Titans edge No. 13 Pioneers, 24-20 in final seconds of play

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The No. 13 ranked University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team was edged by the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh 24-20 Saturday afternoon in Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.  Both teams are now 6-2 overall with the Titans improving to 4-1 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the Pioneers falling to 3-2 in the league.

After both the first and second quarters closed in a tied score, the Pioneers and Titans went on to trade the lead four times in the second half with the Titans ultimately finishing on top after a game winning 10-yard pass for a touchdown from Kobe Berghammer to Peter Maccudden with just 00:18 remaining on the clock. In the end, Berghammer passed for 174 yards and ran for an additional 114 yards in a game where both quarterbacks led their teams in yards rushed.

UW Oshkosh found the scoreboard first when forced to kick a 23-yard field goal by Jaydon Haag after senior Antonio-Jose Ramos sacked Berghammer on third and goal from the Pioneers' one-yardline. UW-Platteville responded the next possession with a 32-yard Andrew Schweigert field goal, tying up the score 3-3 after the first quarter.

The Titans combed nine plays for 37 yards finishing with a six-yard rush by Maccudden to take a 10-3 lead with 3:24 left in the half. UW-Platteville fought back and went 75 yards in eight plays including an 18-yard and 10-yard run by junior Colin Schuetz before he rushed for another five yards in for a touchdown and the game was knotted 10-10 to take the teams into halftime.

A 20-yard field goal by Schweigert with 3:06 left in the third quarter gave the Pioneers a 13-10 lead going into the final quarter.

UW-Oshkosh took back the lead courtesy of a 40-yard pass for a touchdown from Berghammer to Jimmy Duval with 13:42 left in the game. Schuetz chipped away seven pass completions for 70 yards including a closing 21-yard touchdown pass to freshman Brandt Stare, giving the Pioneers a 20-17 lead with 1:57 remaining.

UW Oshkosh combined eight plays for 75 yards as Berghammer found Maccudden for a 10-yard pass for a touchdown.  As the Titans had a 24-20 advantage with 00:18 left on the clock, Schuetz found Stare for a 13-yard completion at their own 28-yardline. The Pioneers called for a timeout with 00:06 left and Schuetz looked for junior Tyler Knigge, but was unsuccessful as time expired.

Overall, UW Oshkosh combined 174 yards passing and 195 yards rushing for 369 yards total offense compared to the UW-Platteville's 298 yards total offense with 191 yards in the air and 107 yards rushed. The Titans held the Pioneers to 33% (5-of-15) on third down conversions while UW-Platteville intercepted UW Oshkosh twice.

Schuetz completed 20-of-33 attempts for 191 yards and a touchdown pass in addition to leading the Pioneers in rushing with 66 yards off 18 carries and another touchdown. Stare had a team high seven receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown.

Freshman kicker Schweigert went 2-for-2 on field goals and 2-for-2 on extra point attempts.

UW-Platteville's defense entered Saturday sitting third nationally with 22 turnovers and was led by senior defensive back Tyler Reinhardt who had a team high seven tackles. Freshmen Aidan Tyk and Dayne Friday each recorded their first career interceptions against the Titans.

UW Oshkosh's Berghammer completed 8-of-17 for 174 yards and two touchdowns with an additional 114 yards rushed. Linebacker Nick Noethe, who led the WIAC with 30 sacks coming into Saturday's game, sacked Schuetz twice for a loss of 16 yards.

UW-Platteville will return to action next Saturday in Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium against the Pointers of UW-Stevens Point at 2 p.m. on Senior Day.