Titans Fall To Nationally Ranked Knights In Season Opener

A near-capacity crowd of 4,300 saw Wartburg claim a 31-10 win against UW-Oshkosh Saturday, Sept. 1, opening the new Walston-Hoover Stadium. The loss was the first for the Titans in an opener since 1980.

Wartburg, extending its win string to 20 games at home, rallied back after the Titans scored on a 71-yard touchdown pass from Alan Beversdorf to Steve Wagner early in the first quarter.

Junior quarterback Jake Olsen threw three touchdown passes, leading the comeback. He hit senior tight end Andy Hampton with a 35-yard strike and came back with a 50-yard bomb to senior wide receiver Dan Achenbach, each coming in the first stanza. His final strike went to sophomore running back Jerone Boggs in the closing minute of the third quarter.

Olsen finished the game 14 of 25 for 234 yards, a career single-game high, and three touchdowns. Achenbach was his leading receiver with five catches for 108 yards. Junior tailback Justin Beatty hit the century mark with 25 carries for 100 yards, leading a 148-yard rushing effort for the Knights.

UW-Oshkosh's offense was topped by Beversdorf's 16-for-32, 227-yard passing performance. Wagner was his top receiver with seven catches for 130 yards. Defensive back Keith Kamps led UW-Oshkosh in tackles with nine.