Titans, Saints Bring Nine-Game Win Streaks To NCAA Postseason Opener
UW-Oshkosh begins its second NCAA Division III Football Championship appearance by hosting The College of St. Scholastica (Minn.) on Saturday (Nov. 21) at J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.
The Titans also hosted the Saints in the opening round during UW-Oshkosh's first NCAA postseason visit in 2012. In the only prior meeting between the programs, UW-Oshkosh defeated The College of St. Scholastica, 55-10, en route to advancing to the semifinal round of the championship.
UW-Oshkosh (9-1), ranked a program-best third in the nation by D3football.com, secured the WIAC's automatic berth into the 32-team championship by claiming the ninth league title in program history. The Titans claimed their second outright crown in four seasons by completing the conference schedule with a 7-0 record.
The College of St. Scholastica (9-1) will be making its fifth consecutive Division III Championship appearance after securing the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference's (UMAC) automatic berth for the fifth straight season. The Saints won all nine of their league contests this year.
Both teams enter their first-round matchup riding nine-game winning streaks. UW-Oshkosh suffered a 23-21 setback in the season opener at NAIA program Robert Morris University (Ill.) on Sept. 5, while The College of St. Scholastica fell, 17-16, at Ripon College on Sept. 5.
UW-Oshkosh has scored 57 or more points in four games this season and posted three shutouts. The Titans are ranked 12th in the country with 507.2 yards per game and 15th with 43.1 points per contest. The UW-Oshkosh defense lists 10th in the nation by allowing 10.7 points per game and 18th by ceding 276.9 yards allowed per contest.
Since losing the season opener, UW-Oshkosh set a new school record for points with an 86-0 win over Finlandia University (Mich.) on Sept. 12 and recorded consecutive shutouts for the first time since 1996 with a 35-0 decision over North Park University (Ill.) on Sept. 19.
UW-Oshkosh eclipsed the WIAC record with 829 yards in a 69-14 victory in the WIAC opener over UW-Stout on Oct. 3. The Titans then defeated UW-Whitewater, the top-ranked team in the nation at the time, with a 10-7 triumph on Oct. 10.
In the last five contests, the Titans have grinded out a 21-10 homecoming win over UW-Stevens Point on Oct. 17, cruised to victories of 63-28 over UW-Platteville on Oct. 24 and 57-12 over UW-River Falls on Oct. 31, clinched the WIAC title by pulling away for a 31-13 decision at UW-La Crosse on Nov. 7, and notched its third shutout of the year by downing UW-Eau Claire, 38-0, last Saturday (Nov. 14).
During its nine-game skein, UW-Oshkosh also became the first WIAC team to post 60 or more points in a game three times in one season.
UW-Oshkosh ranks sixth in the country with a 52.3 percent (68-130) success rate on third downs, while the Titan defense lists third in the nation in red-zone efficiency (.533) and fourth with four defensive scores.
The Titans are also fourth nationally by averaging 26.19 yards per kickoff return, 13th in red-zone offense (.880), 15th with just 43 penalties, and 18th with a +12 turnover margin.
UW-Oshkosh had 20 players receive All-WIAC recognition this fall, including five named to the first team offense and four selected to the first team defense.
UW-Oshkosh sophomore quarterback Brett Kasper was named WIAC Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 2,199 yards on 148-for-223 passing with 19 touchdowns against three interceptions. He became the fourth Titan to be selected as the league's top offensive player and the first since quarterback Nate Wara in 2012.
Kasper ranks seventh in the country with 9.86 yards per pass attempt, ninth with a 174.6 passing efficiency rating, 12th with 14.86 yards per completion and 19th with a .664 completion percentage. He has thrown three or more touchdown passes five times and surpassed 300 yards in three games this season, including career highs of 448 yards and four scores at UW-Platteville.
Dylan Hecker, an All-WIAC first team selection, paces the Titan backfield with 136 carries for 749 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has also thrown two touchdown passes and added 14 receptions for 162 yards and one score.
Hecker has reached the end zone in eight of his nine games played, including multiple touchdowns in five contests. He also has recorded 107 or more all-purpose yards during six games this year.
Devon Linzenmeyer has contributed 76 carries for 578 yards and seven touchdowns for the Titans. He has rushed for 100 yards or more during each of the past three games and four contests overall this season.
The receiving corps is led by the quartet of Zach Kasuboski, Sam Mentkowski, Craig Schommer and Joe Sommers. Kasuboski and Sommers earned All-WIAC first team accolades.
Kasuboski has a team-leading 40 catches for 654 yards and eight touchdowns while adding 29 rushes for 281 yards and two scores. He has recorded touchdowns in the past five games and eight contests overall this season.
Mentkowski has contributed 35 grabs for a team-high 758 yards and seven scores, Schommer 30 receptions for 291 yards and four touchdowns, and Sommers 24 catches for 325 yards and three scores.
