written by Todd Clark

      Eagles Defeat Rowan College for NCAA III Title

        The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse displayed the staunch defense
and explosive offense it exhibited all season to defeat Rowan College,
36-7, in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl to win the National Collegiate Athletic
Association Division III championship.
        It was the Eagles' second NCAA III title in four years and the
third title in the last 10 seasons under Head Coach Roger Harring.
        Turnovers and a 25-mile-an-hour wind grounded the Eagles offense in
the first quarter. The Eagles went three plays and out in their first
possession, and a short punt gave the Profs the ball on the UW-L 38-yard
line. Rowan drove to the 6-yard line before the Eagles defense came up with
a big turnover. Junior safety Travis DeFlorian picked off a Greg Lister
pass in the end zone to prevent the Profs from scoring.
        Trying to capitalize immediately on the turnover, the Eagles went
for the deep post. Sophomore wide receiver Jeremy Earp had two steps on the
Rowan defenders, but the ball hung in the wind enough for Tarrick Grace to
intercept the pass.
        Again the Eagles defense was put to the test early. The Profs drove
to the Eagles' 39-yard line before the drive stalled following two
incomplete passes resulting from a relentless UW-L pass rush. Sophomore
returner John Barrett lost track of where he was  when he called for a fair
catch of the Rowan punt at the Eagles 5-yard line.
        On the first play of the drive, senior running back Trevor Rogers
was separated from the ball by Grace and the Profs fell on the loose ball
to give them a first-and-goal at the UW-L 7-yard line. Two plays later,
Aaron Bosco got the Profs on the board with a 1-yard plunge.
        On the ensuing drive, the Eagles put together a nice drive but came
away empty. The 12-play drive reached the Rowan 28-yard line before the
Eagles were forced back close to midfield. The UW-L punt, however, hit a
Rowan blocker and was recovered by junior linebacker Chris Woreck to give
the Eagles excellent field position at the Rowan 21-yard line. Again, the
Eagles failed to come up with points on the now confident Rowan defense.
        However, Rowan couldn't get anything going offensively against the
Eagles. On UW-L's first drive of the second quarter. Senior All-American
Craig Kusick led a drive capped by a 4-yard toss to sophomore tight end
Dave Nagel to tie the game at 7-7.
        The following kickoff provided one of the key moments of the game.
The officials ruled Grace took possession of the ball on the kickoff at the
Rowan 1-yard and try to go back and down the ball for a touchback. Instead,
the ball was placed on the 1-yard line. Three plays later junior tackle
Mike Ivey tackled a Rowan ball carrier in the end zone for a safety. The
momentum had turned.
        Leading 9-6 with the ball on their own 15-yard line 16 seconds to
go in the first half. Instead of running the clock out, Kusick hit Earp in
stride down the sideline for an 85-yard touchdown pass to give UW-L a 16-7
halftime lead. It was a play Rowan would never recover from.
        The Eagles defense dominated the third quarter, allowing just four
yards of total offense in the quarter. By holding Rowan scoreless in the
quarter, the Eagles kept alive their streak of not allowing an opponent to
score in the third quarter all season.
        UW-L increased its lead to 23-7 with 1:44 left in the third
quarter. Kusick hit junior Erick Jenkins on a deep post for a 35-yard
strike.
        After Rowan fumbled the ensuing kickoff, the Eagles scored again
early in the fourth quarter on a 3-yard Kusick pass to Barrett. The Eagles
finished the scoring after senior safety Craig Driessen returned a Rowan
punt 33 yards to the Profs 10-yard line. Two plays later, senior fullback
Jason Tarkowski clinched the win with a 6-yard scoring run to give the
Eagles the 36-7 victory.
        The statistics indicate the total dominance by the Eagles. They
amassed 451 yards of total offense while the defense held Rowan to 153
yards. The time of possession was more than doubled in favor of the Eagles.

        The Eagles completed their season 14-0, the most wins in a season
in school history.

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