Titans Travel To Pioneer Country

The UW-Oshkosh football team hopes its improved offense can avenge last year's shutout when it travels to UW-Platteville on Saturday (Oct. 24). The Titans (3-3/1-2 WIAC) and Pioneers (3-3/1-2 WIAC) will kick off at 2 p.m.

UW-Platteville posted a 28-0 victory in the 2008 meeting as Joe Burkeland completed his first 13 passes. The Pioneers took control of the contest with three long touchdown drives during the third quarter. In the all-time series dating back to 1911, UW-Platteville owns a 47-42-4 edge.

Jeremy Roach (Jr. • Deerfield) and Charlie Weissman (So. • Colgate) lead the Titans' backfield as the two combine for 5.8 yards per carry. Roach leads the team with 380 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, while Weissman has 353 yards and one score. Nate Wara (Fr. • Oshkosh) has 858 yards and six touchdowns passing as he likes to spread the ball around. UW-Oshkosh boasts seven players with at least 11 receptions, including a team-high 17 by both Craig McClelland (Jr. • Union Grove) and Justin Budiac (So. • Mukwonago).

UW-Oshkosh's past four games have been decided by a touchdown or less, including last week's 24-17 loss to UW-Stevens Point. The Pointers' Jared Jenkins was too much in the passing game, as he grabbed 13 passes for 189 yards. Juston Wara (Jr. • Oshkosh) put together the Titans' best receiving total of the year with 113 yards of his own. UW-Oshkosh is playing a road game for just the second time since Sept. 5.

A nine-point lead in the third quarter was not enough for the Pioneers last week, since UW-Eau Claire ran off three straight touchdowns for a 34-26 victory. Mitch Shadley connected on 22 of his 39 passes for 288 yards in the defeat. Kicker Tony Smidl converted four attempts to tie a UW-Platteville record with his 28th career field goal. The Pioneers started the year 2-0 before knocking off UW-La Crosse, 26-13, on Oct. 10 to improve to 3-2.

The UW-Platteville offense ranks eighth in the WIAC with 291 yards per game. At quarterback, Nick Anderson has 726 yards, two touchdowns and seven interceptions, while Shadley owns 564 yards and four scores. Brandon Hertrampf is the team's leading rusher with 64 carries for 173 yards. Owning 32 catches and 348 yards, Aunton Terry paces all Pioneer receivers. Tom Bruins highlights the defensive unit with 64 tackles.

The Titans own the best turnover margin (+9) in the WIAC, partially thanks to the top tackler in the nation. James Taraboi (Sr. • Grafton) leads the NCAA Division III with an average of nine solo tackles per game. His 14 total stops per contest list second in the country, while he has added three sacks and two interceptions.