Titans Set Single-Game Scoring Mark
The nationally ranked UW-Oshkosh football team scored the most points in program history as 11 different Titans notched touchdowns in an 86-0 triumph over Finlandia University (Mich.) on Saturday (Sept. 12) at J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium.
The Titans, ranked 24th in the NCAA Division III by D3football.com, produced the fifth-highest scoring game in WIAC history and the most points by a league team since 1921. UW-Oshkosh's two previous highest scoring games were established in victories of 82-0 over Omro High School in 1910 and 76-0 over UW-Milwaukee in 1912.
UW-Oshkosh (1-1), playing in its 121st home opener, rolled up 567 yards and 26 first downs on offense while limiting Finlandia University, which committed six turnovers, to 69 total yards and four first downs. The Lions never advanced the ball past midfield the entire game.
The Lions (0-2), competing in their second game as a first-year NCAA Division III program, fumbled the opening kickoff on their own 1-yard line, and Dylan Hecker waltzed into the end zone just nine seconds into the game.
After two punts by Finlandia University and a turnover on downs by UW-Oshkosh, Hecker capped an eight-play, 70-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown at the 7:37 mark of the first quarter. The two first-quarter scores gave Hecker four touchdowns on the season and 13 in his career.
Hecker's second short scoring run of the contest began a spree of touchdowns on seven consecutive offensive possessions and one defensive score before halftime.
Brett Kasper connected with Sam Mentkowski for a 73-yard strike with six seconds remaining in the first quarter, CJ Blackburn caught a 60-yard touchdown pass from Kasper at the 13:29 mark of the second quarter and Johnny Eagan returned an interception 32 yards for another score with 12:08 to go.
Zach Kasuboski broke several tackles on his way to the end zone on a 28-yard run with 9:47 left before halftime, followed by a 3-yard touchdown from Kasper to Joe Sommers at the 7:08 mark, a 16-yard quarterback keeper for a score by Connor Senger with 3:43 remaining, and a 1-yard scoring run by Devon Linzenmeyer with 43 seconds left in the half.
Greg Rand converted all nine extra points in the first half as the Titans compiled a 63-0 lead at intermission despite controlling the ball for just 9:53 during the first two quarters.
UW-Oshkosh was forced into its only punt of the game on its first drive of the second half, but the Titans scored on their next four possessions before kneeling down and turning over the ball on downs with less than two minutes left in the contest.
Rand's 30-yard field goal, his 12th point of the game, extended UW-Oshkosh's advantage to 66-0 with 10:18 to go in the third quarter.
Dom Todarello's 4-yard touchdown run and the first of two extra points by Turner Geisthardt upped the Titan lead to 73-0 with 8:04 to go in the third quarter. Chad Walton plowed into the end zone from a yard out with 78 seconds remaining in the third stanza, and Nick August's 12-yard touchdown run with 6:37 left in the game gave UW-Oshkosh its new scoring mark.
August, Eagan, Linzenmeyer, Senger, Todarello and Walton all scored their first career touchdowns. Kasuboski notched his 18th career score, Sommers tallied the fifth of his career, and Blackburn and Mentkowski their fourth.
Kasper, who exited in the second quarter, completed 6 of 9 passes for 187 yards and three scores. Senger connected on 5 of 8 passes for 37 yards.
Hecker finished with six carries for 21 yards in just under two quarters of action.
Antoine Davis led 14 UW-Oshkosh ball carriers with 69 rushing yards on six carries. August added 55 yards on a team-high 10 rushes, and Walton chipped in nine totes for 34 yards as the Titans amassed 343 rushing yards on 52 carries.
Blackburn paced the UW-Oshkosh receiving corps with three catches for 98 yards. Mentkowski added two grabs for 76 yards.
Branden Lloyd and Scott Skornicka led the UW-Oshkosh defense with five tackles apiece. Nick Amato, Beau Ash and Gerald Bester II each added four stops. A total of 37 Titans made tackles in the contest.
Eagan had two of UW-Oshkosh's three interceptions, and Brad Walovitch snared the other. Skornicka and Todarello both recovered fumbles.
Titans Nick Boyd, John Horter and Skornicka all recorded sacks while Matt Gasper and Justin Watson combined for another.
Finlandia University, which lost its season opener by a 43-0 score at Alma College (Mich.), was held to 18 rushing yards on 31 carries for a 0.6 average.
Jaavaid Love led the Lions with 15 rushes for 36 yards.
Finlandia University's Ronald Brown completed 7 of 14 passes for 40 yards with three interceptions. Backup Tyler Kangas completed both of his attempts for 11 yards.
Trevor Burke and Riley Engman both contributed three catches for the Lions. Burke had a team-best 18 yards and Engman 16 yards.
The Lions' Justin Patterson led all players with 15 tackles, including 13 solo. Mitch Messing and Tyler Windahl chipped in eight stops apiece. Windahl and Gabe Swanson combined for Finlandia University's lone sack.
The Lions, who converted on just 2 of 13 third downs, ended the game with a 30:55 to 29:05 edge in time of possession.
The four highest scoring games by WIAC teams are UW-Stevens Point's 108 points in 1921 and three entries by UW-La Crosse, which tallied 101 points during a game in 1917, 89 points in 1916, and 87 points in 1919.
UW-Oshkosh remains at home to face North Park University (Ill.) next Saturday (Sept. 19). Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium.