Titans run over Blue Devils in non-conference tilt
MENOMONIE, Wis. (September 22, 2011) - UW-Oshkosh employed their hurry-up offense early to jump out to a very quick lead and never let up, winning the non-conference battle over WIAC foe UW-Stout, 56-10, Thursday night at Don and Nona Williams Stadium.
The Titans' (2-1) first two drives, both ending in touchdown runs of at least 46 yards, each lasted just three plays and combined for 128 yards in less than two minutes.
Stout's (2-1) first productive drive came at the end of the first quarter. Trailing 14-0, the Blue Devils put together a 13 play, 80 yard drive, ending in a Ricky Marteney (So, Greenfield) field goal from 36 yards out. Oshkosh added two more touchdowns before halftime and led 28-3 at the break.
The first few minutes of the second half looked much like the start of the game, as the Titans put together a quick drive ending in a Nate Wara touchdown pass to Garrie Fox, their first of two touchdown connections. Wara looked for Fox often throughout the night, hitting him six times for 131 yards, including touchdowns from 36 and 26 yards.
With the score looking to slip out of hand, the Blue Devils showed a little light on the ensuing drive. Running back Paul Bernier (Jr, Lakeville, Minn.) was the work horse of the drive, carrying the ball ten times for 35 yards. Bernier punched in Stout's only touchdown on a two-yard blast to cap off the 14-play drive that started at their own 36.
Good fortune continued to follow the Blue Devils as they stepped on the defensive side of the ball when they looked to force Oshkosh into their first three-and-out of the game. However, a roughing the kicker call on the punt gave the Titans' offense a fresh set of downs, which they turned into another Wara-Fox touchdown connection to grab a 42-10 lead.
Points kept piling up for Oshkosh almost as if by accident. A second-and-one rush up the middle turned into a 61-yard touchdown, and a Ross Carey (Sr, Little Suamico) interception was returned 74 yards to put the game on ice.
The Titans' offense put up 535 yards on the night, led by Wara's 357 combined passing and rushing yards. In comparison, Stout was only able to amount 316 yards of total offense. Stout's defense was being pushed back on their heels all night as Wara led a hurry-up offense for much of the game. Of the eight touchdowns Oshkosh scored, seven of them came from over 25 yards, and four of them covered at least 46. Despite the difference in offensive production, Stout actually held the ball for ten minutes longer than Oshkosh and equaled their number of 19 first downs.
Carey had a bit of an off night, completing just nine passes out of 30 attempts. He was sacked once and threw one interception. Bernier ran for 95 yards on 21 carries, while fellow running back Eric Brown (Jr, St. Paul, Minn.) gained just 20 yards on eight attempts.
Tonight's 56 points allowed is the most points Stout's defense has let up since 1998 when UW-Stevens Point came into Menomonie and racked up 62 points to down the Blue Devils.
Stout, who unveniled thier still unnamed Blue Devil mascot tonight, will enter conference play next weekend, Saturday, Oct. 1, when they host UW-Eau Claire for their homecoming matchup, and also for the annual I-94 battle.
