East Texas Baptist 33, UW-La Crosse 20
La Crosse, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
opened its 2010 season with a 33-20 loss to East Texas Baptist
University Saturday night at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans
Memorial Field Sports Complex. It was also the Tigers'
season-opener. UW-L committed five turnovers in the contest,
including four interceptions.
The Eagles' Lee Lauters rushed for a career-high 214 yards on 28
carries.
ETBU took a 3-0 lead with 8:53 remaining in the first quarter as
Brett Peddicord hit a 27-yard field goal. UW-L came right back on
its next possession to take a 7-3 lead as Bakary Dao scored on an
eight-yard run. Lauters had a 30-yard run in the series. Peddicord
connected on his second field goal of the game, this one from
33-yards out, with 13:14 left in the second quarter to cut the lead
to 7-6.
After UW-L was forced to punt, the Eagles downed the ball on
ETBU's six-yard line. Three plays later, quarterback Sed Harris
scored on a 95-yard touchdown run to give the Tigers a 13-7
lead.
Each team traded possessions before Lauters made it 14-13 UW-L
with a 61-yard touchdown run with 4:44 left in the first half.
Harris was sacked on fourth-down on ETBU's next drive and UW-L
moved to the Tigers' 37-yard line, but Nick Anker was intercepted
by Kendrick Whitaker who returned the ball 55-yards to the Eagles'
13-yard line. Harris then hit Malcolm Wiltz with a touchdown pass
on the next play and ETBU took a 20-14 halftime lead.
The Tigers took a 26-14 lead with 13:34 left in the game as Harris
connected with Tony Cavness on a five-yard touchdown pass. UW-L cut
the deficit to 26-20 as Anker scored on a nine-yard run. Adam
Pannier's extra-point was missed.
UW-L took control of the ball with 2:01 remaining and drove to
ETBU's 39-yard line, but Anker was intercepted by Alex Cloudy on
the Tigers' two-yard line with :47 left. Harris added a 98-yard
touchdown run with :25 remaining to finish the scoring.
UW-L finished with 440 yards of offense, including 257 rushing and
183 passing. Anker was 14-of-34 for 183 yards with four
interceptions. Travis Bordeau caught five passes for 50 yards while
Kyle Steffen had four receptions for 76 yards.
ETBU totaled 423 yards, including 280 rushing and 143 passing.
Harris accounted for 404 yards, finishing with 261 rushing and two
touchdowns. He was 17-of-32 passing for 143 yards with two
touchdowns.
UW-L finished three-of-13 on third-down and lost one fumble. ETBU
was five-of-17 on third-down.
Jim Litscher, John Rozek and Phillip Minja led the Eagles' defense
with eight tackles each. Litscher also had one quarterback sack.
Jon Chitty led the Tigers with 12 tackles. ETBU's Jordan Hayes
recorded three tackles for loss, including one sack, while
Whitaker, Cloudy, Cody Finch and Frank Williams each had an
interception. Finch also recorded a blocked punt.
UW-L returns to action Saturday, September 11 hosting the
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) at 1 p.m.
