ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, December 4, 1995 TAG: 9512060009
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DANIEL UTHMAN STAFF WRITER
ROWAN DOESN'T know much about its unbeaten opponent for Saturday's Stagg Bowl in Salem.
Team members of the two finalists for the 23rd Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl probably are strangers to most football fans in the Roanoke Valley. They also are strangers to each other.
What does Roger Harring, for 27 years the head coach at Wisconsin-La Crosse, know about Rowan?
``Nothing,'' he said.
And what does K.C. Wheeler, Rowan's coach know about La Crosse?
``I've never seen 'em play before,'' Keeler said.
Beginning Thursday and culminating in their national championship meeting at 1 p.m. Saturday at Salem Stadium, the Eagles from Wisconsin and the Profs from New Jersey are going to see a lot of each other. They say they're just glad to be meeting in Salem.
``I don't think [the title game] should be anywhere else,'' said Keeler, who led the Profs to Salem's first Stagg Bowl in 1993.
This is the first Stagg Bowl to feature two teams from public schools.
Rowan (10-2-1) won at Washington & Jefferson (Pa.) 28-15 on Saturday with quarterback Greg Lister completing 15 of 25 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown.
Wisconsin-La Crosse (13-0) prevented a rematch of the 1993 game here by downing Mount Union (Ohio) 20-17 also on Saturday. The Eagles and Purple Raiders combined for 582 yards and 37 points in the first half in Saturday's semifinal. They had five turnovers and no points between them in the second.
Wisconsin-La Crosse plays eight defensive linemen, and their pressure led to an interception at their own 5-yard line in the fourth quarter when Mount Union was driving for a go-ahead score.
``We were able to pressure their quarterback [Bill Borchert] the whole game,'' Harring said.
The Eagles need to do that this week, too. The Profs have a great quarterback in the sophomore Lister, who has set four passing records (attempts, completions, yardage and touchdowns) in two years at Rowan.
Wisconsin-La Crosse's quarterback is no slouch, either. Craig Kusick, a 6-foot-6, 230-pound senior, is projected as a top 10 quarterback selection in the next NFL draft.
Rowan lost to Mount Union 34-24 the first time the game was held in Salem, while Wisconsin-La Crosse won the title in 1992 in Bradenton, Fla. The Eagles are the only team that has won an NAIA Division II title and an NCAA Division III title.
LENGTH: Medium: 52 linesby CNB