La Crosse, Wis. - In a match-up of top-11 ranked teams, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse football team fell, 28-21, to Hardin-Simmons University (Texas) Saturday afternoon at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex in the Eagles' home opener. UWL, ranked 11th on D3football.com, drops to 1-1 on the season while sixth-ranked Hardin-Simmons (Texas) improves to 2-0.
It is UWL's second loss in its last eight home openers.
In the third-ever meeting between the teams and first since 2008, UWL took the opening kickoff and drove 70 yards in 10 plays to take a 7-0 lead. Keyser Helterbrand's 14-yard touchdown pass to Jack Studer with 8:42 left on third-and-five followed by Michael Stack's extra-point made it 7-0. Helterbrand had a seven-yard run on third-and-two to start the drive and later hit Tyler Stubbendick for eight yards on third-and-five later in the drive.
Hardin-Simmons was forced to punt on its opening possession, but Stubbendick fumbled at UWL's 43-yard line with Hardin-Simmons' Jim Hitchcock recovering at the Cowboys' 49-yard line. Hardin-Simmons went 51 yards in six plays and 2:18 to tie the game with Noah Garcia scoring on a five-yard touchdown run. Grayson Bearden converted the extra-point to the game at 7-7 with 3:58 left in the opening quarter.
After a touchback on the ensuing kickoff, Helterbrand and Studer connected again for a touchdown, this one from 75-yards out, to give the Eagles a 14-7 lead with 3:45 remaining.
The Cowboys tied the game on their next drive. Hardin-Simmons went 71 yards in 3:35 and 11 plays as Colton Marshall scored on a two-yard run with :05 left in the first quarter. The touchdown was set-up by a Gaylon Glynn 24-yard pass to Marshall to UWL's one-yard line.
UWL scored on its third straight drive to take a 21-14 lead with 11:38 remaining in the second quarter as Helterbrand scored on a five-yard run. He had rushed for 16 yards on the previous play to the touchdown. The Eagles went 75 yards in eight plays and 3:37. The next three drives ended in punts. UWL took over with 4:18 left on its own 12-yard line, but Helterbrand was sacked on the final play of the first half by Cade Michna at the Eagles' 49-yard line as UWL took a 21-14 halftime advantage.
Hardin-Simmons only needed two plays in the third quarter to tie the game, 21-21. Glynn had a 13-yard run on the first play from scrimmage and Noah Garcia followed with a 56-yard touchdown run with 14:21 left. Bearden's extra-point tied the game. UWL punted on its first drive of the second half with Helterbrand punting it the Hardin-Simmons' (Texas) three-yard line. The Cowboys went 97 yards in 16 plays and 6:25 as Marshall scored on a one-yard run with 4:19 left in the third quarter to take a 28-21 lead.
Glynn converted third-and-seven from his own 46-yard line to K.J. Peoples on the second play of the fourth quarter, but UWL forced a fumble with Brennan Goralski recovering at the Eagles' 43-yard line. UWL converted fourth-and-one at the Hardin-Simmons' 42-yard line with a six-yard run by Helterbrand, but two plays later Demarcu Coleman intercepted Helterbrand at the Cowboys' 36-yard line. Hardin-Simmons was forced to punt and UWL took over at its own 22-yard line with 9:14 remaining. The Eagles drove to the Cowboys' 16-yard line before Helterbrand fumbled and Torii Pullen recovered the ball at the Hardin-Simmons' five-yard line with 3:59 left.
The Cowboys converted a third-and-six on a Glynn 13-yard pass to Peoples. UWL used three timeouts after running plays by Hardin-Simmons, forcing a Cody Harral punt. Zach Watson returned the punt to midfield and the Eagles took over with 1:13 left. Helterbrand completed a pass to Studer, but was called for an illegal forward pass, putting the ball at UWL's 48-yard line. Helterbrand's next pass was intercepted by Michna at the Cowboys' 41-yard line and Hardin-Simmons took over with :41 left.
UWL finished with 388 yards, including 186 rushing and 202 passing. The Eagles finished six-of-10 on third-down and converted their only fourth-down attempt. UWL was two-of-three in the red-zone and won the time of possession, 31:32 to 28:28.
Helterbrand finished 15-of-19 for 196 yards with two interceptions and two interceptions. He also rushed for a team-high 107 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries. Brant Bohman had 56 yards on 15 carries. Studer had three catches for 89 yards and a pair of touchdowns while Watson finished with three receptions for 19 yards. Eight different players caught a pass.
Hardin-Simmons totaled 427 yards of offense, including 229 rushing and 198 passing. The Cowboys were six-of-12 on third-down and also converted their only fourth-down attempt. Hardin-Simmons (Texas) was three-of-three in the red-zone.
Glynn went 16-of-23 for 198 yards while Garcia finished with 18 carries for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Marshall totaled 59 yards on 11 attempts and two touchdowns. Peoples had seven receptions for 70 yards.
Ryan Daines led UWL with 10 tackles, including seven unassisted, and 2.0 tackles for loss. Adam Quam finished with seven tackles. Michna led Hardin-Simmons with 13 tackles while also finishing with an interception, 1.0 tackle for loss and 1.0 quarterback sack.
UWL returns to action Saturday, September 16 at NCAA Division II Northern Michigan University at 1 p.m.