Titans Host First-Year Lions In Home Opener

UW-Oshkosh welcomes first-year NCAA Division III football program Finlandia University (Mich.) for its home opener on Saturday (Sept. 12). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium.

UW-Oshkosh (0-1), ranked 24th in the NCAA Division III by D3football.com, fell 23-21 to Robert Morris University (Ill.) in its season opener last Saturday (Sept. 5) in Arlington Heights, Ill. Robert Morris University entered the contest ranked 20th in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

The Titans committed the game's only turnover on a fumble with less than three minutes to play, and Robert Morris University gained two first downs to run out the clock.

UW-Oshkosh ended the contest with advantages in total yards (367-314), rushing yards (228-177), passing yards (139-137) and first downs (20-19). Robert Morris University led the NAIA last season by allowing just 75.8 rushing yards per game and ranked fifth by yielding 17.5 points per contest.

Dylan Hecker led the Titans with 17 carries for 130 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Zach Kasuboski added six rushes for 85 yards and two catches for 13 yards. Kasuboski ran 67 yards for a touchdown that tied the score at 6 with 7:06 to play in the second quarter.

The UW-Oshkosh receiving corps was paced by Craig Schommer's six receptions for 41 yards and Sam Mentkowski's two grabs for 48 yards. Quarterback Brett Kasper completed 15 of 29 passes for 139 yards.

Reese Dziedzic totaled 12 tackles to lead the UW-Oshkosh defense. Max Adkins, Cameron Brown and Taylor Ripplinger added eight tackles each. Trevor Fiegel made five stops, including two for loss and the Titans' lone sack.

The Titans were flagged for only 15 penalty yards, which ranked seventh in the NCAA Division III during the opening weekend.

UW-Oshkosh lost its season opener for just the fifth time in the last 35 years. Scholarship-granting Robert Morris University also spoiled the Titans' 2014 season opener by a 27-19 count in Oshkosh.

Finlandia University (0-1) dropped its inaugural contest to visiting Alma College (Mich.) by a 43-0 score last Saturday in Hancock.

The Lions gave up six rushing touchdowns and 316 yards on 37 rushes. Five of Alma College's touchdowns were of 18 yards or more, including runs of 75, 70 and 39 yards.

Alma College had a 424-179 advantage in total yards and sacked Finlandia University quarterback Ronald Brown four times. Alma College had narrow edges in turnovers (2-1) and first downs (17-13) as Finlandia University controlled the ball for more than 32 minutes.

Brown completed 10 of 21 passes for 127 yards with one interception. Jaavaid Love paced the Lions backfield with 18 carries for 31 yards, followed by Matt Schultz with 11 totes for 28 yards. Jordan LaPlant and Trevor Burke both caught four passes for 56 and 35 yards, respectively.

Jordan Windahl and Mitch Messing spearheaded the Lions defense with nine tackles apiece while Josh Lee added seven stops. Jalyn Wade recorded Finlandia University's only sack and interception.

Brown, Burke, Lee, Love, Messing and Wade are all freshmen. The Lions have 48 freshman on the roster to go along with eight sophomores, four juniors and LaPlant, the squad's lone senior.

UW-Oshkosh is the first of three consecutive WIAC opponents for the Lions. Finlandia University will also visit two-time defending national champion UW-Whitewater on Sept. 19 before hosting UW-Stevens Point on Sept. 26.

The Titans have won all four prior meetings with NCAA Division III opponents from Michigan, including victories over Alma College by scores of 56-3 in 2013 and 70-9 in 2012.