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Titans Host Warhawks In Nationally Ranked Football Skirmish

Titans Host Warhawks In Nationally Ranked Football Skirmish

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The UW-Oshkosh football team looks to snap the NCAA's longest current winning streak when the Titans host two-time defending national champion UW-Whitewater on Saturday (Oct. 10) at J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

UW-Whitewater (4-0, 1-0 WIAC) has won 36 consecutive games – the longest streak across all three NCAA divisions – and 68 of its last 71 WIAC contests. The Warhawks, ranked first in the Division III by D3football.com, have also recorded six national championships and three runner-up finishes in the past 10 years.

UW-Oshkosh (3-1, 1-0 WIAC), ranked 15th in the country, has won 21 of its last 24 WIAC contests, including a 28-13 victory over UW-Whitewater in 2012. That UW-Oshkosh win represents the Warhawks' largest loss since a 19-point setback in the 2006 national championship game and their biggest loss at home since 2004.

Saturday's game is the 107th between the teams. The Warhawks, who have won 23 of the last 25 meetings, own a 74-27-5 advantage in a series that dates back to 1897. The Titans' last home win over the Warhawks was a 21-20 decision in 2002.

UW-Whitewater has earned at least a share of nine WIAC titles in the past 10 seasons, while UW-Oshkosh clinched the outright league championship in 2012.

This season, UW-Oshkosh has broken records during its current three-game winning streak.

Following a 23-21 season-opening loss at NAIA program Robert Morris University (Ill.), the Titans set the program scoring record in an 86-0 triumph over Finlandia University (Mich.) on Sept. 12.

Last Saturday (Oct. 3) in Menomonie, UW-Oshkosh totaled a WIAC-record 829 yards in its 69-14 victory over UW-Stout. In the win, UW-Oshkosh became the first WIAC team to score at least 69 points twice in one season. The Titans also tallied a school-record 456 rushing yards and tied the school mark with 35 first downs against the Blue Devils.

After the win over Finlandia University, UW-Oshkosh registered its second straight shutout with a 35-0 victory over North Park University on Sept. 19. The victory marked the Titans' first listing of consecutive shutouts since 1996.

Offensively, UW-Oshkosh leads the WIAC in scoring average (52.8), total yards per contest (553.3), rushing yards per game (302.8), completion percentage (65.1) and first downs (103). The Titans' scoring output ranks sixth in the Division III and their yards per game rank seventh.

Defensively, UW-Oshkosh paces the conference in points allowed per game (9.3), turnovers forced (19), fumbles recovered (7) and defensive touchdowns (3). The Titans' scoring defense ranks eighth in the nation.

UW-Oshkosh quarterback Brett Kasper has completed 65 of 99 passes for 942 yards and nine touchdowns. Kasper paces the conference with a 65.7 completion percentage, 9.52 yards per attempt and a 173.6 passing efficiency rating. He had a career-high 350 passing yards and three touchdowns in three quarters of action last Saturday against UW-Stout.

Dylan Hecker leads the UW-Oshkosh backfield with 56 carries for 366 yards and seven touchdowns. Hecker's 6.5 yards per carry, 10.5 points per game, and touchdown total are tops in the conference. Hecker had three touchdown runs against UW-Stout.

Devon Linzenmeyer has added 19 rushes for 175 yards and two scores for UW-Oshkosh, which has also received 16 carries for 172 yards and two touchdowns from Zach Kasuboski.

Sam Mentkowski highlights UW-Oshkosh's receivers with 15 catches for 434 yards and a WIAC-leading five touchdowns. Mentkowski's 28.9 yards per catch leads the WIAC and ranks fourth in the Division III. Last Saturday against UW-Stout, Mentkowski caught eight passes for a career-best 209 yards and two scores.

Reese Dziedzic's 22 tackles lead the UW-Oshkosh defense. Matt Gasper has added 21 tackles, followed by Cameron Brown and Branden Lloyd with 17 stops apiece. Trevor Fiegel's two fumble recoveries rank eighth in the country, while Johnny Eagan's two interceptions lead the WIAC. Fiegel and Eagan have both recorded defensive touchdowns.

UW-Oshkosh's Turner Geisthardt has punted 12 times this season for a 36.4 average. He has pinned two punts inside the 20-yard line and owns a long boot of 51 yards. Greg Rand connected on both of his field goal attempts and made 9 of 10 extra points, while Eli Wettstein has converted 14 of 15 point-after attempts.

UW-Whitewater opened the season with a 62-6 win over Belhaven University (Miss.) on Sept. 12 before winning its home opener, 66-3, over Finlandia University on Sept. 19. The Warhawks then defeated Morningside College (Iowa), 33-30, in a battle of the top-ranked teams in the Division III and the NAIA. Last Saturday, UW-Whitewater downed UW-Platteville, 17-7, in Whitewater.

The Warhawks feature a defense that ranks fifth in the Division III by allowing just 45.5 rushing yards per game. UW-Whitewater also leads the WIAC with 235.5 yards allowed per contest and 29 sacks.

Paul Foster's team-leading 21 tackles spearhead the UW-Whitewater defense. Vince Mason follows him with 20 tackles and Brandon Tamsett and Ryan Winske with 17 stops apiece. Foster, Mason and Winske have all recorded one of the Warhawks' five interceptions, while Tamsett leads with five tackles for loss, including three sacks.

The Warhawks' offense averages 44.5 points and 412.2 yards per game. UW-Whitewater has gained nearly 64 percent of its total yards – 1,049 of 1,649 – on the ground.

Chris Nelson directs the UW-Whitewater offense. He has completed 32 of 57 passes for 488 yards and four touchdowns.

Jordan Ratliffe leads UW-Whitewater's backfield with 78 rushes for a WIAC-leading 426 yards and six touchdowns. Jarrod Ware has 17 carries for 94 yards and one score, while Nick Patterson has chipped in with 23 totes for 141 yards and four touchdowns.

The UW-Whitewater receiving unit is led by Joe Worth's 12 catches for 153 yards and one touchdown. Adam Korpela has added six receptions for 133 yards and one score.

The Warhawks' Lake Bachar and Ben Franzen have shared the kicking duties. Bachar has converted 2 of 3 field goals and all nine of his point-after tries, while Franzen has connected on 4 of 6 field goals and 11 of 12 extra points. Bachar has a 34.5 average on 12 punts, including five kicks inside the 20-yard line.

UW-Whitewater has been D3football.com's top-ranked team for 20 consecutive polls. UW-Oshkosh has appeared in 35 of the last 50 polls, including 16 times in the top 10.

This year marks the fourth meeting in the last five seasons in which the Titans and Warhawks have both been ranked in the top 20 nationally.

Time Warner Cable SportsChannel will televise this year's matchup to a regional audience. The contest will be available on channel 32/1332 HD of the Time Warner Cable systems in Northeastern and Southeastern Wisconsin. The telecast will also be available in the Madison area through Charter Communications channel 14 and over-the-air channel 3.1.

Bob Brainerd is doing the play-by-play and Greg Voeller the color commentary for the telecast.

Fans can also follow the game on the Internet through Titan TV, WRST 90.3 FM, WKCH 106.5, and via Live Stats. Titan TV (Time Warner Cable Channel 97.57) and WRST 90.3 FM will also provide live local coverage of the contest.