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Justin Jacobs and UW-
La Crosse.
The first name is that of his predecessor, the two-time WIAC Player of the Year who led the Warhawks to back-to-back conference titles and national championship runner-up finishes.
The second name, of course, is that of Whitewater’s biggest rival.
Jones, a senior who transferred from California Lutheran, on Saturday officially stepped out from Jacobs’ shadow as he led a furious
25-point rally to beat the Eagles 35-28 at Veterans Memorial Field.
Jones conducted the rally without the help of Warhawks star running back Justin Beaver, who left the game late in the third quarter with leg cramps.
“Wow, words can’t describe how I feel right now,” Jones said. “It’s awesome. They were telling me about (the La Crosse rivalry) when I got here in June.”
After a start that he described as “horrible” — Jones didn’t complete a pass in the first quarter and was 3-for-11 with an interception at halftime — he heated up and finished 16-for-30 with 204 yards and two touchdowns.
Jones was named WIAC Offensive Player of the Week after throwing three touchdowns in a win over Eau Claire Sept. 22, but leading a comeback at La Crosse was ultimate validation for a Whitewater quarterback.
“I’m real happy for him because now more than ever he feels like he’s a part of this football team,” Whitewater coach Lance Leipold said.
Jones agreed.
“(Jacobs) was a great quarterback and he did a lot of great things and had all his teammates’ respect,” Jones said. “I can’t come in here and be Justin Jacobs. I can only come in here and do the things I’m good at.”
That was good enough for the Warhawks.
“Justin Jacobs was a tremendous player for us and a lot of people didn’t think he’d be replaceable,” said wide receiver Matt Gifford, who caught touchdown passes of 29 and 14 yards from Jones in the fourth quarter. “Danny has worked his tail off and he’s put a lot of heart into it. He’s got guts and he came out and led us.”
MOE RATTLED: Eagles quarterback Griffin Moe had an outstanding day on paper, completing 16 of 23 passes for 308 yards and four touchdowns with one interception.
But there was a flip side to Moe’s day. He was sacked five times and finally knocked out of the game late in the fourth quarter when tight pass coverage sent him running toward the sideline.
Just before Moe got out of bounds, Whitewater linebacker A.J. Raebel put a shoulder into his chest, snapping Moe’s head back and sending him to the bench dazed.
“I don’t know who hit me or where they hit me,” Moe said after the game. “I’m not sure (if he has a concussion) they’re going to evaluate me some more.”
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES: The UW-La Crosse offense was rolling in the first half, no doubt about it. The Eagles had 317 total yards of offense and already had a 100-yard rusher (Dan Hall) and 100-yard receiver (Ted Everson).
Three plays cost the Eagles a chance at turning their 21-7 halftime lead into something even bigger, and the letdowns would cost them in the end.
Leading 7-0, UW-L had a fourth-and-three pass stopped on Ryan Ogrizovich’s sack.
Two series later, the Eagles got to Whitewater’s 28, lost 14 yards on another sack, and had to punt.
Ahead 14-0 in the second quarter, UW-L had a first-and-goal at the 5 and went backwards until Dylan Rude missed a 40-yard field goal.
