http://cslab.uwlax.edu/~ander_rj/foot/plat97.html (Internet on a CD, 07/1998)
University of Wisconsin La Crosse Football Home Page
Eagles Overcome Mistakes, Down UW-Platteville 26-7
by Rob Anderson
A quick look at the statistics from the game between UW-La Crosse and UW-Platteville makes you wonder which team won last Saturday'žs football game.
Consider that UW-La Crosse fumbled the ball five times and UW-Platteville recovered all five. Consider that UW-Platteville returned one fumble for a touchdown, the first time that had ever happened against UW-L in 89 years of football. Consider that UW-La Crosse kicker Bryan Morris had two extra points blocked, another extra point missed to the right, and he also missed a 33-yard field goal. Consider that UW-La Crosse committed 10 penalties, one of which called back a 70-yard touchdown.
After considering the above numbers, you might be surprised to learn the Eagles still left Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium with a commanding 26-7 victory. For that, they can thank their stingy defensive unit that held the Pioneers 0-for-15 on third down conversions.
UW-L's Jeremy Earp appeared to give the Eagles a 6-0 lead after hauling in a 70-yard touchdown pass from Jeff Baker. However, a penalty by the Eagles negated the score. Taking advantage of another opportunity afforded by a UW-L mistake, UW-Platteville would get on the scoreboard first when Tim Duffy scooped up a beau Coulter fumble and returned it for a touchdown. Amazingly, it was the first time in UW-L history that an opponent had returned a fumble for a touchdown. The successful conversion made the score 7-0.
The Pioneers maintained their lead until tight end Jeff Peterson caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Baker with 6:57 to play in the second quarter. However, Duffy blocked the extra point attempt by Bryan Morris, and the 7-6 score remained until half-time.
The Eagles used another big play that led to their second touchdown. Brandon Hall caught a 49-yard pass to take the ball down to the Platteville 17-yard line. Three plays later, Baker scored on a 13-yard quarterback draw to give the Eagles a lead they would never relinquish, 12-7. Once again, Morris would have his extra point blocked. On that play, only a tackle by holder Jerry Faust prevented Platteville from recording the first ever defensive extra point against the Eagles.
UW-L scored on their first offensive play of the fourth quarter, as Earp sprinted past the Platteville secondary after running a post pattern for a 51-yard touchdown. Rather than chance another botched extra point, La Crosse went for a two-point conversion, and Baker responded with a successful run to close the scoring at 26-7.
Two drives later, senior fullback Ryan Shaver bulldozed in from 10 yards out to push the UW-L lead to 18-7. Morris made the extra point, but a UW-L penalty forced him to do it again. On the second try, Morris missed it to the right.
The Pioneers, who entered the game averaging close to 230 yards rushing per game, were held to just 62 overall. In their 61 offensive plays, they only managed 156 yards total. For the game, they finished with just nine first downs, and three of those were due to UW-L penalties.
Freshman Tom Romportl led the Eagles with eight tackles. Earp caught six passes for 180 yards to lead La Crosse. Baker completed 13-of-26 passes for 253 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The Eagles will take their 4-1 (2-1 WIAC) record to River Falls, Wis., this Saturday. Their game against UW-River Falls (3-2, 2-1) will begin at 1 p.m.