Titans Upset Nationally Ranked Blue Devils

Andy Moriarty ran 15 yards for a touchdown with 14 seconds left to give the UW-Oshkosh football team a 34-27 victory over nationally ranked UW-Stout on Saturday (Oct. 8) at J.J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium.

In the game's waning stages, UW-Stout, which hasn't won on the Titans' home field since 1997, appeared in legitimate position to end the hex, as they marched into UW-Oshkosh territory with under a minute to play and the score knotted at 27-27.

With UW-Stout threatening to reach field goal range for a possible game-winner, UW-Oshkosh defensive back Ryan Radtke snared a titanic interception at the home team's 35-yard line and raced to the Blue Devils' 15.

One play after Radtke's pass interception, Moriarty sashayed through UW-Stout's defense for a 15-yard scoring scamper that ultimately ran the Blue Devils' losing streak in Oshkosh to four games.

Fourteen seconds remained on the clock. But, one play after the Blue Devils took over on their own 39-yard line after the ensuing kickoff, Radtke came down with another interception on a UW-Stout Hail May fling to seal the deal for the Titans. The UW-Oshkosh offense took the necessary knee and the final gun sounded.

UW-Stout entered the game ranked 16th in the NCAA Division III by the American Football Coaches Association and 23rd by D3Football.com.

UW-Oshkosh jumped to a 20-7 lead when tight end Bob Docherty hauled in a 43-yard scoring strike from quarterback Mike Budziszewski with 74 ticks remaining prior to intermission. The Titans previously scored touchdowns on a blocked punt return in the end zone by A.J. Holanquest and a nine-yard touchdown run by Moriarty.

The Titans had their lead cut to 20-10 when UW-Stout placekicker Evan Larsen drilled a 48-yard field goal with one second to go in the second frame.

UW-Stout fired out of the lockerroom, outscoring the Titans, 14-0, in the five minutes of the third quarter. Early in the fourth quarter, UW-Oshkosh stole the lead back at 27-24, when Tyler Jandrin muscled his way into the end zone from one yard out.

UW-Stout rallied back as the Blue Devils took over on their own 12-yard line with 9:24 to go. Five first downs and a clutch fourth-down conversion later, Larsen lined up from the UW-Oshkosh 22. After his 39-yard attempt split the uprights, the two most important numbers on the scoreboard stood at 27.

The Blue Devils totaled 17 first downs to UW-Oshkosh's six and tallied 337 net offensive yards to the Titans' 162. UW-Stout's considerable advantages in offensive production and time of possession (32:29-27:31) were nullified, however, by three pass interceptions and one fumble.

Running back Coty Watkins led all UW-Stout rushers with 67 yards on 15 carries, while running back Andy Reese added 30 yards on 13 totes in his first game back from an injury. Quarterback Keldric Stokes completed 18-of-37 passes for 222 yards and one TD, with wide receiver Jesse Wendt collected 11 catches for 149 yards.

Moriarty provided the majority of UW-Oshkosh's offense, netting 82 of the team's 97 rushing yards on 28 carries. Budziszewski completed 5-of-12 passes for 56 yards and one score in his first collegiate start.

UW-Oshkosh improves to 4-1 (1-1 WIAC) with the victory, while UW-Stout falls to 4-1 (1-1 WIAC) with the loss.