Titans Set for Top-25 Battle Under the Lights
OSHKOSH, Wis.--Two top-25 teams will face off in conference action under the Friday Night Lights as the No. 19/21 UW-Oshkosh Titans (3-2, 1-1 WIAC) face off against the No. 3/3 UW-Whitewater Warhawks (4-1, 2-0 WIAC).
The Titans and Warhawks will face off at 7 p.m. in Whitewater in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) action. This will be the only night game of the regular season.
The Warhawks are 5-1 at home against the Titans since the 2002 season. The Titans posted a 27-20 victory in 2019 over the Warhawks.
Kobe Berghammer is No. 2 in the league for total offense, averaging 279 yards per game and 1,395 total offensive yards this season. Berghammer is No. 2 in the conference for passing yards (243 yards/game) while the Warhawks are led by Evan Lewandowski at 263 yards per game. It will be a return to Whitewater for Titans head coach Peter Jennings, who spent four seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Warhawks.
Taking a Look at the Oshkosh Numbers
Oshkosh's Peter MacCudden is among the top rushers in the league, averaging 40 yards/game and 200 yards this season. Trae Tetzlaff is No. 4 in the league for receptions with 23.6 yards per carry and 70.8 yards per game. Tony Steger joins Tetzlaff in the top-10 with 54.8 yards per game.
Berghammer is in a tie for the top spot in the league for scoring, averaging 8.4 points per game and has scored seven touchdowns this season. DJ Stewart is No. 2 in the league for kick returns, aeraging 28.7 yards per return.
Nolan Mobley and Myles Laurent are ranked second in the league for punting and field goals.
Tory Jandrin is ranked second in the league for tackles, averaging 8.2 tackles and .5 sacks per game. Bryce Edwards (1.5 TFL) and Brandon Kolgen (1.4 TFL) ranked in the top-3 for tackles for loss per game.
Previewing the Warhawks
Whitewater's Tamir Thomas and Jaylon Edmonson are in the top-8 in the league for rushing yards.
Steven Hein leads the league in receptions, with 18.8 yards per carry and 93.8 yards per game. Tommy Coates and Tyler Holte join Hein in the top-10 for receptions in the league.
Egon Hein is ranked second in the league for passes defended at 1.2 per game with four breakups and two interceptions.
The Warhawks dropped their season opener to St. John's before posting wins over Mary Hardin-Baylor, Berry, UW-La Crosse, and UW-Eau Claire.
Top of the Conference
The Titans have one of the top defenses in the league, allowing their opponents offense just 15.4 points per game. The Titans average 34.6 ppg and average 372 yards of offense. The Titans offensive and defensive lines are ranked second in the conference for passing efficiency.
The Warhawks offense averages 26.8 points a game, while the defense allows 21.2 points per game. The Warhawks have a league-leading two safeties in action this season. The Warhawks defense has only allowed 297.8 yards per game. Whitewater's offense ranks third in the league at 403.8 yards/game. Whitewater leads the league in kickoffs, averaging 42.4 net yards.
National Rankings
The Titans started in the D3football.com poll ranked in the preseason and have reached the No. 16 ranking in the 2022 season. The Titans ranked No. 14 in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) poll last week. After dropping a game to nationally ranked UW-River Falls, the Titans have fallen to 19 (D3football.com) and 21 in the AFCA poll.
The Warhawks of Whitewater started week one ranked No. 6 and have remained in the Top-4 of the D3football.com poll. The Warhawks have been in the top-10 of the AFCA poll this season.