Titans, Blue Streaks To Play For Berth In NCAA Postseason Final
The second meeting of the 2016 season between UW-Oshkosh and John Carroll University (Ohio) will be a clash of highly ranked teams in the semifinal round of the NCAA Division III Football Championship on Saturday (Dec. 10). Kickoff is set for 12:05 p.m. at J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium in Oshkosh.
UW-Oshkosh opened the season with a 33-14 home victory over John Carroll University, but the stakes are elevated for the second-ever meeting between the teams as the winner advances to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl on Dec. 16 in Salem, Va. Both the Titans and Blue Streaks are seeking their first appearances in the national championship game.
UW-Oshkosh and John Carroll University are both in the semifinal round for the second time in program history. UW-Oshkosh reached the 2012 national semifinals in its playoff debut while the Blue Streaks were also among the final four teams in 2002.
UW-Oshkosh (12-1), ranked fourth in the nation by D3football.com, reached this year's semifinals with home victories of 49-13 over Washington University in St. Louis (Mo.) on Nov. 19 and 31-14 over ninth-ranked Saint John's University (Minn.) on Nov. 26. The Titans then defeated third-ranked University of St. Thomas (Minn.) by a 34-31 count on Dec. 3 in St. Paul, Minn.
Sixth-ranked John Carroll University (12-1) ran its winning streak to 12 games with home playoff victories of 37-12 over Olivet College (Mich.) on Nov. 19 and 20-17 in double overtime over 18th-ranked Wesley College (Del.) on Nov. 26 before booking a trip to Oshkosh with a 31-14 triumph at second-ranked UW-Whitewater on Dec. 3.
In their quarterfinal victories, UW-Oshkosh ended University of St. Thomas' string of 13 consecutive home NCAA wins, and John Carroll University snapped UW-Whitewater's 32-game home winning streak.
Saturday's other semifinal matchup features top-ranked University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) (13-0) hosting seventh-ranked and defending national champion University of Mount Union (Ohio) (12-1).
In the season opener for both teams, UW-Oshkosh out-gained John Carroll University, 469-279, including 182-80 rushing. The Titans held a 27-0 lead until the final play of the third quarter. UW-Oshkosh quarterback Brett Kasper threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns against the Blue Streaks while Devon Linzenmeyer had 174 yards from scrimmage and two scores.
The Blue Streaks responded to the setback by winning all nine of their games in the Ohio Athletic Conference. John Carroll University clinched its fourth league title and first since since 1994 with a 31-28 victory at University of Mount Union on Nov. 12. The triumph also snapped University of Mount Union's 112-game regular season winning streak and marked the Blue Streaks' first win over the Purple Raiders since 1989.
With its wins over University of Mount Union and UW-Whitewater this season, John Carroll University defeated the programs that have combined to win each of the past 11 Division III championships.
University of Mount Union won its division-leading 12 national titles in 1993, 1996-98, 2000-02, 2005-06, 2008, 2012 and 2015 while UW-Whitewater claimed its seven championships in 2007, 2009-11 and 2013-15.
UW-Oshkosh owns an 8-2 record in three NCAA postseason appearances. The Titans earned a trip to the quarterfinals a year ago.
John Carroll University sports a 9-5 record in six postseason trips. In addition to their visit to the 2002 semifinals, the Blue Streaks reached the quarterfinals in both 1997 and 2014.
The Titans will be facing one of the country's best defenses for the third week in a row. Saint John's University entered its matchup with UW-Oshkosh rated eighth in the nation by allowing 12.5 points per game while University of St. Thomas listed second with 10.5 points allowed per contest.
John Carroll University enters the national semifinals ranked third in the country by allowing just 218.3 yards per game. The Blue Streaks also rank high among the national leaders with 12.8 points allowed per game (fourth), a 91.30 opponent passing efficiency (fifth), 74.1 rushing yards yielded per game (10th), 144.2 passing yards allowed per contest (12th) and 3.38 sacks per game (19th).
UW-Oshkosh will attempt to counter the stout John Carroll University defense with one of the country's most formidable rushing attacks. The Titans rank ninth nationally with 274 rushing yards per game while the UW-Oshkosh offensive line has also paved the way toward the team listing eighth with 3.92 tackles for loss allowed per game.
