12 Titans Voted To All-WIAC Football Team
Zach Kasuboski and Cole Myhra repeated on the first team, as UW-Oshkosh had 12 players selected to the 2013 All-WIAC Football Team.
Seven Titans gained first-team honors, including Kasuboski as the all-purpose player and Myhra at running back. Other offensive players making the top squad were lineman Rob Bikowski and tight end Joe Sommers. UW-Oshkosh then was represented by punter Nate Ray, defensive back Austin Blashka and defensive lineman Cody Huemmer.
Myhra led the league with a school-record 20 touchdowns. He rushed for 1,101 yards, becoming the first Titan with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Myhra also caught 33 passes for 285 yards. During the final two games, Myhra ran for 156 yards at UW-Eau Claire and 194 yards against UW-Platteville.
Myhra's 3,215 career rushing yards and 41 touchdowns rank second in school history. He totaled 1,589 rushing yards and 44 receptions for 418 yards during 2012. In the playoffs, Myhra carried the team with 503 yards and six touchdowns rushing.
Kasuboski's versatility was pivotal to UW-Oshkosh's offense. He caught 31 passes for 402 yards and six touchdowns, in addition to 35 carries for 191 yards and a score. In the victory at UW-Stout, Kasuboski made eight catches for 97 yards. He booked a touchdown in six straight games, including two scores against UW-Whitewater.
The only sophomore on the offensive first team, Sommers caught two passes in 9-of-10 contests. He posted a 54-yard touchdown at UW-Stout and a 53-yard catch-and-run at Central College (Iowa). Sommers totaled 19 grabs for 362 yards with an average of 19.1 yards per catch.
Bikowski blocked for an offensive unit that led the WIAC with 198 rushing yards per game. The Titans also averaged 32 points and 428 total yards. UW-Oshkosh rushed for 200+ yards in six games, while passing for 325+ three times. Fellow lineman Garrett Porter earned a second-team award.
Defensively, Blashka topped the WIAC with six interceptions and Huemmer led the league with nine sacks. Blashka totaled 58 tackles on the year and scored with a 32-yard interception return against UW-Stevens Point. Huemmer finished with 44 tackles, including 14.5 for loss. He made nine stops with two sacks in the defeat to UW-Whitewater.
Ray led the conference with a punting average of 39.9 yards. He dropped 13 punts inside the 20, while marking just four touchbacks. Ray booted a 61-yard punt in both the season opener and in the finale.
Receiver Caleb Voss was one of five Titans voted to the All-WIAC Second Team. A starter in the last 34 games, Voss caught 46 passes for 670 yards and seven touchdowns during 2013. He broke the school record with 1,333 receiving yards in 2012. Voss is tied for first in program history with 24 touchdown grabs. His 139 receptions and 2,600 yards rank second in school history.
UW-Oshkosh placed cornerback Manfred Johnson, lineman Alex Smith and linebacker Ryan Stefaniak on the defensive second team. Johnson made 29 tackles while intercepting two passes and breaking up seven more. Smith counted 24 tackles, 3.5 sacks and one fumble recovery.
Stefaniak totaled 52 tackles, including nine for loss and 4.5 sacks. He also posted two interceptions and six pass breakups. Stefaniak's career numbers include 184 tackles (38 for loss), 11.5 sacks, four interceptions and 23 passes defended.
The Titans ranked third in the NCAA Division III with 21 interceptions this year.
Four UW-Oshkosh players received All-WIAC honorable mention – quarterback Nick Olla, offensive lineman Sam Versnik, defensive lineman Dexter Charles and linebacker Reese Dziedzic.
UW-Whitewater linebacker Cole Klotz was named WIAC Player of the Year, while UW-Platteville's Mike Emendorfer earned Coach of the Year.
By Jon Feyen