2021 UW-La Crosse Football Schedule

La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has announced its 2021 football schedule.  The Eagles will play 10 games, including four home contests at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex.  UWL, which finished 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in 2019, opens its season Saturday, September 4 Dakota State University (S.D.) at 4 p.m.

Matt Janus enters his second season as UWL's head coach in 2021 after the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 public health threat. Janus served as the Eagles' defensive coordinator from 2017-19..  A native of Lake Zurich, Illinois, Janus is the 14th head coach in school history.  UWL finished in the top-four in eight defensive categories in the WIAC in 2019, including second in turnover margin (+8), opponents' third-down conversions (34.0%) and red-zone defense (65.0%).  The Eagles were third in the league in rushing defense (107.7 yards per game) and quarterback sacks (40) while finishing fourth in scoring defense (22.1 points per game), total defense (365.3 yards) and passing defense efficiency (113.9).  A total of 15 All-WIAC honors were earned in Janus' three seasons as defensive coordinator, including five first team choices.  

     
"We are so excited to release our schedule to all of Eagle Nation," says Janus.  "After a canceled season, I know our campus, community, and alumni are excited to begin looking to the 2021 football season." 

UWL's 22 overall victories from 2017-19 are the most since 2003-05 (22).  The Eagles' 15 league wins are their most in a three-year span since 2004-06 (15).  UWL placed third in the conference standings in 2019, including a 31-3 victory over eventual co-champion UW-Oshkosh.  UWL was ranked 25th in the final regular-season 2019 D3football.com Top-25 Poll while receiving votes in the final American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top-25 Poll.   

It will be the first-ever meeting between UWL and Dakota State (S.D.).  The teams were originally scheduled to face each other in 2020 in La Crosse.  Dakota State (S.D.), a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), finished 3-5 overall and in the Northern Star Association in 2020.  The Trojans have played a pair of scrimmages this spring and have a regular scheduled game on April 24 hosting Mayville State University (N.D.).

UWL's home opener is set for Saturday, September 11 versus the University of Dubuque (Iowa) at 6 p.m.  The Spartans lead the all-time series, 5-4, with the Eagles.  UWL won (24-8) the last meeting between the two teams at Dubuque in 2014.  Dubuque (Iowa) is 1-0 this spring, earning a 17-13 victory at Coe College (Iowa) on Saturday, March 27.  The Spartans host Luther College (Iowa) on Saturday, April 17.  Dubuque (Iowa) finished 7-3 overall and 6-2 in the American Rivers Conference in 2019. 

The Eagles wrap up their non-conference schedule at Grand Valley State University (Mich.) at 2 p.m. (Central) on Saturday, September 18.  Grand Valley State (Mich.) is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II and Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).  The Lakers finished 8-3 overall and 5-3 in the GLIAC in 2019.  Grand Valley State (Mich.) has made 19 NCAA Division II playoff appearances in school history, including six trips to the national championship game.  The Lakers have captured the national title four times (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006).  Grand Valley State (Mich.) won the only other meeting with UWL, earning a 24-14 victory in the 1978 NAIA Playoffs. 

"Our non-conference schedule brings exciting matchups which are designed to challenge our team for our conference schedule and provide them with an enriching experience as we play teams from a variety of different levels from NAIA, to Division III, to Division II," says Janus.  

After a bye week, UWL opens the 2021 WIAC schedule at UW-River Falls on Saturday, October 2.  UWL leads the all-time series, 64-32-7, with the Falcons.  The Eagles won the 2019 meeting, 63-49, and have won 24 of the last 27 games with the Falcons.  UW-River Falls was 2-8 overall and 1-6 in the league in 2019. 

UW-Oshkosh comes to La Crosse on Saturday, October 9 to open UWL's home conference schedule.  It will also be Family Weekend.  UWL leads UW-Oshkosh, 50-17-6, snapping an eight-game losing streak to the Titans with a 31-3 victory in 2019.  UW-Oshkosh tied for the conference crown (6-1) with UW-Whitewater in 2019 while going 8-3 overall.  The Titans advanced the NCAA Division III Championships in 2019, falling 38-37 in overtime at Central College (Iowa). 

