If this was the last time the Roger Harring Stadium crowd got to see Keyser Helterbrand, the senior quarterback gave them a performance to remember.
The UW-La Crosse football team (7-1, 5-0) ripped off 52 unanswered points to beat UW-Eau Claire 59-14 in the rivalry’s 90th meeting.
Helterbrand set personal records in completions, attempts, yards, and touchdowns. He finished the day 24 of 27 for 360 yards with five touchdowns. He didn’t play in the 4th quarter.
UW-La Crosse started slowly, fumbling on its first offensive possession. The Bluegolds turned that into a 2-yard touchdown run from running back Ivan Ruble, capping off an 11-play 57-yard drive.
The Eagles answered with a Gabe Lynch 2-yard touchdown late in the first quarter, Eau Claire took the ensuing drive 68 yards on 10 plays, ending with a 25 yard touchdown pass from Harry Roubidoux to Isaac Garside with 13:10 remaining in the first half.
Helterbrand answered back with his first touchdown pass, a 55 yarder to Wyatt LeMoine to finish a 4 play 72 yard drive with 11:32 left in the 2nd quarter.
After Shane Lang returned an interception for a touchdown from 13 yards away 3 plays later, the rout was on.
Wide receiver Jack Studer passed the 1,000 yard mark for the year with 7 receptions for 158 yards and a touchdown.
The 59 points is the most ever scored by the Eagles against UW-Eau Claire.
The Eagles are back on the road next Saturday at River Falls, ranked No. 7 in the latest D3 football polls.