Week 1 WIAC Wrap

(No. 18) Willamette (Oregon) 33, (No. 16) UW-Stevens Point 14 (@ UWSP)

The first 11 minutes of its season opener went as well as it could for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point football team Saturday.

The final 49 minutes against Willamette University couldn't have gone much worse.
A promising start to the season for UW-Stevens Point ended with a disappointing 33-14 setback at the hands of the Bearcats in a matchup of nationally ranked Division III teams at Community Stadium at Goerke Park.

"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 teams," UW-Stevens Point coach John Miech said.


(No. 7) Central Iowa 34, UW-Oshkosh 28 (@ Pella, Iowa)

Nationally ranked Central College (Iowa) converted 9-of-9 third down opportunities to open the second half as it held off UW-Oshkosh, 34-28, on Saturday (Sept. 4) in Pella, Iowa.

Central College (1-0), ranked seventh in the NCAA Division III by D3football.com, went just 1-for-6 on third down in the opening half. Nate Snead executed the offense smoothly after the break, including a pair of completions late to run down the clock. UW-Oshkosh (0-1) got the ball with 1:10 remaining, but two short passes failed before Aaron Steenhoek recorded a sack to put the game away.

The loss was just the third setback for the Titans in their last 30 season openers. UW-Oshkosh did not turn the ball over in the contest while getting 179 yards passing and 50 yards rushing from Nathan Wara (So. • Oshkosh). Central College’s Snead was even better, accounting for 257 passing yards, 76 rushing yards and all four touchdowns. The Dutch, who have gone undefeated in three of the last four regular seasons, totaled 442 yards and possessed the ball for nearly 38 minutes.


East Texas Baptist 33, UW-La Crosse 20 (@ UW-L)

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse football team opened its 2010 season with a 33-20 loss to East Texas Baptist University Saturday night at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. It was also the Tigers' season-opener.

The Eagles' Lee Lauters rushed for a career-high 214 yards on 28 carries.

UW-L finished with 440 yards of offense, including 257 rushing and 183 passing. Anker was 14-of-34 for 183 yards with four interceptions. Travis Bordeau caught five passes for 50 yards while Kyle Steffen had four receptions for 76 yards.

ETBU totaled 423 yards, including 280 rushing and 143 passing. Harris accounted for 404 yards, finishing with 261 rushing and two touchdowns. He was 17-of-32 passing for 143 yards with two touchdowns.

The Eagles coughed the ball up five times, twice in the final three minutes as they were driving toward a potential go-ahead touchdown.


UW-Platteville 31, Buena Vista 2 (@ Storm Lake, Iowa)

UW-Platteville ran its season-opening streak to 12 straight years under Coach Mike Emendorfer, winning 31-2 Saturday at Buena Vista in Storm Lake, Iowa.

Nick Anderson threw three first-half touchdown passes, and Tommy Magna returned an interception 37 yards for a third-quarter score for the Pioneers.

The defense held the Beaver offense without a score, recorded nine sacks and forced seven turnovers. Magna had two interceptions, Gabe Epting had one, and the Pioneers recovered four fumbles.


UW-Eau Claire 35, Bethel (Tennessee) 31 (@ UWEC)

Joel Sweeney scored three touchdowns in his collegiate debut to help lead the Blugolds to a 35-31 victory over Bethel University (Tenn.) at Carson Park on Saturday.

The Blugolds have won their previous four season openers, three of which have come against the Wildcats, a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The Blugolds have never lost to Bethel, improving to 3-0 all-time against the Wildcats. Bethel falls to 0-2 on the season.


Black Hills State 14, UW-Stout 13 (OT) (Friday night in Spearfish, SD)

Ohio Northern 35, UW-River Falls 21 (Thursday afternoon in Ada, Ohio)