Box Score LA CROSSE, Wis. - The University of Dubuque Spartans traveled to a non-conference football match-up against the UW-La Crosse Eagles on Saturday evening and suffered their first loss of the season 38-7.
UD trailed at halftime 7-14, but the second half it was all the Eagles scoring. UD was only able to convert in the redzone 1-4 chances. The Spartans were held to just five rushing first downs with Na'IM
Tiger Geeslin leading the ground attack with 53 yards.
Kallion Buckner pounded out 49 yards in 12 carries. Quarterback
Jacob Keller completed 19 of 33 passes for 187 yards. He was picked off twice by the Eagles defense, once in the Eagles endzone and the second time at the 19 yard line of the Eagles.
Jordan LaBelle grabbed five catches for 64 yards and
Elliott Pipkin caught seven passes for 57 yards. Karletty Faamatuaniu caught three passes for 42 yards with the longest Spartans catch of the night being 27 yards.
In special teams play,
Conner Halla punted four times for 147 yards (36.8 avg.) and placed the ball inside the 20 yard line once.
Kallion Buckner returned six kickoffs for 160 yards (26.7 avg.) and
Tyler Sheffield led in kickoffs with one for 62 yards.
UD's defense led in tackles by Garrrett Hertzfeldt who finished with seven tackles, teammates
Marshon Crowder collected six tackles and
Tyler Geiman ended the night with five tackles.
The Spartans open American Rivers Conference play next week, Sept. 18 in Decorah, Iowa against the Luther College Norse with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.
