Zach Weier completed just seven passes for 133 yards Thursday, in the UW-La Crosse football team’s season-opener.
Three of those passes, though, went for touchdowns and the 6-foot-3 sophomore only had two incompletions in the Eagles 31-6 route over Dakota State.
UW-L (1-0) rotated quarterbacks between Weier, who came in on the third possession and led the Eagles to their first two touchdowns of the year on back-to-back drives, putting them up 14-3 at halftime.
Weier threw his third TD early in the fourth quarter, before starting quarterback, Keyser Helterbrand, got his first passing touchdown, midway through the fourth, as Ryan Bartol put in the YAC to get the Eagles to 31-0.
Helterbrand finished 12-for-18 for 196 yards. Neither QB threw an interception for the Eagles, who came in ranked 12th on the D3football.com Top-25 preseason poll.
Jack Struder led UQ-L with six catches for 158 yards and a touchdown, while teammate Ryan Bartol added four receptions for 55 yards and two touchdowns.
The Eagles totaled 516 yards, including 187 rushing and won the time of possession, 39:46 to 20:14.
Dayo Oye led UW-L with 46 yards rushing while Brant Bohman added 40 and Gage Boegli 38.
Dakota State (0-2) totaled 180 yards, including just nine rushing.
UW-L’s home-opener is Sept. 9 against eighth-ranked Hardin-Simmons University (Texas) at 1 p.m. at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex.
TOP PHOTO: The UW-La Crosse football team huddles before its season-opener at Dakota State on Aug. 31, 2023. (PHOTO: UWLAthletics.com)