It had been 19 years since the UW-La Crosse football team has solved the challenge that is UW-Whitewater.
A crowd of 20,113 saw the Eagles do just that Saturday as Michael Stack’s 51-yard field goal split the uprights as time expired for a 37-34 win.
UW-La Crosse had been up 34-20 after scoring a 20-yard touchdown when Keyser Helterbrand hit Wyatt LeMoine on the first play of the 4th quarter.
The Eagles saw Whitewater score twice to tie it up.
That included a 12 yard touchdown pass on the next possession from Alec Ogden to Steven Hein, and after a UWL 3 and out, a 64 yard touchdown pass to Alijah Maher-Parr.
Whitewater added the two point conversion and the Eagles would get the ball with 5:49 remaining at their own 27 yard line following a kick return.
UW-L used 11 plays and the rest of the clock to set up the winning field goal at the 33 yard line.
The Eagles had added a wrinkle during the week that they used effectively throughout the game.
Helterbrand and fellow quarterback Zach Weir were in the backfield at the same time on several plays.
Helterbrand finished with 108 yards rushing and 105 yards passing and two touchdowns, along with 2 catches for 39 yards.
Weir, whose day included an 84-yard touchdown throw to wide receiver Jack Studer on the game’s opening drive, finished 9 for 12, 206 yards and 2 touchdowns.
UW-La Crosse dominated the time of possession, 36:46 to 23:14.
The Eagles will travel to Platteville next week for a 1PM kickoff.
