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Football

2006 Season Preview

The UW-Oshkosh football team made some big strides during the 2005 campaign as head coach Phil Meyer guided the Titans to their best season since 1976.

UW-Oshkosh fashioned a 7-3 record a year ago and ranked third in the WIAC standings with a 4-3 mark. The Titans went unbeaten in their three non-conference games last season, including a 27-13 win over eventual NCAA Division III Playoff participant Albion College (Mich.), and ousted WIAC enemies UW-Stout, UW-Platteville, UW-Stevens Point and UW-Eau Claire for its highest victory count in league play since 1991.

This fall, UW-Oshkosh returns 37 lettermen that are committed to keep the Titans near the top of the WIAC standings. If successful in their mission, UW-Oshkosh would not only enjoy consecutive winning seasons for the first time since going 8-2 in 1968 and 6-4 in 1969, but also be a threat in the 2006 WIAC championship race.

UW-Oshkosh enters its 112th intercollegiate season with 13 seniors on its roster. Back for their final collegiate seasons are offensive guard Pete Caruso (Oak Creek), offensive tackle Shawn Dahlke (Appleton), tight end Ben Grows (Cedarburg), defensive tackle Jason Hartwig (Port Washington), offensive tackle Brandon Houle (Oshkosh), running back Chris Kirch (Lake Geneva), tight end Kyle Kubasa (West Allis), free safety Jason Manikowski (Cudahy), defensive end Ryan Neff (Merrill), cornerback Ryan Radtke (Peshtigo), offensive tackle Dan Roth (Oconomowoc), linebacker Dustin Stumpf (Neenah) and offensive guard Joe Zander (Columbus).

In all, UW-Oshkosh returns eight starters on offense and eight on defense. The Titans also inherit their placekicking specialist of the past two seasons. Among the starters missing from last season is tight end Bob Docherty who signed a free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs following the 2006 National Football League Draft.

Offensive starters back for the Titans are Dahlke, Houle, Zander, junior running back Tyler Jandrin (Casco), junior running back Andy Moriarty (Mequon), junior quarterback Joe Patek (Cedarburg), junior center Joe Schmitz (Menomonee Falls) and junior wide receiver Steve Stoltz (Greendale). Dahlke has started all 30 games for UW-Oshkosh the past three seasons, while Schmitz owns 22 career starts, Stoltz 20 and Zander 18.

Defensive starters returning for UW-Oshkosh are Manikowski, Neff, Radtke, junior linebacker Dave Dejewski (Hartland), junior cornerback Bryan Kent (River Hills), junior strong safety Scott Salvinski (Oshkosh), junior defensive tackle Ryan Schaffner (Germantown) and junior linebacker Eric Stenbroten (Monticello). Manikowski has started all 30 games for the Titans the past three years, while Neff owns 28 career starts and Radtke and Salvinski 20 each.

UW-Oshkosh's kicking game is led by the return of junior placekicker Lucas Raschke (Clintonville), a starter for the Titans the past 20 contests. In 2004, Raschke gained All-WIAC first team and NCAA Division III All-America second team recognition.

This year's roster features several celebrated performers from the 2005 season. Earning All-WIAC first team accolades for the Titans were Moriarty, Neff, Stenbroten and Zander.

Moriarty played in nine of the Titans' 10 games this past year and still rushed for a school-record 1,349 yards and 10 touchdowns. Moriarty, who also caught a team-leading 25 passes for 256 yards, led the WIAC by averaging 178.3 all-purpose yards per game. He also ranked second in the league by averaging 149.9 rushing yards per game and fourth in scoring by averaging 6.9 points per contest. Moriarty rushed for over 121 yards in six games, including a NCAA Division III-record 59 times for a school-record 316 yards during UW-Oshkosh's 24-18 overtime win over UW-Eau Claire. He also rushed 36 times for 245 yards in UW-Oshkosh's 30-28 win over UW-Platteville.

Neff totaled 58 tackles this past year, including 13 for a loss and six quarterback sacks. He ranked second in the WIAC in quarterback sacks and fifth in tackles for a loss. Neff counted 13 tackles during UW-Oshkosh's 13-10 overtime loss to UW-River Falls and nine during the Titans' 24-18 overtime win over UW-Eau Claire. His outstanding play helped the Titans hold opponents to just 111.9 yards per game rushing, the second-best mark in the WIAC.
Stenbroten compiled 76 tackles this past year, including 23.5 for a loss and nine quarterback sacks to lead the WIAC in both categories. He also recovered two fumbles and intercepted one pass. Stenbroten totaled 15 tackles during UW-Oshkosh's 36-7 loss to UW-Whitewater and 13 tackles during UW-Oshkosh's 13-10 overtime loss to UW-River Falls.

Zander anchored an offensive line that helped UW-Oshkosh average 346.3 yards and 24.5 points per game. The Titans ranked fourth in the league in rushing offense and fifth in total offense.

All-WIAC second team honors in 2005 went to UW-Oshkosh's Manikowski and Schmitz.

Manikowski compiled a team-leading 82 tackles this past year. He also intercepted three passes. Manikowski totaled 13 tackles and one pass interception in UW-Oshkosh's 27-13 win over Albion College and 11 tackles in the Titans' 36-7 loss to UW-Whitewater.

Schmitz joined Zander as an integral part of the Titans' offensive line.

D3football.com presented NCAA Division III All-West Region awards in 2005 to Moriarty as a second-team selection and Stenbroten as a third-team choice.