Pointers Nip Titans In Overtime
UW-Stevens Point and UW-Oshkosh have met 104 times on the gridiron, but few have been as dramatic as Saturday's (Oct. 21) contest in Stevens Point.
Ryan Graboski kicked a game-winning 32-yard field goal in overtime and Lincoln Berg had two forced fumbles that were both returned for touchdowns as the Pointers pulled out a 27-24 decision, marking the seventh consecutive year that the rivalry has been decided by less than a touchdown.
In fact, UW-Oshkosh appeared to have the game won in regulation when Bryan Kent (Jr. • Pewaukee) stepped in front of a Pointer pass receiver and looked to have returned his second clutch interception of the game 38 yards for a winning touchdown with 13 seconds left. However, Kent was called for pass interference to nullify the score and send the game to overtime. Pointers' quarterback Brett Borchart was injured on the play as both teams' backup quarterbacks finished the game.
In overtime, UW-Oshkosh had two short rushing plays and then backup quarterback Dieter Juedes' (So. • Sheboygan Falls) pass was intercepted by Kasey Morgan at the three-yard line. UW-Stevens Point's Adam Spoehr caught his first pass of the game on a third and-11 play from the 26-yard line and carried tacklers for six yards to within a foot of the first down. Graboski then drilled the game-winner for just his fourth career field goal and first from longer than 25 yards.
UW-Oshkosh jumped out to a 14-0 lead, using a 99-yard drive on its first possession that was capped by the first of three one-yard touchdown runs by Tyler Jandrin (Jr. • Casco). Jandrin finished off another 16-play, 73-yard drive early in the second quarter with his second score from the one-yard line.
UW-Stevens Point (3-4/1-3 WIAC) came back with a 25-yard field goal by Graboski and then Berg had the first of his two big plays. In perhaps the turning point of the contest, Berg came behind Titans' quarterback Joe Patek (Jr. • Cedarburg) on a blitz and simply stole the ball away from behind and sprinted 25 yards for the score
The Pointers took a 17-14 lead into halftime as Borchart connected with Jacob Dickert on a fade pattern in the corner of the end zone from four yards out on a third-and-goal play with 1:31 left in the half.
After the Titans tied the game on a 20-yard field goal by Lucas Raschke (Jr. • Clintonville), Berg struck again for the Pointers with another blindside blitz on Juedes. Berg, who also had a game-high 13 tackles, hit Juedes from behind to force the ball loose. Brandon Czys scooped up the fumble and rambled eight yards for a go-ahead score.
UW-Oshkosh (4-4/2-3 WIAC) tied the game at 24-24 on another one-yard score by Jandrin with 8:21 left in the game. Both teams traded punts and the Pointers drove to the Titans' 32-yard line where Kent picked off a tipped pass and returned it 43 yards to the Pointers' 35-yard line with 3:05 left.
UW-Oshkosh was stopped on three rushing plays and Raschke had a 48-yard field goal attempt sail wide right with 35 seconds left. Instead of playing for overtime, UW-Stevens Point played for the win and it nearly backfired on Kent's apparent interception return for a touchdown.
UW-Stevens Point managed just 24 yards rushing on 19 carries as the Titans out-gained the Pointers 395-238, including 183-11 in the first quarter. Dickert had nearly half of the Pointers' offensive yards with 12 catches for 113 yards.
Tight end Kyle Kubasa (Sr. • West Allis) had seven catches for 88 yards for the Titans as Patek was 11-for-15 for 192 yards passing before his third-quarter injury. Steve Stoltz (Jr. • Greendale) had three catches for 96 yards – all in the first quarter.
Jason Hartwig (Sr. • Port Washington) and Josh Wara (Jr. • Oshkosh) both had six tackles to lead UW-Oshkosh. Hartwig's total included a pair of tackles for a loss. The Titans also received five tackles from both Scott Salvinski (Jr. • Oshkosh) and Eric Stenbroten (Jr. • Monticello).