Titans Welcome Eagles For WIAC Battle
UW-Oshkosh goes after its second conference victory of the season when it hosts UW-La Crosse on Saturday (Oct. 25). Kickoff for the contest is set for 1 p.m. at J.J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium.
The Titans (3-2/1-2 WIAC) enter the contest coming off a 44-3 defeat to second-ranked (NCAA Division III) UW-Whitewater in last week's UW-Oshkosh Homecoming game. It was the third top-eight opponent UW-Oshkosh faced in its past four matches. The Titans topped Ripon College in the season opener before upsetting fifth-ranked (NAIA) Ohio Dominican University and falling to eighth-ranked (NCAA Division III) UW-Eau Claire. In the first conference bout of the season, UW-Oshkosh held on for a 9-7 victory over UW-Stout.
Steve Levonowich (Jr. • Kenosha) leads the Titans' offense with 290 yards on 83 rushing attempts in 2008. He also tops the squad with 13 receptions, totaling 70 yards. UW-Oshkosh has shared its quarterbacking duties between Craig McClelland (So. • Union Grove) and Dieter Juedes (Sr. • Sheboygan Falls). McClelland has completed 46-of-71 passes for 459 yards and two touchdowns, while Juedes has completed 3-of-13 passes for 19 yards. Juston Wara (So. • Oshkosh) paces the receiving core with 10 catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
The Eagles hold a 1-5 record, including a 1-2 mark in WIAC play. UW-La Crosse dropped three non-conference games to open the year and then fell to nationally-ranked UW-Whitewater and UW-Eau Claire. In last week's contest, UW-La Crosse put the pieces together and knocked off UW-Platteville, 37-6. Eric Donoval ran for 106 yards, and Travis Bordeau added 119 yards receiving to lead the Eagles to victory.
Donoval comes into the game ranked fourth in the conference in rushing, piling up 441 yards and three touchdowns on 98 carries. Bordeau has pulled in 24 passes for 347 yards and two scores to rank fifth in the WIAC, while Nick Anker has completed 33-of-64 throws for 464 yards and three touchdowns at the quarterback position.
On the defensive side, UW-La Crosse's Drew Kiefer tops the conference with 59 tackles, where as the Titans' Kevin Bahl (Jr. • Muskego) lists third with 44 stops. UW-Oshkosh looks to continue its smart play, since it owns the WIAC's fewest penalties (33 yards/game) and a +5 turnover margin. Special teams have been a highlight for the Eagles, with Donoval leading the conference in punt returns (20-yard average) and Reid Oldenburg pacing the league in kickoff return average (25 yards).
UW-La Crosse, which has posted a winning record in 36 of the past 38 seasons, owns a 46-8-6 advantage in the all-time series. In last year's matchup, the Eagles shut down the Titans' offense on their way to a 24-0 decision. UW-La Crosse owned the time of possession, getting 76 yards rushing from Dan Hall and 66 from Donoval. Griffin Moe threw for 174 yards and two scores to pace the Eagles' passing game. UW-Oshkosh's Andy Moriarty notched 109 yards on the ground in a losing effort.