Quarterback Brett Kasper directs a Titan offense that ranks 15th in the nation by scoring 40.5 points per game. He has completed 171 of 284 yards for 2,323 yards with 19 touchdowns and six interceptions, including 237 yards and three scores in the NCAA quarterfinal win over the University of St. Thomas.
The Titans have rushed for 42 touchdowns this season and surrendered just six scores on the ground. UW-Oshkosh's 18 ball carriers have combined for 6.8 yards per carry.
UW-Oshkosh's depth at running back has led to eight Titans accumulating more than 100 rushing yards on the season and 10 who have scored touchdowns on the ground this year. Five different players have also led the team in rushing yards during a 2016 contest.
Dylan Hecker paces the Titans with 1,039 rushing yards and 16 scores on the ground. The junior, whose 6.66 yards per carry ranks 19th nationally, already owns the school's career rushing touchdown record with 44. Hecker is the sixth player in UW-Oshkosh's 122-year history to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in a season.
Linzenmeyer has added 806 rushing yards and 10 scores for UW-Oshkosh, which has also received 444 yards and three touchdowns from Mitch Gerhartz, 311 yards and four scores from Chad Walton, 291 yards from Dom Todarello, 184 yards and two touchdowns from CJ Blackburn, 122 yards from Beau Ash, and 115 yards and one score from Riley Kallas.
The UW-Oshkosh receiving corps is led by Todarello's 37 catches for 499 yards and six touchdowns. Blackburn has 30 grabs for 383 yards and two scores while Sam Mentkowski and Evan Thammahong have chipped in 20 receptions apiece. Mentkowski is second on the team with four touchdown catches and 390 yards while Todarello has a team-best 15.2 yards per punt return.
UW-Oshkosh's defense is led by seniors Reese Dziedzic, Johnny Eagan, Steve Forner, Branden Lloyd and Cameron Brown. The Titans rank fifth in the country with 37 turnovers and 23 interceptions, ninth with 13.7 points allowed per game and a 94.91 opponent passing efficiency, and 12th with 14 fumble recoveries.
Dziedzic is the team's leading tackler for the fourth straight season. He has collected 82 tackles this year, followed by Forner with 59, Eagan with 57, Cole Yoder with 56, Lloyd with 54 and Brown with 51.
Eagan has a team-leading eight interceptions while Yoder and AJ Plewa have recorded four and three interceptions, respectively. Lloyd and Jon Kallas have a team-best 3.5 sacks apiece, and Jon Kallas, Matt Rucynski and Jake Thein each have two fumble recoveries.
On special teams, UW-Oshkosh placekicker Eli Wettstein has connected on 15 of 20 field goal attempts, including a long of 50 yards against John Carroll University, and a school-record 61 of 66 extra points tries. Wettstein drilled the eventual game-winning field goal with 2:30 remaining during the Titans' NCAA quarterfinal win over the University of St. Thomas.
UW-Oshkosh punter Turner Geisthardt averages 40 yards per kick, including a long of 62 yards, and has placed 14 of his 42 boots inside the 20-yard line.
The Titans, who have trailed for less than 12 minutes (11:47) the entire season, are outscoring opponents by a combined 320-56 score during the first half. UW-Oshkosh has also won 17 of its last 18 home games and outscored opponents by a combined 718-194 score in those contests.
UW-Oshkosh has produced 84 offensive plays of 20 yards or more, including 29 on touchdowns, while the Titan defense has yielded just 22 plays of at least 20 yards, including four on touchdowns. UW-Oshkosh had not allowed a 20-yard rushing play all season until University of St. Thomas had runs of 20, 20 and 29 yards in the NCAA quarterfinals.
The Titans had four players on D3football.com's All-West Region Team. Dziedzic and Eagan were named to the first team at linebacker and safety respectively, while offensive tackle Vincent Basile was tabbed to the second team and Wettstein to the third.
Eight UW-Oshkosh players were also selected to this year's All-WIAC First Team, including Basile, Dziedzic and Eagan. Joining the trio were Blackburn, Brown, Hecker, Lloyd and Todarello.
