After receiving an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs for the second consecutive season, the UW-La Crosse football team fell in a low-scoring affair to Wartburg on Saturday.
The Eagles came in ranked seventh, while unbeaten Wartburg was ranked 12th, but the Knights came away with a 14-6 win at home Saturday.
The Eagles (9-2) were outgained 376 to 216 yards — 221 to 81 on the ground and turned the ball over three times to the Knights’ one.
Wartburg (11-0) scored first, but the Eagles got on the board with 38 seconds before halftime on a 21-yard Cade Garcia pass to Jack Studer touchdown.
The extra point, however, failed because of a bad snap, giving Wartburg a 7-6 lead at the break.
And, just 51 seconds into the second half, the Knights gave themselves itself some insurance with a 57-yard touchdown run to go up 14-6.
On the ensuring possesion, the Eagles drove down to the 11 yard line, but missed a 28-yard field goal midway through the third. Garcia was intercepted on the next drive.
In the fourth, the teams traded punts before the Eagles went on a long drive in hopes of tying the game.
Taking over from their own 4 yard line with 9:05 remaining, UW-L put together a 13-play, 57-yard drive but turned it over on downs from Wartburg’s 39.
The Knights took over with 4:07 left and ran out the clock.
This was the second consecutive season the Eagles made the playoffs.
PHOTO: UWLAthletics.com