Box Score Madison, S.D. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse football team, ranked 12th on the D3football.com Top-25 Preseason Poll, opened its season with a 31-6 victory over Dakota State University (S.D.) Thursday night at The Dan Beacom Track Complex. The Trojans fall to 0-2 on the season.
UWL, now 3-0 all-time versus Dakota State (S.D.), earned its ninth straight season-opening win. The Eagles improve to 67-32-11 (.656) all-time in season openers.
Both teams were forced to punt on its first two possessions of the game Thursday night. UWL's
Ryan Bartol blocked Dakota State's (S.D.) second punt of the game with the Eagles taking over at the Trojans' 39-yard line. Seven plays later,
Michael Stack converted a 24-yard field goal with 4:12 remaining in the first quarter to give UWL a 3-0 lead. The lead remained 3-0 at the first quarter. After forcing another punt, UWL went 61 yards in eight plays for a 10-0 lead after
Zach Weir threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Zach Watson with 13:35 left in the opening half.
The Eagles extended their lead to 17-0 with 9:10 left in the first half as Weir connected with
Jack Studer for a 47-yard touchdown pass. UWL went 52 yards in six plays.
Dakota State (S.D.) was forced to punt on its first six possessions of the first half. The Trojans' Brady Dannenbri was sacked by the Eagles'
Henry Walsh on the final play of the first half.
After a scoreless third quarter, Weir hit Bartol on a 21-yard touchdown pass to make it 24-0 with 13:29 left in the fourth quarter. UWL went 42 yards in three plays. The Eagles later forced another Trojans punt and Bartol caught his second touchdown pass of the game, this one from 19-yards out from
Keyser Helterbrand. The Eagles used seven plays to go 56 yards. Dakota State (S.D.) avoided the shutout with 4:58 remaining as Dannenbri threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Shaun Crawford. The extra-point was missed as the Trojans went 83 yards in eight plays.
UWL finished with 516 yards, including 187 rushing and 329 passing. The Eagles averaged 7.4 yards per play. UWL had 21 first downs in the game while going two-of-13 on third-down. The Eagles won the time of possession, 39:46 to 20:14.
Helterbrand went 12-of-18 passing for 196 yards and one touchdown while Weir finished seven-of-nine for 133 yards and three touchdowns.
Dayo Oye led the team with 46 yards rushing while
Brant Bohman totaled 40 and
Gage Boegli 38. Studer caught seven passes for 181 yards and one touchdown with Bartol finished with four receptions for 55 yards and two touchdowns.
Dakota State (S.D.) totaled 180 yards of offense Thursday night, including nine rushing. The Trojans were held to nine first downs. Dakota State (S.D.) punted 10 times in the game. Dannenbri went 19-of-36 for 171 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Tyce Ortman led the team with eight yards rushing on seven carries. Austin Lake caught eight passes for 99 yards.
Adam Quam led UWL's defense with six tackles with
Shane Lange recording four. Cooper Maras led Dakota State (S.D.) with nine tackles.
UWL returns to action Saturday, September 9 hosting eighth-ranked Hardin-Simmons University (Texas) at 1 p.m. at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex.
