Titans Rout Falcons In Home Debut

It's too bad there isn't a Division III fantasy football league. Because though it's his first year as a starter, sophomore quarterback Joe Patek would already be paying off as a sleeper pick.

With a touchdown run and three touchdown passes in the first half, Patek led UW-Oshkosh to a 41-13 win over Concordia University on Saturday at Titan Stadium.

"I felt more comfortable than last week," Patek said after throwing a total of four touchdown passes and rushing for one. "Each week we hope to take a step forward."

Patek surgically removed the heart from the Falcons defense. He scored in the first quarter on a 12-yard touchdown run, converting a critical fourth-down conversion along the way.

"I was like, 'What are you doing,'" Patek said of his scrambling touchdown. "But then, I was like, 'Wow. This works.'It felt good."

Imposing his will on the Falcons, Patek's exploits continued with a series of accurate strikes to several different receivers. His first touchdown pass occurred midway through the second quarter on a 20-yard strike to sophomore wide receiver Steve Stoltz.

A couple of possessions later, Patek scored on a 42-yard pass to senior wide receiver Nick Kilton.

"The guy to me is starting to grow and feel more comfortable out there," Titans football coach Phil Meyer said of Patek. "I think he's going to be a heck of a player. He's growing every week."

Patek finished with five touchdowns. He also appears to have developed an early chemistry with Stoltz, who caught seven passes for 150 yards and three touchdowns.

"That's the most touchdowns I've had in a game," Stoltz said of his milestone. "I played out of my body today.

"That was a very good out of body experience. I loved it. It was fun."

It didn't look like the type of start the Titans expected. Concordia's Immanuel Mills evaded defenders alone in the open field.

But a jarring hit and a fumble recovery later, and the defense already created a turnover that led to Patek's touchdown.

"Anytime a defense can do that and we get the ball right back, it's huge," Meyer said. "That's just a big play by our defense."

Placekicker Lucas Raschke scored 11 points, making both of his field goal attempts and all five of his extra point kicks.