The $5.7 million facility will offer a synthetic surface to allow for the playing of several sports during one season - a nine-lane, state-of-the-art synthetic competition track; several practice fields for soccer and football; new track and field areas; and improved and expanded ticket and concessions facilities.

The new sports complex at the site of Titan Stadium combines the resources of UW-Oshkosh, Oshkosh Area School District and Unified Catholic Schools to create a premier facility for the entire community.

The community facility can be used for up to 190 events each year. It is expected to help generate up to $25 million annually in tourism.

“This facility will attract athletes to the area and help retain the athletes already in Oshkosh,” said UW-Oshkosh student Sarah Schettle.

An Oshkosh West High School graduate and a member of the UW-Oshkosh women's track and field team, Schettle praised plans to update locker room facilities and include locker rooms for women athletes. Titan Stadium does not have locker rooms for women.

“This will be a facility we can all be proud of,” said Tom Keefe, UW-Oshkosh Foundation president.

More information about the Oshkosh Sports Complex can be obtained at http://www.titans.uwosh.edu/OshkoshSportsComplex.pdf.

Audio from "Tom Keefe Opening, Brion Rittenberry, Richard Wells, Ron Heilmann, Stan Spanbauer, Joe Leschke, Sarah Schettle, Carol Roessler, Tom Keefe Closing".

UW-Stevens Point senior quarterback Scott Krause was voted the 2003 Player of the Year, topping the All-WIAC Football Team, which was recently selected by the league coaches.

Krause was a unanimous selection to the first team after leading the conference with 37 touchdown passes, 180.0 passing efficiency, 296.3 passing yards per game and 328.5 yards of total offense per contest. His 37 touchdown passes lead the NCAA Division III and are the fourth-highest total in WIAC history.

Krause, who earned first team honors last season after claiming honorable mention status in 2001, threw for 2,963 yards with just nine interceptions and completed a school record 66.1 percent of his passes this year. He ranks second nationally in passing efficiency and fifth in total offense. Krause threw at least five touchdown passes and surpassed 350 yards passing in four games this season.
Krause is the first player to win the league's player of the year award without playing for a team that won the conference title since 1995 when UW-River Falls' Adam Kowles won the honor.

Krause was joined on the first team by teammates Cliff Ruland, Clint Bakken, Nick Haffele and Josh VanderVelden. Ruland, a junior offensive lineman, helped the squad establish a school record with 39.4 points per game. The Pointers lead the league in scoring offense and total offense (460.7 yards), while ranking second in passing offense (297.6 yards).

Bakken, Haffele and VanderVelden directed a defense that leads the league in scoring defense (18.6 points), rushing defense (108.4 yards), passing defense (156.7 yards) and total defense (265.1 yards). Bakken, a senior defensive lineman, was a unanimous selection after registering 36 tackles, seven tackles for loss and four quarterback sacks. He earned second team honors a year ago.

Haffele, a senior linebacker, earned first team honors for the second straight season after claiming second team status in 2001. He ranks fourth in the conference with 91 tackles and has nine tackles for loss and two quarterback sacks with one blocked kick. VanderVelden, a senior defensive lineman, compiled 39 tackles, nine tackles for loss, five quarterback sacks and four fumble recoveries this year.

UW-La Crosse's Andrew Mocadlo, Chester Janke, Scott Burnoski, Andrew McGlenn, Rob Beauchaine, Jeremy Duerr and Dustin Powell earned first team honors after helping the Eagles to their second straight outright league title and 32nd conference crown in school history.

Mocadlo, a senior running back, was a unanimous selection in earning his first career all-league honor. He leads the conference with 163.0 rushing yards per contest and has set single-season school records with 268 rushing attempts and 1,630 yards. Mocadlo established a school and WIAC record with 391 rushing yards against UW-Stout earlier this year and has surpassed 100-yards rushing in six games this season, including 200-yard efforts in his last three contests.

Janke, a senior tight end, earned honorable mention honors the past two seasons and has 13 receptions for 219 yards with one touchdown this year. Burnoski, a junior wide receiver, leads the league with 6.40 receptions per game and ranks second with 98.1 receiving yards per contest. He was a honorable mention pick last season.

McGlenn, a junior offensive lineman, earned his first all-league honor and helped the Eagles rank second in the league in scoring offense (33.0 points) and total offense (459.4 yards).

Beauchaine, Duerr and Powell spearhead an Eagle defense that leads the conference in scoring defense (18.6 points). Beauchaine, a senior defensive back, has 39 tackles this season, seven pass break-ups, two interceptions and two tackles for loss. He was an honorable mention pick a year ago.
Duerr, a senior defensive lineman, was a unanimous selection after earning second team honors in 2002. He has compiled six sacks this season, the third-highest total in the league, with 50 tackles and 12 tackles for loss.

