La Crosse, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse led 19-0 early in the third quarter, but sixth-ranked the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) scored the final 24 points and earned a 24-19 victory Saturday afternoon at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. The Eagles fall to 0-2 on the season while the Crusaders improve to 1-0.

UW-L took a 3-0 lead with 3:45 remaining in the first quarter as Justin Huinker connected on a 33-yard field goal. The Eagles' Lee Lauters made it 9-0 as he scored on a 22-yard run with 9:39 left in the second quarter. Huinker's extra-point was missed.

Huinker hit a 37-yard field goal with 5:11 remaining in the second quarter to give UW-L a 12-0 halftime lead.

After forcing a Crusaders punt on the first possession of the second half, the Eagles' Nick Anker hit Kyle Steffen with a 26-yard touchdown pass and 19-0 lead.

UMHB came right back on its next possession to cut the lead to 19-7 as David Wassermann caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from LiDarral Bailey. After forcing an Eagles' punt, the Crusaders went 40 yards on five plays with Darius Wilson scoring on a three-yard run to make it 19-14.

UW-L was forced to punt on its second straight drive of three plays and UMHB took a 21-19 lead on Quincy Daniels' four-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Bailey fumbled with 10:56 remaining and UW-L's Justin Hartwig recovered the ball at the Crusaders' 49-yard line. UW-L drove to the UMHB 13-yard line, but on a field goal attempt, holder Kevin Schams was sacked for a 12-yard loss.

Alan Munoz gave UMHB a 24-19 lead as he hit a 35-yard field goal with 1:51 remaining. UW-L took over at its own 22-yard line with 1:46 left, but the Eagles lost three yards on the drive with the Crusaders' taking over at the UW-L 20-yard line. UMHB then ran out the clock to end the game.

UW-L finished with 218 yards of offense, including 110 rushing and 108 passing. Lauters totaled 96 yards rushing on 25 attempts with a touchdown while Anker finished 14-of-28 for 108 yards with a touchdown. He was sacked three times. Jacob Boegel had four catches for 25 yards.

UMHB totaled 389 yards, including 242 rushing and 147 passing. Daniels finished with 144 yards rushing and a touchdown while Wilson had 53 and Bailey 50. Bailey was also 10-of-15 passing for 138 yards with a touchdown and interception. Kyle Noack was two-of-six for nine yards and an interception. Ervin Johnson (50 yards) and Tucker Glaske (24 yards) each had three catches for UMHB.

UW-L's Phillip Minja recorded a game-high 14 tackles, including 11 solo. He had 1.0 tackle for loss. Derek Dreher and Billy Niggemann each had an interception for the Eagles.

Jerrad Jefferson led UMHB with nine solo tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 quarterback sack.

UW-L finished eight-of-20 on third-down and won the time of possession, 31:17 to 28:43. UMHB was eight-of-15 on third-down and recorded four sacks in the contest.

UW-L returns to action Saturday, September 25 at the Missouri University of Science & Technology at 1 p.m.