RIVER FALLS, Wis. — Nine touchdown passes.
That’s what Evan Lewandowski had for the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse football team on Saturday in a 63-49 win at UW-River Falls — a game that was scoreless through the first quarter.
That number tied an NCAA Division III record. The 6-foot-3, sophomore quarterback finished 28-for-44 for 591 yards for the Eagles (4-2, 2-1 WIAC). Both the nine TDs and 591 yards are UW-L and WIAC records.
Two of Lewandowski’s receivers went over 200 yards — Cameron Sorenson had eight catches for school-record 297 yards and three touchdowns, while Cole Spieker had nine receptions for 209 yards and three scores.
While there wasn’t any scoring after the first quarter, the two teams exploded for 56 points in the second quarter alone, including a 70-yard touchdown reception from Sorenson to cap off the half.
Sorenson scored from 81 yards out in the third quarter, after UW-L was up 35-21 at halftime.
The Falcons (1-5, 0-3) pulled within 56-42 midway through the fourth quarter after back-to-back touchdowns, but Lewandowski hit the DIII record with his ninth and last touchdown, a 6-yarder to Jake Simuncak, who finished seven catches for 46 yards and two touchdowns.
UW-L finished with 682 yards on offense, which ranks second in school history. The Eagles record came in 1976 with 701 yards against Upper Iowa.
The Falcons finished with 611 yards of offense.
The Eagles host UW-Oshkosh at 1 p.m. Saturday. Former coach Roger Harring will be honored at the game.
TOP PHOTO: UW-L quarterback Evan Lewandowski (BOB MULOCK, UWLAthletics.com)