La Crosse, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse opened its 2010 season with a 33-20 loss to East Texas Baptist University Saturday night at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. It was also the Tigers' season-opener. UW-L committed five turnovers in the contest, including four interceptions.

The Eagles' Lee Lauters rushed for a career-high 214 yards on 28 carries.

ETBU took a 3-0 lead with 8:53 remaining in the first quarter as Brett Peddicord hit a 27-yard field goal. UW-L came right back on its next possession to take a 7-3 lead as Bakary Dao scored on an eight-yard run. Lauters had a 30-yard run in the series. Peddicord connected on his second field goal of the game, this one from 33-yards out, with 13:14 left in the second quarter to cut the lead to 7-6.

After UW-L was forced to punt, the Eagles downed the ball on ETBU's six-yard line. Three plays later, quarterback Sed Harris scored on a 95-yard touchdown run to give the Tigers a 13-7 lead.

Each team traded possessions before Lauters made it 14-13 UW-L with a 61-yard touchdown run with 4:44 left in the first half. Harris was sacked on fourth-down on ETBU's next drive and UW-L moved to the Tigers' 37-yard line, but Nick Anker was intercepted by Kendrick Whitaker who returned the ball 55-yards to the Eagles' 13-yard line. Harris then hit Malcolm Wiltz with a touchdown pass on the next play and ETBU took a 20-14 halftime lead.

The Tigers took a 26-14 lead with 13:34 left in the game as Harris connected with Tony Cavness on a five-yard touchdown pass. UW-L cut the deficit to 26-20 as Anker scored on a nine-yard run. Adam Pannier's extra-point was missed.

UW-L took control of the ball with 2:01 remaining and drove to ETBU's 39-yard line, but Anker was intercepted by Alex Cloudy on the Tigers' two-yard line with :47 left. Harris added a 98-yard touchdown run with :25 remaining to finish the scoring.

UW-L finished with 440 yards of offense, including 257 rushing and 183 passing. Anker was 14-of-34 for 183 yards with four interceptions. Travis Bordeau caught five passes for 50 yards while Kyle Steffen had four receptions for 76 yards.

ETBU totaled 423 yards, including 280 rushing and 143 passing. Harris accounted for 404 yards, finishing with 261 rushing and two touchdowns. He was 17-of-32 passing for 143 yards with two touchdowns.

UW-L finished three-of-13 on third-down and lost one fumble. ETBU was five-of-17 on third-down.

Jim Litscher, John Rozek and Phillip Minja led the Eagles' defense with eight tackles each. Litscher also had one quarterback sack. Jon Chitty led the Tigers with 12 tackles. ETBU's Jordan Hayes recorded three tackles for loss, including one sack, while Whitaker, Cloudy, Cody Finch and Frank Williams each had an interception. Finch also recorded a blocked punt.

UW-L returns to action Saturday, September 11 hosting the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) at 1 p.m.