Titans Visit UW-Stout For Final Road Game Of Regular Season

The nationally ranked UW-Oshkosh football team plays its fifth and final regular season road game at UW-Stout on Saturday (Oct. 30) for a battle to remain in third in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference standings. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Don and Nona Williams Stadium in Menomonie.

Reigning league co-champion UW-Oshkosh (4-2, 2-2 WIAC), ranked 21st in the NCAA Division III by D3football.com, has won each of its last 10 meetings with UW-Stout and owns a 40-23-1 record in the series that commenced in 1947.

UW-Stout (5-2, 2-2 WIAC), which has won four straight home games dating back to the 2019 campaign, is seeking its first victory against UW-Oshkosh since a 28-14 decision Nov. 13, 2010, in Menomonie. The Blue Devils' most recent home setback was a 26-23 loss to UW-Oshkosh on Oct. 5, 2019.

UW-Oshkosh enters the 65th all-time meeting between the teams with the momentum of a 54-31 home victory over UW-Eau Claire last Saturday (Oct. 23). The Titans, who avoided their first three-game losing streak since 2010 with the victory, jumped out to leads of 34-0 after the first quarter and 48-7 at halftime while cruising to a homecoming win over UW-Eau Claire.

UW-Stout, which has been outscored by an average of 24.5 points per game (376-131) during its 10-game losing streak to UW-Oshkosh, is seeking to rebound from a 44-38 loss at 14th-ranked UW-La Crosse last Saturday. UW-Stout, off to its best start since also going 5-2 to open the 2017 season, raced out to a 14-0 first quarter advantage at UW-La Crosse but never regained the lead after the Eagles went ahead, 21-17, just before halftime.

UW-Oshkosh is averaging 29.8 points and 371.5 yards per game while allowing 26.5 points and 355.8 yards per contest. The Titans, who have outscored opponents, 139-70, during the first half this season, rank sixth nationally with six turnovers lost, seventh with 3.4 penalties committed and 3.0 tackles allowed per game, and ninth with a .545 conversion rate on third down.

UW-Stout averages 34.3 points and 429.1 yards per contest while surrendering 24.1 points and 334.7 yards per game. The Blue Devils lead the WIAC in passing yards allowed per game (195.4), yards per completion (14.4) and kickoff return average (23.8).

The balanced UW-Oshkosh offense is gaining 205.8 yards through the air and 165.7 yards on the ground per game. The Titans have scored 13 passing touchdowns while adding another 11 rushing scores and averaging 4.9 yards per carry.

UW-Oshkosh quarterback Kobe Berghammer has completed 92 of 149 passes for 1,206 yards with 13 touchdowns and three interceptions. Berghammer, who tossed a career high five touchdown passes against UW-Eau Claire last Saturday, has also rushed 45 times this year for 204 yards and a team leading four scores.

The UW-Oshkosh rushing attack features four players with more than 120 yards on the ground. Peter MacCudden leads the way with 57 carries for 355 yards and one touchdown. Mitch Gerhartz has 45 rushes for 182 yards and three touchdowns while Mac Winkler has chipped in 33 totes for 124 yards and two scores.

Six different Titans have recorded touchdown receptions on the year, including Justin Kasuboski, Tony Steger and Trae Tetzlaff with a team best three scores each. Steger paces the squad with 18 catches for 354 yards to lead the conference at 19.7 yards per reception. Kasuboski has 17 grabs for 191 yards, Tetzlaff 15 receptions for 241 yards, and Stephan Flores 12 catches for 201 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

The UW-Oshkosh defense has created five turnovers while collecting 11 sacks this season.

Carson Raddatz spearheads the Titans defense, registering 62 tackles and one interception on the year. Tory Jandrin has made 41 tackles for UW-Oshkosh, which has also received 37 stops from Kyle Scharenbroch and 31 from Nick Noethe. Brandon Kolgen ranks second in the conference by accounting for four of the Titans' sacks among his eight tackles for loss. Kollyn Beyer and Jared Saad have snared interceptions for the Titans while Jhe'veon St. Julien and Tijs Santiago have recovered fumbles.

UW-Oshkosh placekicker and punter Jaydon Haag has gone 0-for-4 on field goals and 23 of 25 on extra points. Haag is also averaging 34.5 yards per punt on the year. UW-Oshkosh's Jaylen Grant ranks 10th in the country by averaging 28.3 yards per kickoff return.

UW-Stout has recorded 18 passing touchdowns and 14 rushing scores en route to averaging a WIAC best 6.8 yards per play.

UW-Stout quarterback Sean Borgerding has completed 134 of 206 passes for 1,938 yards with 17 touchdowns and six interceptions. Borgerding, who has added two rushing scores on the year, ranks second in the league in passing yards, touchdown passes and with a 164.7 passing efficiency rating.

The UW-Stout offensive backfield has been without leading rusher Rayshawn Graham for the past two contests. Graham, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, ran for 543 yards and nine touchdowns on 89 rushes during the first five games. Matt Pomietlo has assumed the starting running back spot for the Blue Devils, rushing for 130 total yards and one touchdown on 32 carries over the past two weeks to increase his season totals to 74 rushes for 297 yards and two scores.

The receiving trio of Levi Hamer, Arthur Cox and Parker Fossum headline the UW-Stout aerial attack as Hamer has 36 catches for 587 yards and seven touchdowns, Cox 29 grabs for 453 yards and four scores, and Fossum 29 receptions for 406 yards and three touchdowns. Hamer's 587 receiving yards pace the conference. Cox, the Blue Devils' primary kickoff and punt returner, is averaging 25.5 yard per kickoff return.

UW-Stout placekicker and punter Jack Meyer has made 7 of 10 field goals, including a long of 52 yards, and 12 of 16 extra points while averaging 38.8 yards per punt. Luke Cool has connected on 9 of 12 extra points for the Blue Devils.

UW-Oshkosh has not faced a deficit against UW-Stout since Nov. 10, 2012, when the homestanding Blue Devils claimed a 15-14 advantage late in the second quarter and extended their lead to 18-14 at halftime during the regular season finale. The Titans went on to reclaim a 21-18 lead early in the third period before defeating UW-Stout, 27-18, on the way to going undefeated during the 2012 regular season and reaching the Division III semifinals.