Titans Unable To Overcome Early Deficit To No. 1 Warhawks

The UW-Oshkosh football team ran for 164 yards against the best rushing defense in the country, but defending WIAC and NCAA Division III champion UW-Whitewater scored touchdowns on its first two possessions and defeated the Titans, 24-7, in front a record crowd of 13,627 at Perkins Stadium in Whitewater on Saturday (Oct. 25).

UW-Oshkosh (3-4, 3-1 WIAC), which lost for just the third time in 20 WIAC games, fell into a tie for third place with UW-Stevens Point in the conference standings. UW-Whitewater (7-0, 4-0), which won its 24 consecutive game, remained tied with UW-Platteville atop the WIAC.

The Warhawks, who went into the game allowing 45.7 rushing yards per game, narrowly outgained the Titans, 297-263, and both teams had 15 first downs.

The UW-Oshkosh defense held UW-Whitewater, which entered the game averaging 48.3 points per game, to four third-down conversions on 14 attempts and season lows in both rushing (122) and passing (175) yards.

The top-ranked Warhawks scored on a 9-yard pass from Matt Behrendt to Jake Kumerow on their first possession and a 4-yard touchdown run by Jordan Ratliffe with 6:18 remaining in the first quarter on their second.

UW-Whitewater, which won its 24th consecutive game, led 17-0 at halftime after adding a 25-yard field goal on the last play of the second quarter.

The Warhawks held a 212-68 advantage in total yards during the first half. The Titans responded by outgaining UW-Whitewater, 195-85, in the second half while allowing just four Warhawk first downs.

Kevin McCudden intercepted a Behrendt pass on the fourth play of the second half, but the Titans fumbled the ball back to UW-Whitewater on the next play. It was Behrendt's first interception of the year and first in a span of 388 passes.

UW-Whitewater returned an interception 54 yards to the Titan 14-yard line with 4:38 left in the third quarter, and Behrendt connected with Derric Junakin on a 3-yard touchdown pass three plays later to give the Warhawks a 24-0 lead with 3:22 remaining in the period.

The Titans stopped UW-Whitewater on fourth down at the UW-Oshkosh 29-yard line with 14:10 left in the game and marched down the field on a 13-play drive that culminated in a 2-yard touchdown run by Dylan Hecker. Hecker's seventh rushing touchdown of the season was the third allowed by the Warhawks this year.

UW-Oshkosh forced a punt on the next UW-Whitewater possession, but the Titans' 13-play drive ended on an interception in the Warhawk end zone with 2:01 remaining.

UW-Oshkosh's Tyler Parker led all players with a career-high 91 rushing yards on 12 carries. Dylan Hecker had 18 rushes for 33 yards and one touchdown.

Hecker and Brett Kasper combined to complete 13-of-23 passes for 99 yards.

The Titans' Joe Sommers recorded game highs with six catches for 68 yards.

Reese Dziedzic paced the UW-Oshkosh defense with a career-high 13 tackles. Beau Steffens tied his career best with 11 stops while Jake Liban added six.

Behrendt completed 17-of-29 passes for 175 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

Ratliffe finished with 16 carries for a team-high 66 yards while Kumerow had three catches for 59 yards to go along with his 10th touchdown of the year. Justin Howard added five receptions for 43 yards.

Ryan Winske and Justin Dischler led the UW-Whitewater defense in tackles with 11 and 10, respectively. Zach Franz had 1.5 of the Warhawks' three sacks. Brady Grayvold and Dylan Morang snagged interceptions. Marcus McLin and Tim Regan recovered fumbles for UW-Whitewater.

UW-Oshkosh travels to 19th-ranked UW-Stevens Point next Saturday (Nov. 1) for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Community Stadium at Goerke Park.

Photo courtesy of Jim Rosvold, d3photography.com.