During its current 12-game winning streak, John Carroll University has defeated opponents by an average of nearly 26 points per game. The Blue Streaks have allowed just one team to score at least 17 points over the past 12 contests.
The John Carroll University offense is among the national leaders in several categories, including ranking 10th in average time of possession (33:47), 13th in fewest fumbles lost (4) and 17th in first downs (272).
John Carroll University quarterback Anthony Moeglin has completed 248 of 395 passes for 2,643 yards with 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. His touchdown total ranks 16th in the country. Moeglin, a freshman, made his first career start against UW-Oshkosh, throwing for 199 yards and two scores against the Titans in September.
Ro Golphin and Sam Kukura lead a John Carroll University rushing attack that averages 184.3 yards per game and has totaled 31 touchdowns on 5.0 yards per carry. Golphin, who ranks 13th in the nation with 6.88 yards per carry, has amassed 1,069 yards on the ground with 11 scores while Kukura has 790 rushing yards and a team-leading 14 scores.
The John Carroll University passing game is highlighted by a quartet of receivers with more than 300 yards through the air. Marshall Howell has a team-best 57 catches for 582 yards and nine touchdowns, followed by Eddie Williamson with 39 grabs for 392 yards and two scores, Nico James with 35 receptions for 455 yards and eight touchdowns, and Luke Vadas with 22 catches for 301 yards and three scores.
James and running back Arin Pruitt scored touchdown catches against the Titans in the season opener.
The John Carroll University defense has registered 104 tackles for loss this year including 46 sacks.
The team's defensive unit is led by the 91 tackles from D3football.com North Region Defensive Player of the Year Mason McKenrick, who has added 11.5 tackles for loss, six sacks and six pass breakups.
Jovon Dawson and Ray Brown have collected 66 and 62 tackles, respectively. Dawson has 10 tackles for loss while Brown leads the team with 21.5 stop for loss, including 12 sacks.
Michael Hollins paces the John Carroll University secondary with six interceptions, and 10 Blue Streaks have recorded fumble recoveries.
John Carroll University's Jimmy Thomas has made just 17 tackles on the year, but 10.5 have been for loss, including eight sacks.
Seven John Carroll University players were selected to this year's D3football.com All-North Region Team, including Brown, Dawson, McKenrick and Hollins on the first team defense. Howell and offensive tackle Dominic Ditirro was named to the first team offense while Golphin was a second team choice.
The seven Blue Streaks All-North Region players were joined on the All-Ohio Athletic Conference First Team by John Carroll University defensive back Reese Armstrong, who has 57 tackles and four interceptions.
Matt Danko handles both the placekicking and punting duties for John Carroll University. He has connected on 3 of 11 field goal attempts and 54 of 59 extra point tries while averaging 37.2 yards per punt. Danko, who has had three field goal attempts blocked this year, has a season-best field goal of 34 yards. He has placed 13 of his 59 punts inside the 20-yard line and has launched a season-long boot of 60 yards.
UW-Oshkosh has produced 11 seasons with at least seven wins. Current UW-Oshkosh head coach Pat Cerroni has accounted for six of those 11 seasons in his 10 years at the helm, including marks of 13-1 in 2012 and 11-2 last season. Cerroni, who has compiled a 76-33 record, became the winningest coach in program history with his 69th victory on Oct. 15 against UW-Stevens Point.
John Carroll University head coach Tom Arth (40-7 record in four seasons), D3football.com's North Region Coach of the Year, was the starting quarterback when the Blue Streaks last advanced to the NCAA semifinals in 2002. Arth, who was named to D3football.com's All-Decade team in 2011, was a two-time All-America selection for the Blue Streaks from 1999-2002. He was a backup to Peyton Manning for three seasons with the NFL's Indianapolis Colts.
The Titans, hosting a national semifinal game for the first time, have won six of their seven home playoff games. The Blue Streaks own a 6-3 record on the road during the Division III postseason.
NCAA Division III Football Championship Interactive Bracket
NCAA Division III Football Championship Media Guide • Semifinal Round