Titans Close Regular Season At 15th-Ranked Pioneers

The UW-Oshkosh football team battles for second place in the WIAC standings when it travels to 15th-ranked UW-Platteville on Saturday (Nov. 15). Kickoff for the regular-season finale is set for 2 p.m. at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.

The Titans (5-4, 5-1 WIAC), who have won 19 of their last 22 WIAC contests, are seeking their third top-two conference finish in four seasons. The Pioneers (7-2, 5-1 WIAC), who have won 20 of their last 24 WIAC games, placed second in the conference the past three years. Top-ranked and defending national champion UW-Whitewater (9-0, 6-0 WIAC) clinched at least a share of the league championship last Saturday (Nov. 8).

UW-Platteville snapped a four-game losing streak to UW-Oshkosh with last year's 17-16 victory in the regular-season finale. The Pioneers own a 48-46-4 advantage in a series that dates back to 1911.

Last Saturday, UW-Oshkosh scored all of its points and racked up 540 yards in the first three quarters en route to a 52-13 win over UW-Eau Claire. The Titans, who defeated the Blugolds in consecutive home games for the first time since 1973, scored seven touchdowns and one field goal on their first 11 drives.

UW-Oshkosh began its conference schedule with wins over UW-Stout (32-7), UW-La Crosse (21-18) and UW-River Falls (37-7) before falling, 24-7, at top-ranked and defending NCAA Division III champion UW-Whitewater on Oct. 25. The Titans rebounded with a 21-7 victory over UW-Stevens Point on Nov. 1.

The Titans opened the season with losses to programs outside the NCAA Division III, falling 27-19 to NAIA Robert Morris University (Ill.), 24-20 to NAIA Marian University (Ind.) and 41-3 to NCAA Division I South Dakota State University.

The UW-Oshkosh offense averages 23.6 points and 313.9 yards per game, including 144.2 rushing.

Brett Kasper has completed 82-of-124 passes for 994 yards and nine of UW-Oshkosh's 11 touchdowns through the air.

Dylan Hecker, who didn't play against UW-Eau Claire, leads the team with 86 carries for 429 yards and seven touchdowns. Tyler Parker has 38 rushes for 224 yards, while Ethan Steinhoff has added 57 totes for 209 and two of the Titans' 13 scores on the ground. Craig Schommer logged a career-high 126 rushing yards and one score last week to increase his season totals to 194 yards and two touchdowns.

Sam Mentkowski has a team-high 35 receptions for 332 yards and three touchdowns. Joe Sommers, who registered career highs of 105 yards and two scores against UW-Eau Claire, has 33 catches for a team-best 588 yards and three touchdowns.

The UW-Oshkosh defense allows 18.7 points and 331.7 yards per game, including 185.6 passing. The Titans have forced 20 turnovers, which have contributed to the team's plus-three margin.

Reese Dziedzic leads UW-Oshkosh with 70 tackles, followed by Beau Steffens's 60, Cody Huemmer's 45 and Branden Lloyd's 41.

Fifteen Titans have recorded sacks, including Huemmer, who has a team-high five. John Eagan and Kevin MacCudden are tied for the team lead with three of UW-Oshkosh's 13 interceptions apiece. Corey Sigler has a team-best two fumble recoveries.

On special teams, UW-Oshkosh's Nate Ray leads the NCAA Division III with 44 yards per punt and is tied atop the WIAC rankings with nine field goals.

Last Saturday, UW-Platteville defeated UW-La Crosse, 24-17, on a 46-yard touchdown pass with eight seconds remaining. The game was tied at 7 after three quarters.

The Pioneers began the season with non-conference victories of 63-3 over Buena Vista University (Iowa) and 26-21 over the University of Dubuque (Iowa) before falling, 28-7, to North Central College (Ill.).

UW-Platteville opened its WIAC slate with wins over UW-Eau Claire (49-0), UW-River Falls (24-14), UW-Stevens Point (31-13) and UW-Stout (21-0) before losing, 17-7, to UW-Whitewater on Nov. 1.

The Pioneer offense averages 28 points and 404 yards per game, including 254 passing.

UW-Platteville's Bryce Corrigan leads the WIAC with 243.4 passing yards per game has completed 216-of-344 passes for 2,191 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Andy Puccini paces the Pioneer running game with 216 carries for 1,105 yards and nine rushing touchdowns, all WIAC highs. He has added 20 catches for 113 yards and one score. Puccini's 10 total touchdowns are tied for the conference lead.

Pioneer Trevor Whitehead has a WIAC-best 70 receptions for 673 yards and six touchdowns. His punt return average of 8.9 yards also leads the conference.

Deep threat Russell Martin has 46 catches for a team-high 753 yards and five touchdowns. Mitch Munda has added 37 grabs for 319 yard and four scores while Dillon Villhauer has 27 receptions for 214 yards and two touchdowns.

The UW-Platteville defense allows an average of 12.6 points and 296.9 yards per contest, including a WIAC-best 160.1 passing. The Pioneers have forced 20 turnovers, contributing to the team's plus-10 margin.

Jacob Zilbar leads the Pioneers with 78 tackles, followed by 47 apiece by Andrew Belken and Andrew Robinson. Robinson has a team-high 15.5 tackles for loss, including 7.5 sacks.

Zilbar has a team-best four of UW-Platteville's 12 interceptions and one of the team's eight fumble recoveries. Byron Whitehead owns two interceptions and one fumble recovery.

On special teams, UW-Platteville's Carr Terpstra averages 35.5 yards per punt. Pat Frio has made 5-of-11 field goals.

The winner of Saturday's game remains alive for one of six at-large bids to the NCAA Division III Championship. Both UW-Oshkosh and UW-Platteville are ranked in the West Region. Selections to the 32-team championship will be announced on Monday (Nov. 17).