By Adam Roberts – 4/13/2021
The NFL Draft is just over two weeks away, which is excellent news for those who can’t turn off the football switch in their brain after the Super Bowl. Similarly, many people around here can’t wait for UWL football to return to Roger Harring Stadium. The feeling is amplified this year with last year’s season getting cancelled. Today we know where Matt Janus and the 2021 Eagles will play each of their 10 scheduled games.
The season begins on Saturday, September 4th when the Eagles visit Dakota State in the first all-time meeting between the two schools. The home opener follows on the 11th against Dubuque; while the Spartans lead the all-time series five game to four, the Eagles won the most recent meeting back in 2014 24-8. The nonconference slate concludes on September 18th at Grand Valley State in Michigan; the Lakers were NCAA Division 2 champions four times over a five year window from 2002 to 2006, and have won the only other meeting against UWL, a 24-14 win in the 1978 NAIA Playoffs.
The WIAC games begin following a bye week Oktoberfest weekend, with UWL up in River Falls October 2nd. Recall the 2019 meeting, which featured 112 combined points in a 63-49 Falcons win. October 9th the Eagles are home against Oshkosh, the 2019 D3 runners up. The Pioneers of Platteville are next on the docket October 16th before Homecoming on the 23rd against Stout. Then its back on the road to face Stevens Point and Whitewater October 30th and November 6th respectively, before the season wraps up at home against Eau Claire. UWL leads that all-time series 56-28-2 and dominated in 2019 42-7.
UWL will return seven All-WIAC players in 2021, including possibly the best punter in the conference in Sean Parker and workhorses such as running back Joey Stutzman, linebacker Rusty Murphy, and wideout Jake Simuncak.
Check out the full schedule below:
- 9/4 @ Dakota State
- 9/11 vs University of Dubuque
- 9/18 @ Grand Valley State
- 10/2 @ River Falls
- 10/9 vs Oshkosh
- 10/16 @ Platteville
- 10/23 vs Stout
- 10/30 @ Stevens Point
- 11/6 @ Whitewater
- 11/13 vs Eau Claire