Pioneers and Titans set to clash in Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium on Saturday
The No. 13 ranked University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team will battle it out against the Titans of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh on Saturday, Nov. 2 in Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.
The Game: The No. 13 ranked University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team will battle it out against the Titans of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh on Saturday, Nov. 2 in Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.
Last meeting: Last season's No. 13 ranked Titans defeated the Pioneers 31-10 on J.J. Keller Field.
The records: Both teams enter Saturday's game 3-1 in the WIAC and join UW-La Crosse in a tie for second in the league behind undefeated No. 3 UW-Whitewater. UW-Platteville is 6-1 overall after defeating UW-Eau Claire 43-8 last Saturday in Carson Park. The Pioneers suffered their single loss, 21-14 to UW-Whitewater three weeks ago. UW-Oshkosh is 5-2 overall and is traveling to UW-Platteville after suffering its first WIAC loss to UW-La Crosse last Saturday, 31-3. UW Oshkosh's only other loss fell early on in non-conference play when the Titans lost 24-19 at Salisbury University (MD).
The coaches: Mike Emendorfer is UW-Platteville's all-time winning coach, compiling a 107-102 record in his 21 seasons. Pat Cerroni is in his 13th season with the Titans and clenched his 100th career win with the 30-3 win over UW-Eau Claire on Oct. 19 to become the 10th coach in WIAC archives to reach the 100-win mark. Cerroni is 100-41 overall.
The Pioneers: UW-Platteville is 40-20 in conference play over the last nine years. The Pioneers' last victory over UW-Oshkosh fell at the end of the 2013 regular season and the 17-16 victory positioned the program in place for an at-large bid into the NCAA playoffs for the first time in school history. Overall, the Pioneers have compiled a 53-18 mark over the previous seven seasons, with a pair of NCAA Division III playoff appearances in 2013 and 2016.
Emendorfer's Pioneers are leading the WIAC in scoring offense with 37.4 points per game while averaging 404.1 yards per contest, including 297.7 in the air. Junior Colin Schuetz leads the WIAC in pass efficiency and has completed 152-of-250 (60.8%) attempts for 2,055 yards and 21 touchdowns in seven games. Senior Tyler Knigge (44 receptions for 605 yards) and junior Donald Allender (32 receptions for 559 yards) are Schuetz's primary targets, while Allender is leading the WIAC in scoring with 10 touchdowns. Senior running back Wyatt Thompson has combined 90 carries for 445 of the Pioneers' 956 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Overall, the Pioneers lead the WIAC in third-down conversions with 44-of-103 (42.7%) and are tied for first in the league with the Titans on fourth-down as both teams have gone 6-of-12 (50%) during the 2019 season.
On defense, senior defensive back Tyler Reinhardt leads the Pioneers with 54 tackles, five tackles for a loss of 22 yards, four pass break-ups, one sack, and is tied for first in the WIAC in interceptions with three and one returned for a touchdown. Following Reinhardt is senior defensive back Walter Ollie who has totaled 44 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, six pass break-ups, and one interception for a 39-yard return and touchdown.
On special teams, Ollie has stacked up 480 yards on 19 kick returns with an additional 110 yards on 16 punt returns. Freshman Andrew Schweigert leads the WIAC in kick scoring, as he has gone 32-for-34 on PATs and 4-for-5 on field goal attempts with a 36-yard long.
Overall, the Pioneers have recorded 18 quarterback sacks and are first in the WIAC in red zone defense with opponents going 16-for-32 inside the 20. UW-Platteville also leads the WIAC in turnovers gained with eight fumbles and 14 interceptions.
The Titans: UW Oshkosh is averaging 23.3 points and 342.9 yards per game with 175.7 yards passing and 167.1 yards rushing. Freshman quarterback Kobe Berghammer has completed 93-of-187 attempts for 1,107 yards, nine touchdowns and just one interception while rushing for an additional 267 yards off 67 carries for five touchdowns. Berghammer will seek out junior Mitchell Gerend (22 receptions for 281 yards) and senior Riley Kallas (18 receptions for 250 yards). Freshman running back Peter Maccudden has combined 78 carries for 302 yards in seven games.
On defense, junior linebacker Nick Noethe has tallied 44 tackles including 2.5 tackles for loss of 17 yards, one sack, and two pass break-ups. UW Oshkosh leads the WIAC with 30 sacks for loss of 197 yards as senior lineman Brady Heimer contributed with seven sacks for a loss of 47 yards. Junior defensive back Kollyn Beyer has stacked up ten pass break-ups with two interceptions in addition to his 25 tackles. The Titans lead the league in pass and total defense with 159.9 yards passing defense and 269.3 yards total defense per game.
UW Oshkosh has been receiving attention and votes in national polls this season having been recognized with votes in both the D3football.com and AFCA polls.
Odds and ends:
- The Pioneers are ranked No. 13 nationally in the D3football.com Top 25 Poll and No. 15 in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) poll. No. 3 UW-Whitewater is the only other WIAC school ranked in both polls.
- Other WIAC programs receiving votes in the AFCA national rankings include UW-La Crosse and UW-Oshkosh while the Eagles are also receiving votes in the D3football.com poll.
- The 2019 UW-Platteville football team continues its campaign to #SetTheExpectation. A nationally recognized campaign and pledge taken by college athletes that is focused on combatting sexual and physical violence. Founder Brenda Tracy visited was an honorary captain last season at a home game.
- Saturday is STEM Zone in the Endzone, a special pairing of UW-Platteville Athletics and academic areas surrounding science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. In conjunction with the game, different STEM area professional societies will be in attendance with projects and work on display at the entrance to the stadium.
- In conjunction with STEM Zone in the Endzone, free Pioneer stocking caps will be given away to the first 200 students with student ID. courtesy of University Relations.
- Looking ahead, the Pioneers will return home to Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium next Saturday, Nov. 9 for Senior Day when the Pointers of UW-Stevens Point roll into town with kickoff set for 2 p.m.