August 31, 2023

MADISON, S.D. – NCAA Division III Wisconsin-La Crosse, who was ranked No. 12 in the final d3football.com Top 25 national poll last season, limited Dakota State (S.D.) to 171 total offensive yards on a breezy Thursday evening in a 31-6 victory.  The Trojans hosted the eighth annual Ag Bowl game in their home opener and held the naming ceremony of the Dan Beacom Track Complex.

Dakota State closed out their non-conference schedule with a 0-2 record.  UWL was playing their season opener Thursday and improved to 3-0 record in all-time meeting with the Trojans.

DSU opens their eight-game North Star Athletic Association schedule next Saturday as they visit Waldorf (Iowa).  The game is set for 4 p.m. at Bolstorff Field in Forest City, Iowa.

FIRST QUARTER
Both teams were unable to convert a first down through the first four drives of the first quarter.  The Eagles tallied four yards on the first drive, followed by five yards for the Trojans.  UWL added eight yards on the next drive and was forced to punt with nine minutes, thirty-six seconds on the clock.

DSU was forced to punt on the ensuing possession.  Their punt was blocked by UWL, regaining possession on the DSU's 39-yard line after a penalty was enforced during the punt block return.

Wisconsin-La Crosse answered with seven plays for 32 yards in less than four minutes as they settled for a 24-yard field goal from Ryan Krueger with 4:12 left in the first.

The Trojans were held to six yards on the next play, while the Eagles closed out their opening quarter with a 27-yard reception on Jack Studer to DSU's 10-yard line.

SECOND QUARTER
Facing fourth-and-goal on DSU's seven-yard line, the Eagles converted the fourth down with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Zach Weier to Zach Watson with 13:35 left.  Stack followed up with a successful PAT extra-point kick to extend their lead to 10-0.

After DSU was forced to punt on the next drive, UWL went on with six plays for 52 yards in 3:24 as Weier threw a 47-yard pass to Studer for a touchdown with 9:10 to go before halftime.  Stack's PAT extra point kick was good to put Wisconsin-La Crosse up 17-0.

Dakota State's defense halted the Eagles to move the ball, stopping them at the fourth-and-1 situation on DSU's 26-yard line with 4:24 left.

The Trojans recorded their first down of the game on the ensuing drive as Brady Dannenbring threw an 11-yard pass to Michael Hybertson to DSU's 37-yard line.  The Trojans were forced to punt after recording four plays for 16 yards in 1:46.

UWL led 17-0 by halftime, outgaining DSU 236-32 in total offensive yards in the first thirty minutes.

THIRD QUARTER
Dakota State kicked off the third quarter, highlighted by Dannenbring's three consecutive passing plays to Cole Sylliaasen, resulting in two first-downs.  DSU, however, was forced to punt with less than 12 minutes to go in the third.

The Eagles moved the ball to DSU's 13-yard line before the Trojans' defense made a stop on a fourth down situation, regaining possession with 9:40 on the clock.

Two plays later, UWL intercepted DSU's pass on DSU's 32-yard line with 9:01 to go in the third and started their drive after being penalized and started their drive on DSU's 47-yard line.

Both teams were unable to score in the third quarter.  Dakota State's defense made another fourth-down stop on DSU's 18-yard line with less than a minute to go.

FOURTH QUARTER
Dakota State kicked off the fourth quarter with a punt.  Wisconsin-La Crosse went on to use three plays for 42 yards after a 21-yard touchdown pass from Weier to Ryan Bartol with 13:29 remaining.

Stack hit the PAT extra-point kick to make it 24-0 in favor of the Eagles.

Wisconsin-La Crosse extended their lead to 31-0 after registering seven plays for 56 yards in 4:48 as Keyser Helterbrand connected to Ryan Bartol for a 19-yard touchdown pass with 8:09 left.

DSU snapped their scoring drought on the ensuing possession with eight plays for 83 yards, highlighted by 38-yard reception by Austin Lake.

Dannenbring threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Shaun Crawford, Jr. with 4:58 remaining, trailing 31-6.

The Eagles secured the game by closing the game with eight plays for 63 yards in 4:58.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Dannenbring finished the game by going 19-of-36 for 171 yards and a touchdown.  Lake had eight catches for 99 yards.  Sylliaasen added three receptions for 26 yards and recorded a 48-yard punt in the fourth quarter.  Roger Moore had two catches for 19 yards, while Hybertson added two receptions for 18 yards.  Crawford, Jr. had a touchdown.

Cooper Maras led the Trojans' defense with nine tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss of four yards.  Collin Brueggeman added eight tackles.  Robert Cage and Jeremiah 'JJ' Beck each added seven tackles.  Beck registered three tackles-for-loss of six yards.  Jay Skogerboe and Devonte Murphy each recorded six tackles.

Helterbrand was 12-of-18 for 196 yards and a touchdown for UWL.  Weier also was 7-of-9 for 133 yards and three touchdowns.  Studer had six catches for 158 yards and a touchdown.  Bartol added four receptions for 55 yards and two touchdowns.

Five Eagle rushers recorded at least four carries for 27 yards or more, led by Dayo Oye with seven rushes for 46 yards.  Brant Bohman added 18 rushes for 40 yards. 

Adam Quam led Wisconsin-La Crosse with six tackles.  Henry Walsh had a quarterback sack.  Trent Mullen caught an interception. 

TEAM COMPARISONS
Wisconsin-La Crosse racked up 516 total offensive yards in the game, with 329 passing yards and 187 rushing yards. Dakota State was limited to 171 passing yards and nine rushing yards.  UWL had 70 offensive plays compared to DSU 49 plays.

The Eagles produced 21 first downs to the Trojans nine first downs. 

Wisconsin-La Crosse held the ball for 39 minutes and 46 seconds.  Dakota State had the ball for 20 minutes and 14 seconds.

DSU was 2-of-12 on third down while UWL was 2-of-13 third down plays.  The Eagles converted 3-of-6 on fourth down situations. 
 

	Dan Beacom Track Complex Naming Ceremony
	Dan Beacom Track Complex Naming Ceremony
	Dan Beacom Track Complex Naming Ceremony
	Dan Beacom Track Complex Naming Ceremony
	8th Annual Ag Bowl Game
	8th Annual Ag Bowl Captains Johnson Farms
	2023 NSAA Men's Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Championships
	2023 NSAA Men's Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Championships