UWL travels to UW-Platteville on Saturday, October 16 before returning to La Crosse to host UW-Stout on Saturday, October 23 for Varsity Homecoming. UW-Platteville snapped a two-game losing streak to UWL with a 38-20 win in 2019. UWL leads the all-time series, 56-27.  UW-Platteville was 7-3 overall and 4-3 in the WIAC in 2019. UWL has won the last eight games with the UW-Stout, including 40-22 in 2019.  UWL leads the all-time series, 73-15-6.  UW-Stout was 4-6 overall and 3-4 in the league in 2019. 

The Eagles hit the road for a pair of conference contests, traveling to UW-Stevens Point on Saturday, October 30 and to UW-Whitewater on Saturday, November 6. UW-Stevens Point finished 3-7 overall and 2-5 in the WIAC in 2019.  UWL earned a 34-17 victory in Stevens Point in the team's last meeting. The Eagles lead the all-time series with the Pointers, 47-15-4, winning the last three overall.  UW-Whitewater, winners of 17 straight over UWL, tied for the WIAC title in 2019 with UW-Oshkosh with a 6-1 league mark.  UW-Whitewater finished 13-2 overall, falling 41-14 to North Central College (Ill.) in the NCAA Division III Championship game.  The Warhawks lead the all-time series, 37-31, with the Eagles, including a 21-17 victory in 2019. 

UWL finishes its regular-season hosting UW-Eau Claire on Saturday, November 13 at 11:30 a.m. on Veterans Day/Senior Day.  The Eagles has won the last three games with the Blugolds, including 42-7 in 2019.  The Eagles lead the all-time series, 56-28-2.  The Blugolds were 3-7 overall and 1-6 in the WIAC in 2019.

UWL has won 33 WIAC titles in school history and made 11 appearances in the NCAA Division III Playoffs.  The Eagles captured the national title in 1992 and 1995.

"We know how challenging the road for number 34 will be as we look towards our conference schedule," says Janus.  "Every game will be a battle, and that's what makes this league so special.  There is no other feeling in the world like Saturday's in the fall around the state Wisconsin."  

Seven players return in 2021 with All-WIAC accolades, including punter Sean Parker who has earned three all-league honors.  He was named to the 2017 and 2019 All-WIAC Honorable Mention Team and to the 2018 All-WIAC Second Team. Parker averaged 39.0 yards per punt in 2019, finishing with 1,521 yards on 39 punts.  He had a season-long punt of 61-yards while finishing with seven inside the 20-yard line.  Parker ranked second in the WIAC in punting average.  
 

Linebacker Rusty Murphy was selected to the 2018 All-WIAC Honorable Mention Team and to the 2019 All-WIAC First Team. He started all 10 games in 2019, leading UWL in overall (71) and unassisted (43) tackles.  Murphy had a team-high 12.0 tackles for loss while tying for the team lead in forced (3) and recovered (3) fumbles.  

Wide receiver Jake Simuncak was voted to the 2018 and 2019 all-conference second team on special teams as well as the 2019 All-WIAC Second Team Offense. He led UWL in all-purpose yards (1,543), punt return average (6.5) and kickoff return average (22.6) in 2019.  Simuncak became UWL's career leader in kickoff return yards with 1,492, breaking John Barrett's (1994-97) record of 1,441.  He was second on the team in receptions (55) and receiving yards (649) in 2019 while finishing third in receiving touchdowns (5) and receiving yards per game (64.9). 

Running back Joey Stutzman was selected to the 2019 All-WIAC Second Team Offense after leading UWL in rushing attempts (153), yards (655) and touchdowns (7) while finishing second in total offense (655 yards) and third in all-purpose yards (827).  He caught 15 passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns in 2019, finishing fourth for the Eagles in receptions and receiving touchdowns.  

Wide receiver Cameron Sorenson and offensive lineman Alex Bongers were both named to the 2019 All-WIAC Honorable Mention Team while offensive lineman Connor Berry was voted to the 2018 All-WIAC Second Team. Sorenson was second on the team in touchdown catches (8) in 2019 while finishing third in receptions (30) and yards (628).  He averaged 20.9 yards per catch.  Sorenson caught eight passes for a school record 297 yards with three touchdowns against UW-River Falls.  Bongers started all 10 games in 2019 while Berry started nine as UWL averaged 31.8 points and 405.5 yards of offense per game.