The UW-La Crosse football team has been in playoff mode for five weeks, ever since their 34-33 defeat to UW-Oshkosh on October 12th, which dropped them to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the WIAC.
Four consecutive wins later and the Eagles, ranked #20 in the latest polls, are one win away from putting their fate in the hands of the playoff committee.
UWL (6-3, 4-2) will host UW-Stevens Point (1-8, 0-6) this Saturday at 1PM at Roger Harring Stadium, which will be streamed live on WKTY.
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Pregame Saturday at 12:45 P.M., kickoff at 1:05 PM.Â
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It’s been a massive turnaround, and one that couldn’t have happened without player leadership and captains according to Head Coach Matt Janus.
“When we addressed the problems we were having internally, with winning became everything, the players responded to that,” Janus said. “I have not talked to our team about any opponent. We talk about our values.”
This season has also produced lessons that Janus says he’ll personally take away going forward.
“I’ve learned more this year than I ever have. I learned the value of being true to yourself,” Janus said. “There was the pressure, and you can’t make a mistake, and all of a sudden I was no longer Matt Janus the person, I was this other guy. I could write a book on this year and what not to do as a coach.”
Before kickoff will be a Senior Day ceremony. Janus hopes the game is a great send off for a historic group of 23 players.
“It has to be one of the winningest group in UW-La Crosse history,” Janus said. “It’s a group that’s been to the playoffs three times, hopefully 4, and had two conference championships, hopefully 3.”Â
Off the field, Janus says this group, his first full recruiting class, carries a different meaning.
“We’ve seen the highest of highs of winning championships and going to Italy, and the lowest of lows whether it be a season ending injury,” Janus said. “Some of them were here, pre-COVID. It’s hard to imagine this program without them.”
Seniors that started their careers at UWL with COVID cancelling the 2020 season, have gone 35-10 overall.
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