Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Friday, September 05, 2008
UW-L football opponent capsules
NONCONFERENCE
Hardin-Simmons Cowboys
7 p.m. Saturday at Winona, Minn.
COACH: Jimmie Keeling, 17th season
AFFILIATION: NCAA Division III
CONFERENCE: American Southwest
2007 RECORD: 6-4; UW-L VS H-S.: 1-0
STARTERS RETURNING: 17 (7 offense/8 defense/2 special teams).
KEY PLAYER: Sophomore quarterback Justin Feaster passed for 2,946 yards, 30 touchdowns and nine interceptions and rushed for another six TDs last season, directing the Cowboys’ multiple/spread offense.
North Dakota Fighting Sioux
1 p.m. Sept. 13 at Grand Forks, N.D.
COACH: Chris Mussman, second season
AFFILIATION: NCAA Division I FCS
CONFERENCE: Great West
2007 RECORD: 10-2; UW-L VS. UND: First meeting
STARTERS RETURNING: 12 (4 offense/7 defense/1 special teams).
KEY PLAYER: Senior quarterback Danny Freund passed for 2,860 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions last season and ranked third in NCAA Division II pass efficiency rating (167.7).
Azusa Pacific Cougars
8 p.m. Sept. 20 at Azusa, Calif.
COACH: Victor Santa Cruz, third year
AFFILIATION: NAIA
CONFERENCE: Independent
2008 record: 6-5; UW-L VS. APU: 2-0
STARTERS RETURNING: 16 (5 offense/10 defense/1 special teams)
KEY PLAYER: Wide receiver Jon Davis caught 73 passes for 1,258 yards and 21 touchdowns last season. The 6-3 Davis scored on a 41-yard touchdown against UW-L last year.
WIAC
UW-WHITEWATER WARHAWKS
1 p.m. Oct. 4 at Whitewater, Wis.
COACH: Lance Leipold, second year
2007 record: 14-1; UW-L VS. UW-W: 31-24
STARTERS RETURNING: 8 (4 offense/3 defense/1 special teams)
KEY PLAYER: Running back Jake Anderson backed up Gagliardi Trophy winner Justin Beaver last season and rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown in the Warhawks’ 35-28 win over UW-L. Anderson lost his starting job down the stretch to Derek Underwood, then won it back in the spring.
UW-EAU CLAIRE BLUGOLDS
7 p.m. Oct. 11 at Winona, Minn.
COACH: Todd Glaser, third year
2007 record: 9-3; UW-L VS. UW-EC: 50-22-2
STARTERS RETURNING: 19 (10 offense/8 defense/1 special teams)
KEY PLAYER: Quarterback Kyle Paulson suffered a knee injury early last year, leading to a scramble at the position that ended with punter Mitch Schaeuble taking over. Schaeuble’s strong performance — 1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns — was a big reason the Blugolds made it to the playoffs. Paulson is healthy and has regained the starting job.
UW-PLATTEVILLE PIONEERS
1 p.m. Oct. 18 at Winona, Minn.
COACH: Mike Emendorfer, 10th year
2007 record: 2-8; UW-L VS. UW-P: 53-18
STARTERS RETURNING: 11 (5 offense/5 defense/1 special teams)
KEY PLAYER: Running back Mike Genslinger adds an extra dimension to the Pioneers’ spread offense. Genslinger rushed for 979 yards and 10 touchdowns last year.
UW-OSHKOSH TITANS
1 p.m. Oct. 25 at Oshkosh, Wis.
COACH: Pat Cerroni, second year
2007 record: 7-3; UW-L VS. UW-O: 46-8-6
STARTERS RETURNING: 5 (1 offense/4 defense)
KEY PLAYER: Defensive end Spencer Schultz had 17 tackles and
2½ sacks last season on a defense that allowed 15 points per game, second in the conference.
UW-STOUT BLUE DEVILS
1 p.m. Nov. 1 at Menomonie, Wis.
COACH: Duey Naatz, second year
2007 record: 4-6; UW-L VS. UW-S: 64-13-5
STARTERS RETURNING: 15 (5 offense/8 defense/1 special teams).
KEY PLAYER: Linebacker Kyle Seiler, 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, led Stout with 90 tackles and 12 tackles for loss last season. Seiler will lead a good group of linebackers that includes Onalaska native Andy Towner.
UW-RIVER FALLS FALCONS
1 p.m. Nov. 8 at Winona, Minn.
COACH: John O’Grady, 20th year
2007 record: 3-7; UW-L VS. UW-RF: 55-29-7
STARTERS RETURNING: 10 (6 offense/2 defense/1 special teams)
KEY PLAYER: Wide receiver Michael Zweifel caught a school-record
97 passes for 1,056 yards last season, including a conference-record 18 against UW-L. Quarterback Storm Harmon returns to feed passes to Zweifel.
UW-STEVENS POINT POINTERS
1 p.m. Nov. 15 at Stevens Point, Wis.
COACH: John Miech, 21st year
2007 record: 6-4; UW-L VS. UW-SP: 41-9-4
STARTERS RETURNING: 14 (6 offense/6 defense/2 special teams)
KEY PLAYER: Running back Mike Ferron rushed for 859 yards and
11 touchdowns in eight games last season, missing time with an injury at the end of the year.
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