Titans Look To Rebound From Season-Opening Defeat

The 25th-ranked UW-Oshkosh football team plays its second NAIA team in as many games when the Titans host Marian University (Ind.) on Saturday (Sept. 13) at J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium.

Marian University (Ind.) won the 2012 NAIA title over Morningside College (Iowa) by a score of 30-27 in overtime, but UW-Oshkosh defeated the defending national champions last season, 34-13, in Indianapolis, Ind.

UW-Oshkosh lost its season opener, 27-19, to Robert Morris University (Ill.), a scholarship-granting NAIA program in the same league as Marian University (Ind.) – the Mideast League of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA). The league has produced the last three NAIA champions, with Saint Xavier University (Ill.) winning the title in 2011 and Grand View University (Iowa) in 2013.

UW-Oshkosh faced a 24-3 halftime deficit last week against the Robert Morris University, but the Titans scored 16 unanswered points and were within one possession of either tying the score or taking the lead the entire fourth quarter.

UW-Oshkosh had 50 yards of total offense in the first half of the opener, but the Titans scored on three of four possessions in the third quarter. The Titans racked up 116 yards in the third quarter, including 106 on their final two possessions of the period.

Quarterback Dylann Rauch completed 13-of-20 passes for 135 yards with one touchdown in his first career start. Ethan Steinhoff led the Titan rushing attack with 12 carries for 42 yards and one touchdown. Zach Kasuboski had team-highs with six catches for 58 yards and one touchdown. Brandon Jackson led the Titan defense with eight tackles. Kevin MacCudden added seven tackles and one fumble recovery while Reese Dziedzic, Cris Tillman and Tony Guagliardo all notched sacks.

Marian University lost its eighth season opener last Saturday (Sept. 6), 65-38, to 16th-ranked Saint Xavier University. Marian University led by as many as 10 points until a Saint Xavier University touchdown made the score 13-10 with 4:28 remaining in the first quarter. The Knights, who scored two of their five touchdowns on a fumble return and a blocked punt, never regained the lead.

The 65 points is the most Marian University has ever allowed in a home game. Despite the loss, the Knights held advantages in many statistical categories, including 457-381 in total yards, 173-86 in rushing yards, 27-17 in first downs and 36:28 to 23:32 in time of possession. Marian University ran 97 offensive plays, but the Knights turned the ball over six times. Saint Xavier University turned three fumble recoveries and three interceptions into 56 points off turnovers, including two interception returns for touchdowns.

Marian University is led by two-time NAIA All-America running back Tevin Lake. Lake, who logged his 22nd career 100-yard game with 135 yards on 33 carries in the 2014 season opener, was named to the All-NAIA First Team in 2012 and the Second Team last season. Lake rushed for 1,594 yards and 18 touchdowns in the Knights' championship season of 2012 and had 1,223 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.

Brandon Beitzel and Hayden Northern split time at quarterback last week for Marian University. Beitzel completed 16-of-29 passes for 179 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Northern started behind center and went 10-for-20 passing for 105 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Krishawn Hogan led the Knights last week with a program record-tying 12 catches for 153 yards and one touchdown.

The Knights also return All-MSFA First Team defensive end Bryan Derence (38 tackles, 5.5 sacks in 2013), Second Team defensive lineman Jamar Wilhite (42 tackles, five sacks) and Second Team defensive back Eric Price (50 tackles, three interceptions, 13 pass breakups).