Titans' Nonconference Schedule Concludes With Visit From Hawks

The UW-Oshkosh football team wraps up its nonconference schedule by hosting Huntingdon College (Ala.) on Saturday (Sept. 21). Kickoff for the third meeting between the teams is set for 12 p.m. at J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium.

UW-Oshkosh (1-1) has won both previous matchups with Huntingdon College (1-1) by scores of 34-3 in Alabama in 2007 and 31-13 in Oshkosh in 2009. The Titans never trailed the Hawks in either meeting.

Both UW-Oshkosh and Huntingdon College are looking to rebound after suffering losses on the road last Saturday (Sept. 14).

The Titans held on to win their season and home opener, 20-19, over Carthage College on Sept. 7 before their fourth-quarter comeback fell short during a 24-19 loss at Salisbury University (Md.) last weekend. UW-Oshkosh thwarted Carthage College's potential go-ahead two-point conversion attempt with three minutes remaining during the opener. The Titans then scored 19 unanswered points in the fourth quarter during their first trip to the state of Maryland, but two drives inside the opponent's 10-yard line resulted in zero points during the opening period before a costly interception in the fourth quarter stalled their comeback attempt.

The Hawks won their home opener by a 69-43 score over Guilford College (N.C.) in a contest that featured 10 touchdown passes, 998 yards of offense and 151 total plays. Huntingdon College accounted for 592 yards and six touchdown passes while converting 14 of 20 third down plays en route to its third-best scoring output in program history. The Hawks evened their season record with a 45-13 loss at intrastate rival Birmingham-Southern College as the Panthers outscored Huntingdon College, 24-0, in the second half and finished the contest with a 488-204 yardage advantage.

UW-Oshkosh is averaging 19.5 points and 377 yards per game while allowing 21.5 points and 209.5 yards per contest. The Titans rank 10th in the NCAA Division III with 12 tackles for loss per game, 13th by ceding 89.5 passing yards per contest and 14th with five sacks per game.

Huntingdon College, averaging 41 points and 398 yards per game, is yielding 44 points and 447 yards per contest. The Hawks rank 234th among 244 Division III teams by allowing 24 yards per punt return, 233rd with 2.5 tackles for loss per game and 224th in scoring defense.

UW-Oshkosh's strong defense is headlined by Trenton LaCombe, Calvin Shilling and Tory Jandrin. LaCombe has a team-leading 13 tackles, including 4.5 for loss, while Shilling and Jandrin have recorded 11 and 10 tackles, respectively. Schilling also has snared the Titans' lone interception. Brady Heimer paces UW-Oshkosh with three sacks.

Titans quarterback Kobe Berghammer has completed 23 of 51 passes for 428 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. His 18.61 yards per completion ranks ninth in the country.

Peter MacCudden and Riley Kallas lead the Titan rushing attack. MacCudden has logged 26 carries for 58 yards while Kallas has a team-high 123 yards and one touchdown on just three rushes.

UW-Oshkosh's Mitchell Gerend has caught a team-leading eight passes for 162 yards. Kallas, Ryan Hayes, Justin Kasuboski and Tony Steger have each hauled in one touchdown reception for the Titans.

Titans placekicker Peyton Peterson has connected on 2 of 6 field goals, including a long of 47 yards, and both of his extra points. UW-Oshkosh punter Jaydon Haag is averaging 39.7 yards per punt, placing three of his 13 kicks inside the opponents' 20-yard line.

Huntingdon College features a balanced offense behind quarterback Michael Lambert and running back Eric Thomas. Lambert ranks 11th nationally in touchdown passes while Thomas also lists 11th in rushing touchdowns.

Lambert has gone 33-for-61 passing for 453 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception. Thomas has rushed 41 times for 192 yards and three scores.

The Hawks' diverse receiving corps includes Bailey Densel, Cody Dwyer and Garrett Headley with a team-best five catches and one touchdown each. Otis Porter has scored touchdowns on three of his four receptions as 15 different Hawks have caught passes this year.

Mal Caldwell leads the Hawks defense with 15 tackles. Peyton DeFleron and Seth Waren have added 13 and 12 tackles, respectively, for a squad that has recorded two fumble recoveries and a pair of interceptions while allowing 5.7 yards per carry and 17.2 yards per reception.

UW-Oshkosh played in the NCAA Division III Championship four times in the past seven years, advancing to the national title game in 2016, reaching the semifinals in both 2012 and 2017, and the quarterfinals in 2015. The Titans also claimed Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships in 2012, 2015 and 2017.

Huntingdon College has made four appearances in the Division III Championship since the program debuted in 2003. The Hawks reached the national postseason in 2009, 2015, 2016 and 2017, claiming three straight titles in the USA South Athletic Conference from 2015-17. Huntingdon College, which sports a 1-4 record in the NCAA postseason, received its first at-large berth into the Division III Championship as an independent despite an 18-point loss at UW-Oshkosh during the regular season.

UW-Oshkosh has won each of its last 22 regular season home games against Division III opponents since a 17-16 loss to UW-Platteville in the 2013 season finale.