Titans Hold On To Win Season Opener

The UW-Oshkosh football team scored the first 17 points of the game and held on to defeat William Penn University (Iowa), 31-29, on Saturday (Sept. 3) in Oskaloosa, Iowa. The first gridiron meeting between the two schools kicked off the 111th football season for the Titans and the 106th football campaign for the Statesmen.

UW-Oshkosh (1-0) counted points on its first possession of the season as All-America placekicker Lucas Raschke (So. • Clintonville) capped a six-play, 23-yard scoring drive with a 42-yard field goal. UW-Oshkosh's scoring march was set up by running back Kyle Nakatsuji's (Fr. • West Allis) 41-yard return of the opening kickoff.

UW-Oshkosh reached the end zone twice in the second quarter to take a 17-0 lead. Following a 13-yard punt return by wide receiver Steve Stoltz (So. • Greendale), UW-Oshkosh finished a six-play, 36-yard scoring drive with running back Tyler Jandrin's (So. • Casco) one-yard touchdown run. Defensive back David Consiglio (So. • Jackson) set up the Titans' second touchdown of the period as he recovered a fumbled William Penn University punt return at the UW-Oshkosh 47-yard line. The Titans took advantage of the turnover by moving the football 53 yards in just four plays for a score. The scoring drive ended with Stoltz catching a 51-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Joe Patek (So. • Cedarburg).

William Penn University stole a little momentum right before halftime when placekicker Nate Turnbull capped a seven-play, 60-yard scoring drive with a 29-yard field goal. The scoring march began with a 42-yard pass from quarterback Kentrell Jones to wide receiver Leon Slaughter.

William Penn University controlled the football for nearly 11 minutes of the third quarter, but managed only one score, a two-yard touchdown run by James Jackson to finish a 13-play, 80-yard scoring drive. William Penn University's deficit remained at 17-9 following the score as UW-Oshkosh linebacker Jacob Malzahn (Sr. • Kenosha) blocked Turnbull's extra point try.

UW-Oshkosh increased its lead to 24-9 when Patek tossed a 48-yard touchdown pass to Stoltz at the 12:02 mark of the fourth quarter. The one-play scoring drive followed a William Penn University punt.

William Penn University cut its deficit to 24-15 on the ensuing possession as Jackson scored on a 43-yard touchdown run at the 11:45 mark of the fourth quarter. Following a failed fourth down conversion by UW-Oshkosh, William Penn University pulled to within 24-22 on Jones' seven-yard touchdown pass to Travis Johnson with 6:53 to play.

The two teams exchanged touchdowns on their next possessions. UW-Oshkosh went ahead 31-22 by finishing a nine-play, 61-yard scoring drive on Jandrin's two-yard touchdown run with 3:25 to play. William Penn University sliced its deficit to 31-29 by concluding a five-play, 53-yard scoring drive on Jones' 14-yard touchdown pass to Johnson with 2:40 remaining.

William Penn University held UW-Oshkosh to just three plays on its next possession and took control of the football at its own 15-yard line with 1:39 to play. But, two penalties, including an illegal forward pass, and three incomplete passes, ended the Statesmen's comeback bid at their own five-yard line with 1:11 left. The change of possession secured UW-Oshkosh's 23rd season-opening victory in the last 25 years.

UW-Oshkosh totaled 368 yards of offense, including 214 on the ground. Moriarty, who gained a career-best 179 yards in 31 attempts, led the Titans' rushing attack. Patek completed eight of 19 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns in his first collegiate start, while Stoltz caught three aerials for 114 yards and two scores.

William Penn University compiled 421 yards of offense, including 231 on the ground. Jackson led the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics member with 141 rushing yards. Jones completed 13 of 35 passes for 190 yards, with both of his scoring strikes going to Johnson who caught four passes for 36 yards.

Cornerback Jason Manikowski (Jr. • Cudahy) led UW-Oshkosh with seven tackles and one pass interception. The Titans also received six tackles from Malzahn, defensive tackle Ryan Neff (Jr. • Merrill), cornerback Ryan Radtke (Jr. • Peshtigo), defensive tackle Ryan Schaffner (So. • Germantown) and linebacker Eric Stenbroten (So. • Monticello).

Linebacker Clint Peery led William Penn University with 12 tackles, while free safety Dustin Hudor added 10.