Titans Travel To Nationally Ranked Warhawks

UW-Oshkosh faces its toughest challenge of the season when it travels to UW-Whitewater on Saturday (Nov. 7) for a 1 p.m. kickoff. The Warhawks are 8-0 (5-0 WIAC) this season and ranked second in the NCAA Division III by both the American Football Coaches Association and D3football.com.

UW-Whitewater has posted a 63-5 record the past five seasons, including victories in 32 of its last 33 WIAC games. This year's squad leads the league in both scoring offense (41 points per game) and scoring defense, allowing just seven points per contest. UW-Whitewater's defense is the conference's top unit against both the run and the pass as it surrenders an average of 223 yards.

Levell Coppage surpassed the 1,000-yard barrier for the season during a 41-12 victory over UW-Stevens Point on Oct. 31. He finished the game with 199 yards and three touchdowns to up his yearly total to 19 scores. Jeff Donovan has completed 72 percent of his passes and thrown 16 touchdowns this season en route to averaging 245 yards per game. On the receiving end of his passes are two of the top four receivers in the conference, including Aaron Rusch and his 42 catches for 586 yards and five scores.

UW-Oshkosh (4-4/2-3 WIAC) dropped a wild 44-35 contest to UW-Eau Claire last Saturday (Oct. 31). Nate Wara (Fr. • Oshkosh) put up big numbers with his totals of 358 passing yards, 64 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He hit on his first 12 passes of the contest to achieve a school-record 21 straight completions. Brother Juston Wara (Jr. • Oshkosh) was his leading receiver, racking up eight catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns.

Nate Wara has nine passing touchdowns on the year and averages 164 yards through the air. His top target has been Justin Budiac (So. • Mukwonago), who has 26 grabs, while Juston Wara owns 25 catches, 288 yards and three touchdowns. The Titan running game has amassed 186 yards per contest with a three-headed attack. In addition to Nate Wara's 342 yards, Jeremy Roach (Jr. • Deerfield) has added 498 yards with eight touchdowns.

UW-Whitewater's success has a lot to do with its ability to stay on the field. The Warhawks have converted all 10 of their fourth-down attempts this season. The Titans, who own the WIAC's best turnover margin (+7), will look to take the ball away as often as possible.

UW-Oshkosh's James Taraboi (Sr. • Grafton) leads the NCAA Division III with 114 tackles, while Nate Heard (Jr. • Milwaukee) tops the league with 12 passes defended. The Warhawks' defense is led by the 50 tackles of Kyle Supianoski.