Titans Open WIAC Play At Home Against Pioneers
OSHKOSH, Wis.–The nationally ranked UW-Oshkosh football team begins Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play at home against UW-Platteville on Saturday (Oct. 1). Kickoff for the 106th meeting between the programs is set for 1:05 p.m. at J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium.
UW-Oshkosh (2-1), ranked 16th in the NCAA Division III by D3football.com, is seeking its eighth consecutive win over UW-Platteville (1-2). UW-Oshkosh owns a 53-48-4 record in the series with the Pioneers since the teams first met in 1911. UW-Oshkosh held off the Pioneers, 35-32, last season in Platteville. UW-Platteville has not defeated the Titans since a 17-16 decision in Oshkosh in 2013.
Both teams last played Sept. 17 as the Titans and Pioneers were idle last Saturday (Sept. 24).
UW-Oshkosh has defeated its two Division III opponents, routing East Texas Baptist University, 52-13, during the season and home opener Sept. 3 and handling Millsaps College (Miss.) by a 41-17 score Sept. 17 during the program's first foray into the Magnolia State. The Titans' lone setback was a 13-10 decision at Division II member Northern Michigan University on Sept. 10.
UW-Platteville lost its season opener, 23-13, at Division II member Michigan Technological University on Sept. 1 and suffered a 41-0 defeat at home versus nationally ranked Hardin-Simmons University (Texas) on Sept. 17. The Pioneers pulled out an impressive 10-7 home victory over Bethel University (Minn.) on Sept. 10. Hardin-Simmons and Bethel are currently ranked 10th and 12th, respectively, in the D3football.com poll.
UW-Oshkosh heads into Saturday averaging 34.3 points and 390 yards per game while allowing 14.3 points and 317 yards per contest. The Titans, who rank second in the conference in both scoring offense and scoring defense, are among just three Division III teams to not allow a sack this season. Among the 657 NCAA football programs across all divisions, seven have not yielded a sack on the year.
The Titans also rank seventh in the division with 2.67 tackles for loss allowed per game and pace the WIAC with 13.73 yards per pass completion and three turnovers lost.
UW-Platteville averages 7.7 points and 228 yards per game while surrendering 23.7 points and 254 yards per contest. The Pioneers rank 10th nationally by ceding a WIAC-leading 116.7 passing yards per game.
UW-Oshkosh quarterback Kobe Berghammer has thrown for 742 yards and seven touchdowns in addition to rushing for 97 yards and five more scores. Berghammer's 24 points responsible for per contest leads the WIAC and ranks 10th in the country. He also paces the conference in yards per pass completion, scoring and rushing touchdowns.
The Titans offensive line that has not yielded a sack has paved the way for UW-Oshkosh ballcarrier to average 5.2 yards per tote and tally six rushing touchdowns. Peter MacCudden is helming the Titans backfield with 125 rushing yards while DJ Stewart has added 75 yards on the ground and one touchdown.
Tony Steger and Trae Tetzlaff headline the UW-Oshkosh receiving corps as Steger has hauled in 15 catches for 168 yards and two touchdowns while Tetzlaff has 11 receptions for 248 yards and one score. Seven different Titans have recorded touchdown catches this season, including Stewart, Terrell Carey, Jimmy Duval, Dan Fynaardt and Nate Smith. Teztlaff's 22.55 yards per catch is best in the conference.
On defense UW-Oshkosh's Tory Jandrin is the WIAC leading tackler at 10.3 per contest. Jandrin, who has made 31 total stops on the year, is among seven Titans with at least 10 tackles on the year as Bryce Edwards and Carson Raddatz have 17 apiece, Kyle Scharenbroch 15, Connor Lund 11, and Mitchell Borkovec and Brandon Kolgen 10.
The Titans have collected 21 tackles for loss, including eight sacks, to go along with three interceptions and one fumble recovery. Edwards has accounted for a team-best 4.5 tackles for loss while Jacob Mandella owns a team-high two sacks. Borkovec, Corey White Jr. and Jared Tenpas have been credited with interceptions for UW-Oshkosh, which has also received a fumble recovery from Jared Saad.
Titans kicker Nolan Mobley has gone 2-for-4 on field goals and made 10 of 11 extra points. UW-Oshkosh punter Myles Laurent is averaging 43 yards per boot.
UW-Platteville quarterback Nathan Shackelford has passed for 338 yards and two touchdowns while chipping in 115 rushing yards for a Pioneers backfield that features Tag Habedank at running back. Habedank has run for 125 yards and UW-Platteville's lone rushing touchdown.
UW-Platteville's Austin Guy has a team-leading 17 receptions for 130 yards. Guy's 5.7 catches per game paces the conference. Brandt Stare and Lucas Petersen have touchdown grabs for the Pioneers.
The Pioneers defense has notched five sacks, three interceptions and one fumble recovery. Justin Blazek and Sam Smith spearhead UW-Platteville with 16 tackles apiece. Tyler Bacon has 4.5 tackles for loss, including a sack, among his 11 overall stops for the Pioneers.
On special teams UW-Platteville's Andrew Schweigert is 1-for-4 on field goals and 2-for-2 on extra points while averaging 39.3 yards per punt.
UW-Oshkosh is attempting to win an eighth straight game over UW-Platteville for the second time in the history of the series and first since 1923-30. The Titans went 12-0-1 versus the Pioneers during the 1923-35 seasons.