Box Score The Falcon football team came up with several big plays in earning a 28-21 overtime win at UW-La Crosse on Saturday afternoon.
B.J. Letourneau (Falcon Heights, MN, Roseville) led the Falcons 96 yards in 11 plays to tie the game at 21-21 with less than a minute to play. The scoring drive was topped off with Letourneau finding
Jon Manke (Champlin, MN, Champlin Park) for his third touchdown pass of the game.
It took the Falcons just four rushing plays in overtime for
Taylor Edwards (Janesville, WI, Parker) to find the end zone and give the Falcons their first lead of the game at 28-21.
Mike Cano (Glencoe, MN, Glencoe-Silver Lake) ended the game, picking off his second pass to conclude the overtime period handing the Falcons their first win in La Crosse since 1985.
"Our defense played very well in the second half," said Falcon Coach
Matt Walker after the game. "The offense found a way to score points and our special teams had a solid outing. We played very well in all three phases of the game."
Letourneau threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns, both career-highs, in the Falcons first victory since last year in Eau Claire. The senior quarterback has thrown for over 200 yards in each of the last three games. His favorite target on Saturday was
Joel Yogerst (Richfield, WI, Slinger), hauling in six passes for 84 yards and a score, career-best in both receptions and yards.
No catch was bigger than the 35-yard reception by Yogerst on the final drive. On 2
nd-and-12 from the 45, Letourneau hit Yogerst for a 35-yard pickup down to the La Crosse 10. Two plays later, Letourneau found Manke from 9-yards out to tie the score at 21-21.
La Crosse scored on each of its first two possessions to take an early 14-0 lead.The Falcons defense settled down after the opening two series, forcing six three-and-outs over the last three quarters. The Eagles only other score came on a Ben Hertrampf 59-yard run in the third quarter.
LC quarterback Andy Sires was under pressure all day as the Falcons recorded five sacks in the victory. The last time the Falcons had five sacks in a game was Nov. 1, 2008, against Stout. Two weeks in a row, the defense has sacked the opposing quarterback at least four times. The Eagles struggled moving the chains against the Falcons defense, converting just 3-of-14 third downs.
Alex Hohenstein (Lakefield, MN, Jackson County) came up with the big sack in the fourth quarter with the score tied at 21-21. The Eagles had the ball at their own 42, with just under a minute to play. On a second-and-two, Hohenstein sacked the quarterback for an eight-yard loss to kill the Eagles drive, forcing overtime.
Also picking up sacks were
Alex Adams (Brooklyn Park, MN, Park Center),
Trevor Semann (LaCrescent, MN, Winona),
Chris Aeschliman (Downing, WI, Boyceville), and
Tony Golden (Shoreview, MN, Irondale).
Nate Smits (Hudson, WI, Hudson) led the team with nine tackles, including one for a loss. Cano had eight stops and two interceptions, including the one in overtime to seal the victory.
Brady Hannigan (Oakdale, MN, North St. Paul) caught his second touchdown pass of the season on a 23-yard pass in the second quarter. Edwards rushed for over 100-yards for the 16
th time in his career as he surpasses the 1,000 yard mark for the third consecutive season. The last Falcon do so was Chris Krueger from 1988-90. Edwards finished with 31 carries for 134 yards and the game-winning touchdown run in overtime.
"I am very proud of the team's effort," said Walker. "I especially feel good for the seniors in getting this win. It's been a long time since we've been able to beat La Crosse, so that makes the win even better. I can't say enough about the players hanging in there, not only today, but all year."
The overtime victory puts an end to the Falcons current 18-game losing streak against the Eagles and their current eight-game losing streak.
Matt Walker earned his first victory as head coach of the Falcons as the offense gained over 400 yards for the second straight week.
The Falcons wrap up their season next week by hosting Eau Claire. Kickoff is at 1p.m., next Saturday at Ramer Field. Saturday's game is Senior Day for the 12 Falcons playing their final game at UW-River Falls.
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