished 7-3 overall and 4-3 in the WIAC last year. UW-Stevens Point earned a 24-17 home victory last year over UW-L.
UW-Oshkosh visits Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex Saturday, November 7 for Senior Day/Veterans Day. Kickoff between the Titans and Eagles is set for 2 p.m. UW-Oshkosh earned a 21-18 win last year at UW-L. The Titans, ranked 20th in the final D3football.com Top-25 Poll and 25th in the AFCA Top-25 Poll, finished 6-4 overall and 6-1 in the WIAC in 2014. UW-L leads the all-time series, 49-13-6.
The regular season wraps-up for UW-L Saturday, November 14 at UW-Platteville with a 1 p.m. kickoff. The Pioneers were 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the league last season, earning a 24-17 victory over the Eagles in La Crosse. UW-Platteville received votes in the final AFCA and D3football.com Top-25 Polls. UW-L is 54-24 in overall meetings between the two schools.
Joel Dettwiler begins his fifth year as head coach of the Eagles in 2015.