Offensive lineman Sam Versnik was also selected to the All-WIAC first team after helping pave the way for UW-Oshkosh's WIAC-leading 242.6 rushing yards per game.
Reese Dziedzic highlights the UW-Oshkosh defense with 60 tackles, including 2.5 sacks.
Dziedzic, Trevor Fiegel, Branden Lloyd and Johnny Eagan were chosen to the All-WIAC First Team along with defensive lineman Marcus Senn, who paces the Titan interior line with 34 stops, including four for loss and one sack.
Lloyd has registered 46 tackles and a team-high three sacks, while Eagan and Fiegel lead the team with three interceptions and three fumble recoveries, respectively.
Kicker Greg Rand has converted 7 of 10 field goals and 37 of 38 point-after attempts, while punter Turner Geisthardt has averaged 39.3 yards on 33 boots.
Dom Todarello is averaging 27.6 yards 10 kickoff returns and 15.8 yards on four punt returns.
Eighth-year program The College of St. Scholastica is seeking its first NCAA postseason victory.
The Saints average 33.1 points and 380.7 yards per game, while their defense ranks ninth in the Division III by allowing an average of 10.6 points and 12th by ceding 257.5 yards per contest.
After losing the season opener, The College of St. Scholastica swept through its UMAC schedule for third straight season and the fourth time in five years. The Saints own a 46-8 record since 2011, including a 43-1 mark in the UMAC.
This season, the Saints' unbeaten run through the UMAC included scores of 22-10 over MacMurray College (Ill.) on Sept. 12, 21-14 over Eureka College (Ill.) on Sept. 19, 45-0 over Crown College (Minn.) on Sept. 26 and 53-13 over Martin Luther College (Minn.) on Oct. 3.
The College of St. Scholastica wrapped up its UMAC slate with victories of 41-7 over Iowa Wesleyan University on Oct. 10, 13-7 over University of Northwestern-St. Paul on Oct. 17, 32-7 over University of Minnesota Morris on Oct. 24, 48-12 over Westminster College (Mo.) on Oct. 31 and 40-19 over Greenville College (Ill.) on Nov. 7.
Saints quarterback Kyle Stepka has completed 67 of 124 passes for 1,207 yards with 14 touchdowns against one interception in seven games played, including the last three as a starter.
Preston Robinson leads the team's ground game with 131 rushes for 619 yards and seven touchdowns. Chris Gassert, the Saints' leading rusher the past two contests, has contributed 75 carries for 302 yards and two scores.
Hunter Thompson's 26 receptions for 692 yards and six touchdowns paces The College of St. Scholastica, which has also received 24 catches for 309 yards with three scores from Mitch O'Neil, and 22 grabs for 456 yards and a team-best nine touchdowns from Nick Murphy. Thompson was an All-UMAC first team selection.
Alex Mangan's 87 tackles, including 12.5 for loss and three sacks, spearhead the highly ranked Saints defense, which has created 30 turnovers.
Mangan was named the UMAC Defensive Player of the Year, while Saints offensive tackle Nick Plager was selected as the league's Lineman of the Year.
Mitch Ejnik and Xavier Rhodes have added 66 and 58 stops, respectively, for the Saints. Ejnik, an all-league first team linebacker, added UMAC Special Teams Player of the Year laurels after ranking seventh in the nation with 18.6 yards per punt return.
The College of St. Scholastica has intercepted 19 passes, including a team-leading four by both Brady Fish and John Mike. Ejnik and Nick Kaplan have both recorded two of the Saints' 11 fumble recoveries.
Mike and Rhodes both garnered first-team all-conference accolades for the Saints, who placed five defensive and two offensive players on the All-UMAC First Team.
All-UMAC first team defensive lineman Joe Geiselman has made 48 tackles, including 10 for loss and a team-best five sacks.
Saints kicker Donovan Blatz has converted all three of his field goal attempts and 24 of 41 point-after tries, while punter Jason Senger averages 40.2 yards on his 31 boots.
UW-Oshkosh is unbeaten in two games against current UMAC programs. In addition to the 2012 playoff win over The College of St. Scholastica, the Titans also defeated the University of Minnesota Morris, 54-0, on Nov. 10, 2000.
The winner between the Titans and Saints will face the victor of Franklin College (Ind.) (8-2) and Ohio Northern University (8-2). Franklin College gained automatic entry into the NCAA postseason by winning the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference title, while the Ohio Athletic Association's Ohio Northern University earned one of the championship's seven at-large berths.
Ticket prices for Saturday's game between UW-Oshkosh and The College of St. Scholastica are $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens (55 or older) and $6 for students (K-12 & College).
Fans can also follow the game on the Internet through Titan TV, WRST 90.3 FM, and via Live Stats.