Titans To Take On Eagles' Explosive Offense

A week after stymying the conference's best running game, the WIAC co-leading UW-Oshkosh football team faces the daunting task of limiting UW-La Crosse's record-setting aerial attack this Saturday (Oct. 26) in La Crosse. Kickoff of the 67th meeting between the teams is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field.

UW-Oshkosh (5-1, 3-0 WIAC) is coming off a convincing 31-3 home victory over UW-Eau Claire in which the Titans recorded eight sacks on the way to holding the Blugolds to just 63 rushing yards on 44 carries. UW-Eau Claire, which entered averaging a league-leading 203 yards on the ground per game, was limited to 1.9 yards per play for the program's worst offensive average since at least the 1998 campaign.

UW-La Crosse (4-2, 2-1 WIAC) heads into Saturday's contest on the heels of a passing performance that rewrote the conference record book as the Eagles racked up 591 yards and nine touchdowns through the air during a 63-49 win at UW-River Falls, setting a new league mark for yards and matching the NCAA Division III record for touchdown passes. The Eagles erupted for five touchdown passes in the second quarter before adding three more during the third period and one in the fourth.

UW-Oshkosh will counter UW-La Crosse's explosive offense that averages a WIAC-high 327.2 passing yards per game and 16.2 yards per completion with a defense that ranks second in the country at 4.67 sacks per contest, sixth by surrendering 127.8 passing yards per game, eighth by yielding 235 scrimmage yards per contest and 14th with 80 first downs allowed. The efficient Titans also pace the conference in fewest penalties (28), penalty yards per game (37.33) and interceptions thrown (2).

UW-La Crosse has allowed a WIAC-best 5.67 tackles for loss per game while ranking second in the league and fourth nationally by limiting opponents to 9.68 yards per kickoff return.

UW-Oshkosh is averaging 26.7 points and 366.5 yards per game on the year. UW-La Crosse scores 32.3 points and gains 413.8 yards a game but ranks seventh in the conference at 420.2 yards allowed per game and sixth by giving up an average of 28.8 points. During the Eagles' record-setting offensive barrage that included 682 yards gained and 63 points last Saturday, UW-La Crosse also allowed UW-River Falls to collect 38 first downs, 40 receptions and 611 total yards.

The Titans, who are seeking to remain in contention for their fourth conference title over the past eight years, opened the season with a 20-19 home win over Carthage College on Sept. 7 before falling, 24-19, at Salisbury University (Md.) on Sept. 14. UW-Oshkosh has rebounded with four consecutive victories since the setback against the currently 10th-ranked Sea Gulls, including wins of 44-14 over Huntingdon College (Ala.) on Sept. 21, 26-23 at UW-Stout on Oct. 5 and 20-7 over UW-Stevens Point on Oct. 12. The Titans' win over UW-Eau Claire last Saturday was their 25th straight at home during the regular season.

UW-La Crosse has won each of its three home games this year, downing Concordia College (Minn.) by a 21-14 overtime score Sept. 7, then 14th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University by a 33-27 count in double overtime Sept. 14, and UW-Stout in a 40-22 decision Oct. 12. The Eagles have also lost road games this season by scores of 23-17 at NAIA member Dickinson State University (N.D) on Sept. 21 and 38-20 at UW-Platteville on Oct. 5.

The UW-Oshkosh defense features 15 players with at least 10 tackles and 13 players who have contributed toward the team's 28 sacks.

Nick Noethe leads the Titan defense with 34 tackles while Connor Zirpel has 33 stops, Logan Heise 30, Tory Jandrin 29 and Calvin Shilling 25. Heise, Jandrin and Jared Saad have accounted for the unit's three interceptions. Kollyn Beyer and Jacob Edwards have recovered fumbles for UW-Oshkosh.

UW-Oshkosh has amassed 52 tackles for loss as Brandon Kolgen has 8.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage among his 20 total tackles. Brady Heimer ranks 14th in the country with a WIAC-leading seven sacks for the Titans, who have also received 4.5 sacks from Trenton LaCombe and 3.5 sacks by Kolgen.

Kobe Berghammer headlines the UW-Oshkosh offense, completing 80 of 152 passes for 1,012 yards with nine touchdowns and one interception. He has added 63 carries for a team-high 262 yards and five scores on the ground.

Peter MacCudden has 68 rushes for 253 yards for the Titans while Riley Kallas and Chris Hess have 194 and 190 rushing yards, respectively. MacCudden also has 11 receptions for another 105 yards.

Mitchell Gerend's 21 catches for 279 yards lead the UW-Oshkosh receiving corps. Kallas, who leads the conference by averaging 9.5 yards per punt return, has chipped in 13 receptions for 190 yards and a team-leading three touchdowns. Justin Kasuboski has 12 grabs for 172 yards and a score.

UW-Oshkosh kicker and punter Jaydon Haag has made each of his five field goals, including a long of 42 yards, and 13 of 16 extra points while averaging 34.5 yards per punt.

UW-La Crosse is led by Evan Lewandowski, who has gone 101 of 202 passing for 1,706 yards with a WIAC-best 18 touchdown passes and eight interceptions. Lewandowski tied the division record with nine scores through the air last Saturday at UW-River Falls and established a new conference mark with 591 passing yards. He ranks fifth in country at 16.89 yards per completion.

The Eagles receiving duo of Cole Spieker and Jake Simuncak has combined for 74 catches, 1,132 yards and 10 touchdowns through six games this season. Simuncak, who averages 23.3 yards on kickoff returns and 7.2 yards on punt returns, leads the WIAC with 163.33 all-purpose yards a game. Spieker is the conference leader with 39 receptions, 662 receiving yards and seven touchdowns through the air. UW-La Crosse's Cameron Sorenson leads the country by averaging 32.82 yards on his 11 grabs this year.

The UW-La Crosse rushing attack, averaging 3.0 yards per carry, is led by Joey Stutzman, who has logged 83 totes for 324 yards and four of the team's six scores on the ground.

Rusty Murphy and Joey Bolda lead the way for the UW-La Crosse defense with 50 and 40 tackles, respectively. The duo is tied for second in the country with three fumbles recoveries apiece.

Peter Kissling, who lists third on the Eagles with 33 tackles, and Joey Roth have both snared three of the team's 10 interceptions. Ryan Flathers has recorded 6.5 of UW-La Crosse's 27 sacks.

UW-La Crosse kicker Ryan Beirne has gone 3-for-8 on field goals, including a long of 48 yards, and 23 of 26 on extra points. Sean Parker is averaging 38.3 yards punt for the Eagles.

UW-Oshkosh has won its last eight meetings with UW-La Crosse, which still owns a 49-17-6 record in the series that began in 1919. The Eagles went 35-0-2 against the Titans from 1973-2009 until UW-Oshkosh snapped a 37-game winless streak against UW-La Crosse with a 28-17 triumph Oct. 2, 2010. The Titans have outscored the Eagles, 256-121, during their current eight-game winning streak in the series. UW-Oshkosh won last year's matchup with UW-La Crosse by a 24-13 score in Oshkosh.