La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse football team opened its 2025 home season with a 31-22 win over National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Wayne State University (Mich.) Saturday afternoon at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. The Eagles, ranked ninth on this week's D3football.com Top-25 Poll, improve to 2-0 while the Warriors drop to 0-3.

In the second-ever meeting the teams, UWL and Wayne State (Mich.) traded punts on the first four possessions of the game until the Warriors took a 7-0 lead with 6:37 left in the first quarter on D'Vaun Bentley's two-yard touchdown run. The run was set-up after a 30-yard pass from Champion Edwards to Drew Hickmott. Griffin Nowak converted the extra point.

After allowing the first seven points of the game on Saturday, UWL scored the next 31 to improve to 2-0 all-time versus Wayne State (Mich.). The Eagles earned a 28-21 win over the Warriors in 2022. 

UWL tied the game at 7-7 with 7:55 remaining in the second quarter. The drive started at the Warriors' 44-yard line after the Eagles forced a punt. Kyle Haas hit Tyler Bowman with a 25-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-one to the tie the contest. Michael Stack made the extra point.

The Eagles took a 10-7 lead at halftime on Stack's 19-yard field goal on the final play of the half. UWL used 10 plays and 2:07 in going 55 yards.

Haas opened the second half with a six-yard touchdown pass to Jack Janke with 9:42 remaining in the third quarter to take a 17-7 lead. The drive went 73 yards in 10 plays and 5:11.  

Wayne State (Mich.) punted on its first drive of the third quarter, but the Warriors recovered an Eagles' fumble on the punt. Six plays later, Edwards was intercepted by UWL's Tyr Severson at the Eagles' 16-yard line. UWL took advantage of the turnover to extend its lead to 24-7 as Haas hit Bowman with an 11-yard touchdown pass with 1:17 left in the third quarter. UWL went 84 yards in seven plays and 2:59.

Haas threw his fourth touchdown pass of the game with 7:33 remaining, this one for 67-yards to Janke, to make it 31-7. The drive used three plays to go 72 yards in 1:36.

On the ensuing possession, Wayne State (Mich.) cut the deficit to 31-14 with 4:46 left with Braden Siri hitting Donovan Isaac with a five-yard touchdown pass. The Warriors went 74 yards in five plays and 2:47. After forcing a UWL punt, Wayne State (Mich.) went 56 yards in seven plays and 2:25 to cut the lead to 31-22. Siri connected with Jordan Bell on a five-yard touchdown pass and the duo connected on the two-point conversion to make it a nine-point game with 1:48 remaining.

UWL recovered the on-side kick and ran out the final 1:47.

With the win, UWL improved to 8-2 in its last 10 home openers. The Eagles are 27-4 overall in their last 31 home contests.

UWL finished 398 yards of offense on Saturday, including 55 rushing and 343 passing. The Eagles totaled 20 first downs while going seven-of-17 on third-down and won the time of possession, 33:20 to 26:40.

Haas went 29-of-39 for 344 yards and four touchdowns with Janke and Booman each finishing with two touchdown receptions. Haas set career-highs in completions, attempts and yards while tying his career-high in touchdown passes. 

Janke had 10 receptions for 147 yards while Bowman finished with six catches for 70 yards. Janke set career-highs in receptions and yards while tying his career-high in touchdown catches. Bowman's towndown receptions were also a career-high. Gabe Lynch led UWL with 29 yards rushing on 16 carries with Jacob Huber totaled 26 yards on five attempts.

Tate Pitcher led the Eagles' defense with five tackles while Sam Baumgard and Tyler Burkley each had four tackles.

Wayne State (Mich.) totaled 277 yards with 76 rushing and 201 passing. The Warriors had 11 first downs in the game and went four-of-15 on third-down.
 

Siri went 11-of-16 passing for 139 yards and two touchdowns while Edwards finished five-of-18 for 62 yards and an interception. Bell caught three passes for 72 yards and one touchdown. XaVior Tyus had 36 yards rushing on 11 carries.

Martell Williams had a game-high 12 tackles.

UWL returns to action Saturday, October 4 at 16th-ranked UW-Whitewater at 1 p.m.