This one
has been in the making for over a year.
In the late afternoon of October 20, 2012, the UW-Oshkosh Titans walked
off the field in Whitewater having just defeated the Warhawks and putting
themselves squarely in the driver’s seat for the WIAC football title and the
NCAA playoff automatic qualifier that goes with it. And with that 28-13 defeat went any chance for UW-W to win
their fourth consecutive national championship. The Titans went on to advance
to the NCAA D-III semi-finals before falling to St. Thomas of St. Paul, MN
28-14. Meanwhile, UW-W finished
out their schedule with a 7-3 overall record and endured their longest
off-season since 2004.
Saturday
afternoon, the two teams will clash for the first time since that fateful
meeting in October of 2012. Both
teams enter Saturday’s game with 6-0 overall records. Both teams also have very different looks than they did a
year ago. Gone for UW-Oshkosh is
All-American quarterback Nate Wara.
Wara, a final four Gagliardi award finalist, was the leader and
unquestioned most valuable player on the Titans. Senior Nick Olla has taken over the reigns for the
Titans. Olla has posted
respectable numbers, completing 63% of his passes for 255 yards per game with
10 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.
On the season last year, Wara completed 65% of his passes for 236.5
yards per game with 30 TD’s and 5 interceptions. Wara was a double threat averaging 52 yards per game rushing
with 10 touchdowns. While Wara
would not hesitate to pull the ball down and run, Olla is a pass first
quarterback. Olla has rushed for just under 16 yards per game and 1 TD through
six games. Olla has plenty of weapons available to him as six different
receivers have caught passes of at least 48 yards. Caleb Voss, Zach Kasuboski, and running back Cole Myhra have
all caught at least 20 passes for the Titans. Myhra leads the Titans’ rushing attack with 567 yards in 6
games, averaging 4.2 yards per carry. Myhra has rushed for 10 TD’s already this
year. Jake Dotalek has added 168 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns. The defense Whitewater brings to Titan
Stadium will surely be the strongest test to date for the the Titan’s prolific
offense. UW-W ranks 3rd
in the nation in total defense, yielding only 196.2 yards per game. The Warhawks rank 8th in the
nation stopping the run and 2nd in the nation in Team Passing
Efficiency Defense.
Meanwhile, UW-W has a new look on
offense as well. QB Matt Behrendt, who started three games at the end of last
year, leads a Warhawk offense that is averaging 446.3 yards per game. Behrendt has completed 65.9% of his
passes for an average of 234.5 yards per game and 18 touchdowns. Behrendt has not thrown an interception
yet this year. This statistic will certainly be tested against a Titan defense
that has intercepted 16 passes this year. Jake Kumerow leads the receiving corps for UW-W with
32 receptions for 606 yards and 10 TD’s.
After
mixing in 5 and 6 running backs earlier in the season, two have emerged healthy
and effective for the Warhawks. As
a testament to the running back depth at UW-W. Jordan Ratliff and Booker Ross
entered fall camp as the #5 and #6 running backs on the depth chart. They are now leading the way for the
Warhawks and proving more than capable.
Ratliff has gained 387 on 6.8 yards per carry and 4 touchdowns. Ross has gained 251 yards on 6.2 yards
per carry and 3 touchdowns. Both
will get plenty of work against the Titans. Along with those impressive
statistics is another that speaks volumes of the ability of both the backs and
the offensive line. In a combined 98 carries, Ratliff and Ross have each been
tackled for a loss exactly one time for one yard. The Titans’ defense is tied for 23rd in the
nation with an average of 8.7 tackles per loss per game.
Last
year, the Titans celebrated on the Warhawks’ home field after a victory that
propelled them into the post-season.
It was a defeat that won’t quickly be forgotten by anyone within the
UW-W program. Without a doubt the
Warhawks remember the Titans.
Saturday, UW-W will do their best to make sure the Titans remember them
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