Around the WIAC (9/8)

• The WIAC’s 2010 non-conference football schedule is one of the strongest in the nation. 10 pre-conference games are against Top 25 ranked teams in the nation.

In week-one, UW-River Falls, UW-Oshkosh and UW-Stevens Point dropped games to the No. 8, No. 11 and No. 18 teams in the D3football.com Preseason Top 25.

The WIAC non-conference schedule is even more difficult this week with four games vs. Top 10 ranked teams..
(No. 2) Mount Union @ UW-Oshkosh
UW-River Falls @ (No. 5) St. Thomas (Minn)
(No. 6) Mary Hardin-Baylor @ UW-La Crosse
(No. 9) St. Johns @ UW-Eau Claire
Elsewhere in the WIAC on Saturday...
Jamestown (ND) at #RV UW-Stout
Dubuque (IA) at UW-Platteville
Dakota State (SD) at (No. 1) UW-Whitewater


• Quarterback Nick Anker experienced a rough season opener in UW-La Crosse’s 33-20 season opening loss to East Texas Baptist Saturday evening in La Crosse. Anker threw four interceptions and the Eagles coughed the ball up five times, twice in the final three minutes as they were driving toward a potential go-ahead touchdown. In addition to UWL's five turnovers, the offense didn't convert a third down until the 9-minute, 12-second mark of the fourth quarter. La Crosse finished 3-for-13 after a flurry of conversions on its final drive.

• UW-Stevens Point coach John Miech following the Pointer’s 33-14 loss to No. 18 Willamette after having a 14-0 first quarter lead. "I told the guys that was one of the best teams in the nation. I told them to look at the scoreboard, and that is how much we need to improve to beat the best team."

• UW-Oshkosh will try to snap Mount Union’s 43-game regular season win streak when the Titans and Purple Raiders face off on Saturday (Sept. 11) in Oshkosh. The University of Mount Union (Ohio), ranked second in the NCAA Division III by D3football.com, has not lost a regular-season contest since 2005 against Ohio Northern. Defending NCAA Division III national champion UW-Whitewater will come to Oshkosh on Nov. 6, making UW-Oshkosh the second team ever to host both of the previous year’s Stagg Bowl qualifiers. The Titans gave (No. 8) Central Iowa all it could handle before falling 34-28 at Central.

• UW-River Falls plays (No. 5) University of St. Thomas (Minn) Saturday in the Falcon’s home opener. It will also be the second consecutive game vs. a Top 15 team. Ohio Northern outscored the Falcon football team, 21-6, in the second half en route to a 35-21 win in a game played in Ada, Ohio last Thursday afternoon. The contest was tied, 21-21, midway through the third quarter before the Polar Bears scored twice to take the win in both teams' first game of the 2010 season. UWRF running back Taylor Edwards rushed for 191 yards and two touchdowns.