Titans Control Blue Streaks In Clash Of Ranked Teams
Devon Linzenmeyer had two touchdowns on the ground and Brett Kasper added two passing scores to propel UW-Oshkosh to a convincing 33-14 season-opening victory over John Carroll University (Ohio) in a matchup of nationally ranked teams on Saturday (Sept. 3) at J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium.
UW-Oshkosh (1-0), ranked sixth in the NCAA Division III by D3football.com, jumped out to a 27-0 lead with just under six minutes left in the third quarter and led, 33-7, with 5:58 to play.
John Carroll University (0-1), which has made five appearances in the NCAA postseason, entered the game ranked 18th. The Blue Streaks, who have been listed among the top 25 teams in the country for the last 35 D3football.com polls, lost a non-conference game for the first time since 2011.
The Titans, winners of 41 of their last 50 games, limited the Blue Streaks to just 94 yards and five first downs during the first half. UW-Oshkosh concluded the contest with a 469-279 advantage in yards, including 182-80 rushing.
Linzenmeyer led the Titans with 19 carries for 106 yards for his sixth career 100-yard effort. He also added a team-leading five catches for 68 yards. Linzenmeyer's 3-yard score gave UW-Oshkosh a 20-0 lead with 7:29 to go in the third quarter and his 1-yard leap to the end zone increased the Titans' advantage to 33-7 with 5:58 remaining.
Kasper, the reigning WIAC Offensive Player of the Year, recorded his 10th career game with at least two touchdown passes and his fifth in a row. He completed 22 of 31 passes for 270 yards. Last season, Kasper ranked 20th in the NCAA Division III with 27 touchdown passes in 12 games played.
UW-Oshkosh capped the opening possession of the game with a 30-yard field goal by Eli Wettstein with 11:16 to go in the first quarter.
John Carroll University answered with a seven-play drive to the Titans 18-yard line, but UW-Oshkosh's Cameron Brown blocked a 35-yard field goal attempt by Matt Danko.
The Titans mounted a 14-play drive on the ensuing possession. However, after two incomplete passes, Wettstein missed a 36-yard field goal attempt, and the Titans clung to a 3-0 advantage after a first period in which UW-Oshkosh had the ball for less than four minutes.
Following a pair of punts from both teams and a fourth-down stop by UW-Oshkosh, Kasper connected with Beau Ash on an 11-yard touchdown pass, and Wettstein's extra point gave the Titans a 10-0 lead with 3:30 remaining in the first half. The touchdown was Ash's fourth in his career and his first receiving score.
UW-Oshkosh got the ball back at its own 23-yard line with one minute before intermission. Linzenmeyer rushed for 20 yards on the first play of the drive before Kasper completed four consecutive passes for another 35 yards. After a sack and a holding penalty against the Titans, Wettstein drilled a 50-yard field goal – the third-longest in school history – with three seconds to go for a 13-0 advantage at the break.
After Linzenmeyer's rushing touchdown capped a 12-play, 90-yard drive on the first Titan possession of the second half, UW-Oshkosh's Rajon Hall intercepted John Carroll University quarterback Anthony Moeglin's pass on the next play. The Titans converted the turnover into points two plays later as Kasper hit Sam Mentkowski on a 27-yard touchdown pass with 6:45 remaining in the third quarter.
Moeglin, making his first career start, atoned for his mistake by connecting with Arin Pruitt for a 10-yard touchdown pass that pulled the Blue Streaks within 27-7 on the final play of the third period.
Following Linzenmeyer's second rushing touchdown of the day, Moeglin led a 14-play drive that culminated in a touchdown pass to Nico James on fourth-and-goal from the UW-Oshkosh 4-yard line. An extra point by Danko provided the final score as the Titans ran out the final 2:02 from the clock on the last possession of the game.
Mentkowski ended the contest with five receptions for 65 yards and his 11th career touchdown. The Titans also received four catches for 52 yards from CJ Blackburn and 47 rushing yards and 25 receiving from Dom Todarello.
AJ Plewa led the UW-Oshkosh defense with a career-best 10 tackles, all solo. Branden Lloyd registered a sack, and Nick Amato and Jon Kallas combined for another sack while Hall notched his second career interception and Johnny Eagan his eighth.
Moeglin concluded his collegiate debut 27-for-47 passing for 199 yards with two scores and two interceptions.
Sam Kukura led John Carroll University with 19 rushes for 77 yards while Marshall Howell caught a game-high seven passes for 48 yards. James added six grabs for 52 yards.
The Blue Streaks' Mason McKendrick led all players with 11 tackles, including eight solo. Michael Hollins chipped in 10 stops, all solo, for John Carroll University, which recorded two sacks after finishing second in the nation a year ago with 4.50 per contest.
UW-Oshkosh is off until traveling to Finlandia University (Mich.) on Sept. 17. Last season, the Titans established a school record for points in a game with an 86-0 triumph over Finlandia University in Oshkosh.