Titans Open WIAC Play At UW-Stout

The nationally ranked UW-Oshkosh football team begins conference play against UW-Stout on Saturday (Oct. 3) in Menomonie. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Don and Nona Williams Stadium.

UW-Oshkosh (2-1), which has won five consecutive games over UW-Stout and five of the last six contests in Menomonie, enters the week ranked 17th in the NCAA Division III by D3football.com. The Titans have been listed in D3football.com's weekly top 25 during 34 of the last 49 polls, including 16 appearances in the top 10.

The Titans have posted two straight shutouts after dropping their season opener (23-21) at Robert Morris University (Ill.), which is currently ranked 12th in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. UW-Oshkosh established a new program record for points during an 86-0 rout of Finlandia University (Mich.) on Sept. 12 before defeating North Park University (Ill.), 35-0, on Sept. 19. The Titans posted consecutive shutouts for the first time since the first two weeks of the 1996 season.

UW-Stout (1-2) has lost two home games against teams ranked in the D3football.com poll. The Blue Devils fell, 30-25, in the season opener to Bethel University (Minn.) on Sept. 3 and 41-33 to Wartburg College (Iowa) on Sept. 19. Wartburg College is currently ranked sixth in the country while Bethel University is 20th. UW-Stout won a shootout, 52-42, at Loras College (Iowa) on Sept. 12.

The WIAC opener for both teams will showcase UW-Stout's league-leading aerial attack facing UW-Oshkosh's top-rated defense. The Blue Devils average a conference best 323.7 passing yards, while the Titans lead the WIAC by ceding just 129.3 yards through the air, 225.3 total yards and 7.7 points per contest while listing third in the nation with three defensive touchdowns.

UW-Oshkosh also leads the NCAA Division III with an average of just 13.3 penalty yards per game. The Titans have been flagged for just six penalties this season.

UW-Stout's high-powered passing offense has produced a WIAC-best 76 first downs. The Blue Devils also rank ninth in the country with three blocked kicks.

UW-Oshkosh quarterback Brett Kasper has completed 43 of 70 passes for 592 yards with six touchdowns. He also leads the conference with a 160.8 passing efficiency rating while operating an offense that averages 461.3 yards and 47.3 points per game.

Craig Schommer paces UW-Oshkosh with 10 receptions for 67 yards. Sam Mentkowski has seven catches for a team-leading 225 yards and three scores. Mentkowski's 32.1 yards per catch is sixth best in the NCAA Division III this year. CJ Blackburn has added seven grabs for 109 yards and one touchdown, Zach Kasuboski seven catches for 87 yards and one score, and Joe Sommers five receptions for 47 yards and one TD.

Dylan Hecker leads the UW-Oshkosh rushing department with 40 carries for 242 yards and four of the squad's 11 touchdowns on the ground. Kasuboski has chipped in 10 rushes for 133 yards and two scores.

Reese Dziedzic has a team-high 22 tackles and one of the unit's seven sacks. Matt Gasper and Branden Lloyd have contributed 15 and 14 tackles, respectively. Cameron Brown has added 13 tackles and a team-leading three pass breakups.

UW-Oshkosh defensive backs Johnny Eagan and Rajon Hall have returned interceptions for scores, while defensive lineman Trevor Fiegel scored on a fumble return. Eagan has snared two of the team's five interceptions.

Three UW-Oshkosh kickers have combined to convert 2 of 3 field goals and 16 of 18 extra points. Greg Rand leads the trio by connecting on both of his field goals and 9 of 10 extra points.

Hank Kujak spearheads a UW-Stout offense that averages 35 points per game. He has completed 71 of 134 passes for a WIAC-leading 971 yards and eight touchdowns. Kujak, who has tossed three touchdowns in two straight games, threw for a season-high 418 yards and three scores against Loras College. Kujak has added 27 carries for 112 yards and one touchdown.

Chris Pica-Anderson leads a deep UW-Stout receiving corps with 15 catches for 199 yards and one touchdown. Brian Alvarez has 14 receptions for 250 yards and two scores, Kevion McDonald 13 grabs for 182 yards, and Jordan Dabney nine catches for 181 yards and a team-high three TDs.

UW-Stout's running game is paced by Adolfo Pacheco's 38 carries for 163 yards and three scores. KeyShawn Carpenter has added 26 totes for 121 yards and one TD.

Kyle Hoefft's 35 tackles leads the Blue Devils defense. Tony Blair has 26 tackles, followed by Enzo Rosani with 25 stops and Staley Javauhn with 22.

Kevin Houts has 2.5 of UW-Stout's four sacks. Javauhn and Rosani both have two of the Blue Devils' six interceptions, while Josh Johnson has the team's lone fumble recovery.

UW-Stout's Taylor Pahl ranks third in the WIAC with 18 points. He has connected on 3 of 4 field goals and 9 of 10 extra points.

The Titans, who own a 35-23-1 record against UW-Stout, have won the last five meetings in the series by a combined score of 178-64, including a 32-7 decision in Oshkosh last season.