Titans Record 31-7 Win In Meyer's Debut

A season-opening matchup of first-year head football coaches featured Phil Meyer of UW-Oshkosh winning his first game as the Titans defeated NCAA Division II Southwest State University, 31-7, on Friday evening (Sept. 1) in Marshall, Minn.

UW-Oshkosh cruised to its 20th consecutive season-opening victory by displaying a potent offense and a stifling defense.  The Titans generated 364 yards in 82 offensive plays, with 242 coming via the arm of junior quarterback Alan Beversdorf and 88 contributing from the legs of senior running back Mike Scovronski.  Beversdorf completed 16 of 31 passes, including touchdown strikes of 13 yards to senior split end Mike Vielehr in the first quarter, 40 and 11 yards to senior split end Shannon King in the second quarter and two yards to senior tight end Matthew Welch in the third quarter.  The Titans led 24-7 at halftime.

Defensively, UW-Oshkosh held Southwest State University to 112 yards in 46 offensive plays while forcing six turnovers.  The Mustangs, who totaled only five first downs in the game, were held to a minus-16 yards rushing in 21 attempts.  The last time UW-Oshkosh held a team to negative rushing yards was in 1988 when the Titans limited Mount Senario College to minus-15 in 36 attempts.

Positive yards were gained for Southwest State University in the passing game, where junior signal-caller Tyler Engquist completed eight of 25 passes for 128 yards, including a 76-yard touchdown toss to junior split end Jon Howard in the second quarter.  Spiriting the Titans' defense was senior linebacker Louis Singleton, who totaled four solo tackles, including a pair of quarterback sacks.

Friday night's contest, the first between the schools, kicked off the 106th season of football at UW-Oshkosh and raised the Titans' all-time ledger to 340-430-45.