1985 Wisconsin–La Crosse Indians football team
American college football season
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The 1985 Wisconsin–La Crosse Indians football team was an American football team that represented University of Wisconsin–La Crosse as a member of the Wisconsin State University Conference (WSUC) and won the Division III national championship during the 1985 NAIA Division II football season. In their 17th season under head coach Roger Harring, the Eagles compiled an 11–1–2 record (5–1–2 in conference games) and won the WSUC championship. They advanced to the NAIA Division II playoffs, defeating Carroll (MT) in the quarterfinals, Northwestern (IA) in the semifinals, and Pacific Lutheran in the NAIA Division II championship game.
- Roger Harring (17th season)
| 1985 Wisconsin–La Crosse Indians football | |
|---|---|
NAIA Division II national champion | |
NAIA Division II championship game, W 24–7 vs. Pacific Lutheran | |
| Conference | Wisconsin State University Conference |
| Record | 11–1–2 (5–1–2 WSUC) |
| Head coach |
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| Home stadium | Memorial Field |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin–River Falls $ | 6 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 8 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 8 Wisconsin–La Crosse ^ | 5 | – | 1 | – | 2 | 11 | – | 1 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin–Stevens Point | 5 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 8 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin–Platteville | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin–Eau Claire | 3 | – | 4 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin–Whitewater | 3 | – | 4 | – | 1 | 3 | – | 7 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin–Oshkosh | 2 | – | 5 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin–Stout | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin–Superior | 1 | – | 6 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 8 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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During the 11-game regular season, the Indians tallied 2,115 rushing yards (192.3 per game) and 1,618 passing yards (147.1 per game). On defense, they gave up 1,191 rushing yards (108.3 per game) and 1,505 passing yards (136.8 per game). The individual statistical leaders included senior fullback Dan Lowney (1,077 rushing yards, 102 points scored, 36.0-yard average on 59 punts), sophomore split end Jose Alba (27 catches for 428 yards), and junior kicker Joe Mirasola (32 of 34 extra points, eight of 15 field goals).[1]
Six La-Crosse players received first-team honors on the 1985 All-WSUC football team: offensive guard Tom Newberry (unanimous); Dan Lowney (selected as both a running back and punter); defensive end Jay Wolowicz; linebacker Dale Gottschalk; inside linebacker Phil Ertl; and defensive back Pat Bushman.[2]
The team played its home games at Memorial Field in La Crosse, Wisconsin.[3][4][5][6][7]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 31 | at Winona State* | Winona, MN | W 44–7 | 2,500 | [8] |
| September 7 | Gustavus Adolphus* | W 27–7 | 3,000 | [3] | |
| September 14 | at St. Ambrose* | Davenport, IA | W 31–7 | 3,000 | |
| September 21 | Wisconsin–Stevens Point |
| T 35–35 | 2,500 | [4] |
| September 28 | at Wisconsin–Platteville | Platteville, WI | W 27–7 | 2,500 | |
| October 5 | at Wisconsin–Superior | Superior, WI | W 42–14 | 1,000 | |
| October 19 | Wisconsin–River Falls |
| L 21–34 | 4,500 | [5] |
| October 26 | at Wisconsin–Eau Claire | Eau Claire, WI | W 13–10 | 3,000 | |
| November 2 | Wisconsin–Oshkosh |
| T 14–14 | 3,000 | [6] |
| November 9 | Wisconsin–Whitewater |
| W 28–2 | 2,000 | [7] |
| November 16 | at Wisconsin–Stout | Menomonie, WI | W 10–3 | 1,000 | [9] |
| November 30 | at Carroll (MT)* | Helena, MT (NAIA Division II quarterfinal) | W 24–0 | ||
| December 7 | vs. Northwestern (IA)* |
| W 35–28 3OT | [10] | |
| December 14 | at Pacific Lutheran* | Parkland, WA (NAIA Division II championship game) | W 24–7 | [11] | |
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