UW-Oshkosh Places Seven On All-Region Team
First-team picks Austin Blashka, Cole Myhra and Nate Ray highlighted UW-Oshkosh's seven selections on the 2013 D3football.com All-West Region Team.
The Titans also had Joe Sommers voted to the second team. Guard Rob Bikowski, center Garrett Porter and defensive end Cody Huemmer earned spots on the third squad.
Myhra was named a first-team running back for the second straight year. He scored a school-record 20 touchdowns while rushing for 1,101 yards. Myhra is the only Titan to post back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Out of the backfield, he added 33 receptions for 285 yards. Myhra ran for 194 yards during the season finale 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.
A safety, Blashka led the WIAC with six interceptions. He also totaled 58 tackles and three pass breakups. During the victory over UW-Stevens Point, Blashka picked off a pass and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown.
Ray becomes the second UW-Oshkosh punter to receive all-region honors, joining Tom Roszak (2005). Ray averaged 39.9 yards with a pair of 61-yard punts. He had only four touchbacks while dropping 13 kicks inside the 20.
Sommers was one of just three sophomores to make the offensive team. The explosive tight end grabbed 19 passes for 362 yards – an average of 19.1 yards. Sommers posted a 54-yard touchdown at UW-Stout and a 53-yard catch-and-run at Central College (Iowa).
UW-Oshkosh owned the WIAC sack leader for the third consecutive season after Huemmer marked nine this year. He finished with 44 tackles, including 14.5 for loss. In the defeat to national semifinalist UW-Whitewater, Huemmer booked nine tackles and two sacks.
Bikowski and Porter blocked for an offensive unit that led the league with 198 rushing yards per game. The Titans also averaged 32 points and 428 total yards. UW-Oshkosh ran for 200+ yards in six games, while passing for 325+ three times.
UW-Oshkosh finished with an 8-2 record for its third straight winning season. The Titans were ranked 11th in the latest D3football.com poll.
UW-Platteville's John Kelly was named West Region Offensive Player of the Year, as Linfield College's Dom Forrest repeated as Defensive Player of the Year. Lance Leipold (UW-Whitewater) received Coach of the Year.
By Jon Feyen