Eau Claire Routs La Crosse 27-10 on Road
UW-Eau Claire ran for 351 yards as UW-La Crosse dropped its second straight game.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Football
UW-Eau Claire defeated UW-La Crosse 27-10 in a road football game on Saturday, October 31, 2026. UW-La Crosse, which entered the season ranked No. 10 in Division III, lost its second straight game and third in four.
Why it matters
The loss ends UW-La Crosse's standing in the season's ranking race and deepens a slide that fell into a first-quarter hole. The result shows how a ground-first gameplan can control a game against a ranked opponent.
Paxton Rothmeier rushed for 301 yards on 45 carries, including a 77-yard touchdown, while Kyle Haas completed 22 of 38 passes for 239 yards with a touchdown and an interception for UW-La Crosse. UW-River Falls allows a 31.71% third-down conversion rate, a benchmark UW-La Crosse will face next week.
The players
UW-Eau Claire
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is a public university whose football program competes in NCAA Division III.
UW-La Crosse
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a public university whose football program competes in NCAA Division III and entered the season ranked No. 10.
The details
UW-Eau Claire centered its offense on the run game, and Rothmeier's 77-yard second-quarter touchdown run was a key play. Ayden Helder threw 19 passes for 68 yards and a touchdown, and UW-La Crosse's offense failed to keep pace after falling behind early.
Timeline
Saturday, October 31, 2026: UW-Eau Claire defeats UW-La Crosse 27-10.
Next week: UW-La Crosse plays UW-River Falls.
Season Trajectory
In NCAA Division III football, a loss like this one can quickly reshape a team's standing in the weekly ranking race. UW-La Crosse's second straight defeat and third loss in four games shifts its position within a crowded regional and national picture.
For fantasy and bracket players tracking Division III football, UW-Eau Claire's 351-yard rushing performance and Rothmeier's 301-yard output are the lines to watch. UW-La Crosse's loss also affects its playoff positioning as the schedule moves toward its next game against UW-River Falls.
The takeaway
Ground-game control can decide a matchup even when a team starts behind, as UW-Eau Claire showed with its run-heavy approach. For readers tracking Division III, the result is a reminder that one road loss can reset a team's season trajectory.
What happens next
UW-La Crosse plays UW-River Falls next week, the next scheduled game in its season.
Further reading
For more on the teams and season, see Football coverage in Eau Claire.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wisconsin State Journal.
