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Titans Conclude Non-League Schedule Against Patriots

Titans Conclude Non-League Schedule Against Patriots

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The nationally ranked UW-Oshkosh football team wraps up its non-conference schedule by traveling to play Morthland College (Ill.). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Marion High School in Marion, Ill.

UW-Oshkosh (2-0), ranked fifth in the NCAA Division III by D3football.com, has won 42 of its last 51 games. Morthland College (1-1) is conducting its debut season as a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association Division I.

UW-Oshkosh is averaging 316 rushing yards and 50.5 points per game while Morthland College averages 303 passing yards and 31 points per contest. Defensively, the Titans surrender just 207 total yards and 10.5 points per game, and the Patriots cede 490 yards and 34.5 points per contest. Morthland College, which has forced just four punts, has yielded 857 rushing yards and 7.6 per carry.

The Titans defeated 18th-ranked John Carroll University (Ohio), 33-14, in the season opener on Sept. 3 at J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium. UW-Oshkosh held a 27-0 lead over the Blue Streaks in the third quarter as Titans quarterback Brett Kasper threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns while running back Devon Linzenmeyer had 174 yards from scrimmage, including 106 on the ground and two rushing scores.

Following a bye week, UW-Oshkosh trounced Finlandia University (Mich.), 68-7, last Saturday (Sept. 17) in Hancock, Mich. The Titans owned a 582-135 advantage in total yards, including 450-37 rushing as 11 Titans received carries. UW-Oshkosh scored on 10 of 12 offensive possessions, including their first six drives en route to a 44-0 lead at halftime. Dylan Hecker had a 65-yard rushing touchdown on the game's first offensive play, and Mitch Gerhartz and Dom Todarello accounted for two scores apiece.

UW-Oshkosh lists high among the NCAA Division III statistical leaders several categories. The Titans are second in the country in net punting average (41.75) and blocked punts (two), seventh in punt return average (24 yards), eighth in total yards allowed per game (207), and 10th in points per game (50.5) and rushing yards per contest (316).

The Titans are also ranked 14th nationally in rushing yards allowed per game (58.5) and tackles allowed for loss per contest (3.5), 16th in points allowed per game (10.5), 18th in total yards per game (525.5) and 20th in third-down percentage defense (.250).

UW-Oshkosh quarterback Brett Kasper ranks third in the nation with a .735 completion percentage, connecting on 25 of 34 attempts for 322 yards with three touchdowns. He lists 13th nationally with a 182.2 passing efficiency and 17th with 9.47 yards per pass.

The Titan rushing attack, averaging 8.2 yards per carry with seven touchdowns, is led by Linzenmeyer's 106 yards and two scores, 91 yards and one touchdown on five carries from Riley Kallas, 88 on 10 rushes from Beau Ash, 88 yards on seven totes from Todarello, and 76 yards and one touchdown on two carries from Hecker.

Linzenmeyer and Sam Mentkowski pace UW-Oshkosh with five receptions apiece, followed by four catches from CJ Blackburn and three from Evan Thammahong. Linzenmeyer has a team-leading 68 receiving yards while Mentkowski has 65, Blackburn 52 and Thammahong 29.

The UW-Oshkosh defensive unit has received 11 tackles from AJ Plewa, 10 from Cameron Brown and seven each by Nick Amato, Matt Rucynski and Cole Yoder. Scott Skornicka has registered 1.5 of the Titans' five sacks while Johnny Eagan and Rajon Hall have interceptions and Yoder the team's lone fumble recovery.

On special teams, Todarello leads the nation by averaging 39.3 yards on three punt returns thanks to his school-record 87-yard touchdown return against Finlandia University. Brad Walovitch also recovered a blocked punt in the end zone against the Lions.

Titans punter Turner Geisthardt is averaging 44.5 yards per boot, including a long of 62 yards and two punts inside the 20-yard line. Placekicker Eli Wettstein has converted 3 of 5 field goal attempts, including a long of 50 yards, and 10 of 12 extra point tries. Wettstein ranks 14th in the country with 1.5 field goals per game.

Morthland College won its varsity program debut, 36-6, over Robert Morris University-Peoria (Ill.) from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) on Sept. 3. After a scoreless first half, the Patriots scored touchdowns on the ground, in the air and on defense to claim a 22-6 lead in the third quarter. The game featured nine turnovers, including five fumbles lost by Robert Morris University-Peoria, and the Patriots limited the Eagles to 6 of 21 passing for 22 yards.

The Patriots had an unexpected bye week on Sept. 10 as their scheduled game against the College of Faith (N.C.) was not played.

Last Saturday, Morthland College suffered a 63-26 setback at NAIA member Lyon College (Ark.), which won its first game since restarting the program in 2013. The Patriots allowed a rushing touchdown just 103 seconds into the game and surrendered 586 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground and 9.5 yards per rush. Lyon College overcame an 8-7 deficit to claim a 42-20 lead at halftime.

The Patriot offense is highlighted by quarterback Dennis Chester, who has completed 42 of 78 passes for 587 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions. He threw for 361 yards and two scores during last week's loss at Lyon College.

Morthland College starting running back Corey Bryant has 17 carries for 48 yards and two touchdowns, and Demontez Miller-Gray has a team-leading 85 yards and two scores on 23 rushes to go along with six receptions for 56 yards.

Leading the Patriot receivers are Brandon Hudgins with 12 catches for 81 yards, DeAndre Allen with nine grabs for 242 yards and two touchdowns, and Norvell Alston with six receptions for 103 yards and two scores.

Spencer Cook spearheads the Morthland College defense with 20 tackles, including one of the team's two sacks, while Kylan Williams and Lars Allen have 18 and 17 tackles, respectively.

Patriots punter Anthony Thomas has averaged 41.1 yards on eight boots, including a long of 60 yards and two kicks inside the 20-yard line. Morthland College has not attempted a field goal or an extra point.

UW-Oshkosh is seeking its first win in the state of Illinois since 1997, when the Titans defeated St. Xavier University, 42-3, in Chicago. UW-Oshkosh also beat St. Xavier University, 38-20, in Chicago during the 1995 season. The Titans' only other previous trips to the Illini State resulted in losses to North Central College (21-0 in 1930), Northwestern University (97-0 in 1904) and Robert Morris University-Chicago (23-21 in 2015).