Eagles Hold Off Titans' Fourth-Quarter Surge
Jimmy McClinton recovered a fumble with less than three minutes left to play and Byron Dawkins threw a pair of touchdown passes to lift Robert Morris University (Ill.) to a 23-21 victory over UW-Oshkosh in a battle of ranked football teams on Saturday (Sept. 5) in Arlington Heights, Ill.
UW-Oshkosh (0-1), ranked 18th in the NCAA Division III by D3football.com, scored 12 fourth-quarter points on rushing touchdowns by Dylan Hecker to pull within 23-21 with just under six minutes remaining. Greg Rand's extra point attempt was blocked after Hecker's 5-yard score at the 13:34 mark, and Zach Kasuboski's two-point try came up short after Hecker's 29-yard touchdown with 5:54 to play.
After forcing a Robert Morris University punt, UW-Oshkosh began its final drive from its own 24-yard line with 3:49 left. Titans quarterback Brett Kasper picked up a first down with a 9-yard run to the UW-Oshkosh 37-yard line, but on the ensuing play, Kasper completed a deflected pass to offensive lineman Josh Tice, who fumbled at the Titan 40-yard line, and McClinton secured the game's only turnover with 2:43 remaining.
The Eagles gained 32 yards and two first downs on five consecutive rushes, taking the ball to the UW-Oshkosh 5-yard line and forcing all three Titan timeouts before running out the remaining 1:15 from the clock.
Dawkins completed 12 of 29 passes for 137 yards and two scores. Eagles running back Raheem Gardner had 22 carries for 123 yards. Tyler Warden paced Robert Morris University with four catches for 50 yards and one touchdown. Montre Lee added three receptions for 65 yards and one score.
Robert Morris University (1-0), ranked 20th in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) by the organization's football coaches, took a 6-0 lead on two field goals by Brian Franklin, who connected from 30 yards out to cap a 15-play, 68-yard opening drive with 5:40 to go in the first quarter before making a 43-yard boot that ended an 11-play, 33-yard drive at the 7:26 mark of the second quarter.
UW-Oshkosh missed a 39-yard field goal during its first possession and was forced to punt on its next two drives, but Kasuboski raced around the left side for a 67-yard touchdown on the first play of the Titans' fourth possession that tied the game at 6 with 7:06 left in the first half. UW-Oshkosh's two-point attempt – a run by Connor Senger – failed.
Robert Morris University reclaimed a 13-6 lead on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Dawkins to Warden and an extra point by Franklin with 3:41 to go in the second quarter.
The next UW-Oshkosh drive ended with a short punt, setting up Robert Morris University at its own 46-yard line with 2:10 remaining in the opening half. The Eagles reached the UW-Oshkosh 17-yard line in six plays, including a 14-yard run by Dawkins and a 19-yard completion from Dawkins to Warden. Franklin then booted a 34-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter.
The Eagles controlled the ball for 22:01 and ran 47 offensive plays during the first half compared to 18 plays and 7:59 time of possession for the Titans.
UW-Oshkosh took the second-half kickoff and marched down to the Eagles' 22-yard line, where Rand connected on a 39-yard field goal to pull the Titans within 16-9 with 11:36 left in the third quarter. Kasper's 26-yard pass to Sam Mentkowski highlighted the scoring drive.
Dawkins tossed his second touchdown of the game on a crossing pass to Lee, who coasted for a 52-yard score. The point after by Franklin extended Robert Morris University's lead to 23-9.
UW-Oshkosh ended the game with advantages in total yards (367-314), rushing yards (228-177), passing yards (139-137) and first downs (20-19). Robert Morris University led the NAIA last season by allowing just 75.8 rushing yards per game and ranked fifth by yielding 17.5 points per contest.
Hecker had 17 rushes for 131 yards and two touchdowns. Kasuboski added two catches for 13 yards and six carries for 85 yards and one score. Craig Schommer contributed a team-high six receptions for 41 yards. Kasper completed 15 of 29 passes for 139 yards.
Dontaye Johnson led the Robert Morris University defense with 10 tackles, including six solo. Deion Carter and Wendell Lamar contributed seven and six tackles, respectively. Tyler Wright and Roger Boylan registered sacks for the Eagles, while Ben Black and Luke Gipson combined for another sack.
Max Adkins led UW-Oshkosh with eight tackles, including six solo. Cameron Brown and Taylor Ripplinger chipped in with seven tackles apiece. Trevor Fiegel recorded six tackles, including two for loss and the Titans' only sack of the contest.
UW-Oshkosh, which began its 121st season, fell in its season opener for just the fifth time in the past 35 years. Robert Morris University defeated the Titans, 27-19, in the season opener for both teams last year in Oshkosh.
The Titans play their home opener against first-year program Finlandia University (Mich.) next Saturday (Sept. 12) at J .J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Joseph Oliver