Titans Look To Keep Rolling Against Blugolds

Titans Look To Keep Rolling Against Blugolds

UW-Oshkosh tries to go 5-0 for the first time since 1968 when it hosts UW-Eau Claire on Saturday (Oct. 6). Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at J.J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium.

The Titans (4-0/1-0 WIAC), ranked 18th by the American Football Coaches Association, have outscored their opponents, 152-51, this season. Last week, UW-Oshkosh took advantage of great defense and special teams for a 19-7 win at UW-River Falls.

With an average of 510 yards per game, the Titan offense ranks eighth in the NCAA Division III. Nate Wara (Sr. • Oshkosh) leads the unit with 877 yards and six touchdowns passing. Cole Myhra (Jr. • Menomonee Falls) has totaled 389 rushing yards, while Caleb Voss (Jr. • Van Dyne) owns 326 yards on 21 receptions.

Defensively, UW-Oshkosh ranks fifth in the nation by allowing 209 yards per game. The Titans also boast a +7 turnover margin. Taylor Goodman (Sr. • South Wayne) paces the team with 28 tackles, to go with 3.5 sacks by Andrew Thompson (Sr. • Greendale). Nate Ray (So. • Verona) has also contributed with 7-for-7 accuracy on field goals.

The Blugolds (1-3/1-0 WIAC) won their conference opener last week, 21-13 over UW-Stout. UW-Eau Claire opened the season with losses of 27-24 to eighth-ranked St. Thomas (Minn.), 31-28 to St. John's (Minn.) and 49-19 to 16th-ranked UW-Platteville.

Joel Sweeney ranks second in the league with 418 rushing yards. Austin Neu calls the signals for the Blugolds, marking 774 yards through the air and another 160 on the ground. UW-Eau Claire's top receiver is Austin Goetsch, who has 22 catches for 308 yards. Safety Coltan Ellis leads the team with 24 tackles.

In the all-time series, UW-Eau Claire holds a 41-22 edge. The past three meetings have been close, including last season's 23-16 Titan victory at Eau Claire. UW-Oshkosh rushed for 241 yards in the contest, before stopping the Blugolds at the five-yard line to clinch the game.