Titans Clip Falcons To Go 2-0
The UW-Oshkosh football team relied on its stable of running backs for a second straight game as they handed Concordia University a 21-3 setback on Saturday (Sept. 13) at Titan Stadium. The contest, the second between the two schools, was played in a steady rain from start to finish.
After rushing for 357 yards in last Saturday's (Sept. 6) 38-3 win over Upper Iowa University, UW-Oshkosh (2-0) gained 199 yards on the ground against Concordia University (1-1). Fullback Aaron Chaltry (Jr. • Peshtigo) rushed for a career-high 90 yards on 21 carries, including a one-yard touchdown run with 5:58 left in the fourth quarter put the Titans ahead 21-3. Chaltry also hauled in two passes for 31 yards to emerge as the Titans' top offensive performer.
In addition to Chaltry, the Titans also received solid rushing performances from running backs Chris Kirch (Fr. • Lake Geneva) and Andy Moriarty (Fr. • Mequon). Kirch rushed 19 times for 65 yards and two touchdowns, while Moriarty rushed all five of his times in the fourth quarter for 19 yards. Kirch's 25-yard burst at the 5:22 mark of the first quarter put the Titans ahead 7-0, while his one-yard scamper at the 12:56 mark of the second quarter put UW-Oshkosh ahead 14-0. The Titans also received 35 yards rushing in eight attempts from quarterback Nick Wara (Jr. • Oshkosh).
In the air, UW-Oshkosh totaled 93 yards as Wara completed six of his 15 passes for 93 yards. Complementing Chaltry's receiving efforts were wide receiver Nic Sydorowicz's (Sr. • Neillsville) one catch for 23 yards, tight end Chad Lindsley's (Sr. • Oconomowoc) one catch for 18 yards, tight end Bob Docherty's (Jr. • Oshkosh) one catch for 17 yards and wide receiver Mike Kinateder's (So. • Waukesha) one catch for four yards. Kinateder also knocked home three extra points, while Sydorowicz had a 46-yard kickoff return.
For the second week in a row, UW-Oshkosh was led defensively by end Jason Boehlke (Jr. • Germantown). Boehlke registered two quarterback sacks and two other tackles for a loss among his 11 takedowns. He also forced and recovered a fumble on one of his quarterback sacks. Linebacker Craig Korth (Jr. • Menasha) also had 10 tackles in the contest, including two for a loss, while defensive tackle Dustin Drexel (Jr. • Campbellsport) chipped in eight tackles, including one quarterback sack.
UW-Oshkosh's defensive backfield also got in the action as Noah Paquin (Sr. • Oak Creek), Ryan Slowik (So. • Green Bay) and Ryan Radtke (Fr. • Peshtigo) all had pass interceptions, with Radtke returning his 37 yards on the last play of the game. Paquin led the defensive secondary with five tackles.
Concordia University, which scored 63 points in its season-opening win over Carroll College, was held to 191 yards of total offense against UW-Oshkosh. The Falcons rushed 31 times for 110 yards with running back Immanuel Mills leading the way with 103 yards on 11 carries. Quarterback Brad Sonneborn added 81 yards in the air, completing 15 of 32 passes with three interceptions. Wide receiver Brandon Parker grabbed eight passes for 47 yards to take game honors in both categories.
Linebacker Mike Schwab led the Falcons defensively with his 15 tackles, while defensive back Mike Litrenta, defensive tackle David Taylor and linebacker Jacob Knighton contributed 10 tackles each.
UW-Oshkosh has yielded just six points through two games of the 2003 season, the fewest total since the Titans shut out their first-two opponents of the 1996 campaign. Coupled with a victory in the 2002 season finale, UW-Oshkosh also increased its winning streak to three games, the Titans' longest winning skein since 1998.