UW-L Opens Season with Win at Hardin-Simmons

For Immediate Release: Saturday, September 1, 2007

Abilene, Tex. – The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse used 662 yards of offense in a season-opening 47-21 victory at Hardin-Simmons University Saturday night at Shelton Stadium in Abilene. The Eagles, ranked seventh on D3football.com, finished with 322 yards rushing and 340 passing. The 662 yards are the third-most in single-game school history. UW-L finished with a school record 701 yards versus Upper Iowa University September 11, 1976.

The Eagles took the opening drive and went 85 yards on 10 plays as tailback Dan Hall scored on a nine-yard pass from quarterback Griffin Moe to lead 7-0. Hardin-Simmons, ranked 11th on D3football.com, came right back to tie the contest at 7-7 as Quinton Jones scored on a one-yard run. UW-L took a 14-7 lead with 2:19 left in the first quarter as Moe hit wide receiver Ted Everson with an 44-yard touchdown pass. Moe, making his first career start at quarterback for the Eagles, then threw his third touchdown pass of the half, hitting Jason Wagner with an eight-yard pass.

Moe hit tight end Eric Raisbeck with a 15-yard touchdown pass with 1:06 remaining in the second quarter to make it 27-7. The Cowboys cut the margin to 27-14 at halftime as Justin Feaster connected with Mychal Carrillo for a 20-yard touchdown pass with :13 left in the first half.

Hardin-Simmons took the opening kickoff of the second half and cut UW-L's lead to 27-21 as Feaster and Carrillo teamed up again for a touchdown, this time from six-yards out.

After the teams traded possessions, UW-L drove 89 yards on eight plays to take a 33-21 lead as tailback Eric Donoval scored on a four-yard run. Tailback Reid Oldenburg added two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter, scoring on an nine-yard run with 10:53 remaining and from 42-yards with 6:09 left.

Moe completed his first 14 passes of the game and finished 17-of-20 overall for 324 yards and four touchdowns. Everson caught five passes for 148 yards while Wagner had eight receptions for 125 yards. Everson and Wagner each had a touchdown catch. Donoval totaled 115 yards rushing on 17 attempts and a touchdown while Oldenburg finished with 92 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns. UW-L had 31 first downs in the contest and were 10-of-13 on third-down.

Linebacker Adam Neitzel led the UW-L defense with 10 tackles while linebacker Dane Cordes finished with eight tackles and one sack. Linebacker Drew Kiefer also had a sack for the Eagles and cornerback Matt Winney recorded an interception.

Hardin-Simmons finished with 339 yards of offense, including 135 rushing and 204 passing. Jones led the Cowboys with 95 yards rushing on 12 attempts with one touchdown while Feaster was 12-of-20 for 157 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

For complete stats, click here.

UW-L returns to action Saturday, September 15 hosting Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) at 1 p.m. in the Eagles' home opener.