There are no weeks off in the WIAC for the fourth-ranked UW-La Crosse football team.
After successfully dispatching UW-Platteville on the road last week 21-17, the Eagles (5-1, 3-0) face UW-Oshkosh (4-2, 2-1) and quarterback Kobe Berghammer, who leads DIII with 26 touchdown passes.
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UW-L coach Matt Janus said he knows the challenges his defense faces against the Berghammer and the Titans .
“There’s certain coverages where you don’t cover certain spot on the field because most quarterbacks at our level can’t make those throws,” Janus said. “Well, he presents that issue right away with his arm. And then, on top of it is his athleticism. You can do everything perfect and there’s still something that that guy can figure something out on.”
In the Eagles’ 38-35 win last season, Berghammer was 21-for-33 for 342 yards with three touchdowns and one intercetpion.
Beyond Berghammer’s talent, Janus said the defense will limit big plays — something it has gotten in bunches during the conference season.
“They’re going to drop eight into coverage so we’ve got to get our run game going,” Janus said. “You can’t be playing on 3rd and 10 against that kind of defense.”
The Eagles moved up two spots to fourth in the latest D3 football poll. It’s their highest ranking since the 2004 season, when they reached as high as third. UW-O is ranked just outside the Top 25.
UW-L senior defensive end Jack Kelly was a key part in last week’s win over Platteville with a tackle and half for a loss, as well as a sack — bringing his total to 2.5 on the season.
Kelly led the WIAC in sacks with 10.5 last year.
Janus said he can see a mentality change in Kelly recently, which he thinks will affect his play on the field in a positive manner.
“He started putting a lot of pressure on himself and was getting frustrated,” Janus said. “He allowed it to negatively affect his play. He thought he was going to get a sack every other play.
“Around the bye week, he decided he was going to play within the system, and god is he affecting the play every time the quarterback drops back to pass.”