Powell, a junior linebacker, earned second team accolades a year ago. This season, he ranks ninth in the league with 79 tackles and has added five tackles for loss, one quarterback sack and one blocked kick.

UW-Whitewater also had seven individuals earn first team honors after the club recorded seven victories, which is the most wins for the school since the 1998 squad had seven victories. Chad Wurth, Kyle Haug, Matt Buenning, Chad Nimm, Andy Lobdell, Andy Walters and Nick Zolper all received first team accolades.

Wurth, a senior, was a unanimous selection as a running back and a kicker. He also earned first team honors at both spots last season (unanimous as a running back) and was a second team choice at running back in 2001 and 2000. Wurth leads the league in scoring with 12.4 points per game and ranks fifth with 98.2 rushing yards per contest. He established a school single-game record with 34 points against UW-Oshkosh and finished his career as UW-Whitewater's all-time leading rusher with 4,311 yards, a total that places him third on the conference's all-time list. Wurth converted all 34 of his extra point opportunities this season and was 12-for-20 on field goal attempts, including a league-long kick of 48 yards against UW-Platteville.

Haug, a senior punter, earned first team honors for the second straight season after earning honorable mention recognition in 2001. He ranks fourth in the league with 36.9 yards per punt and placed 15 kicks inside the 20-yard line, while uncorking the longest kick in the league this year with a 77-yard blast against UW-Stout.

Buenning, a senior offensive lineman, was a unanimous choice after claiming second team honors a year ago. Nimm, a senior center, earned first team honors for the second straight season.

Lobdell, a senior linebacker, was a unanimous pick after ranking sixth in the conference with 85 tackles and placing eighth with 11 tackles for loss. He earned second team honors a year ago. Walters, a junior defensive back, recorded 39 tackles this season with seven pass break-ups, four tackles for loss, three quarterback sacks and three interceptions. Zolper, a junior defensive lineman, was a unanimous selection after ranking second in the league with seven quarterback sacks and registering 28 tackles.

UW-Stout's Luke Bundgaard, Ben Knepper, Kevin Dewey and Joe Kersten received first team honors after the Blue Devils compiled a 4-3 league record for the third straight season.

Bundgaard, a senior running back, was a unanimous selection for the second straight season in earning his third career first team honor. He was a second team pick in 2001. Bundgaard ranks second in the league with 146.1 rushing yards per game on a league-leading 294 carries and 12 touchdown runs. His 1,461 rushing yards this year established a school single-season record, along with his 294 carries. Bundgaard also broke into the WIAC record book, snapping the all-time career rushing mark with 4,427 yards.

Knepper, a senior offensive lineman, was a unanimous pick for the second straight season after helping the Blue Devil offense rank second in the conference in rushing (235.9 yards) and third in total offense (440.1 yards).

Dewey, a senior defensive back, was a unanimous selection after leading the team with 76 tackles and adding five tackles for loss, four quarterback sacks and two forced fumbles. He earned honorable mention recognition in 2001. Kersten, a senior defensive lineman, earned first team honors for the second consecutive year after claiming second team status in 2001. He ranks second in the conference with seven quarterback sacks and fourth with 14 tackles for loss.

UW-Eau Claire's Austin Crow and Mike LaBarbera earned first team recognition for their defensive efforts. Crow, a senior linebacker, was a unanimous pick after claiming second team honors a year ago.
He ranks third in the league with 94 tackles, while placing third with six quarterback sacks and eighth with 11 tackles for loss.

LaBarbera, a senior defensive back, earned second team honors a year ago and recorded 53 tackles this season with eight pass break-ups, one interception and one tackle for loss.

UW-River Falls had a pair of individuals earn first team accolades. John Peterlik, a junior all-purpose back, earned his second straight first team honor. He leads the conference with 185.4 all-purpose yards per contest and ranks second with 9.6 points per game and 24.6 yards per kickoff return. Peterlik scored four touchdowns against UW-Eau Claire and UW-Platteville and also had a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.).

Owen Schmitt, a freshman fullback, spearheaded the league's top rushing offense by ranking third in the league with 118.1 rushing yards per game and placing sixth with 119.2 all-purpose yards per contest. He surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark in six of nine contests this season.

UW-Platteville's Matt Kent, a senior wide receiver, earned first team honors for the third straight season and ranks fourth in the league with 82.3 receiving yards per game and places seventh with 5.50 receptions per contest. He is the school's all-time receiving yardage leader with 2,960 yards on 175 catches and 30 touchdowns.

Named to the all-league second team offense were: UW-Eau Claire's Brett Etzel (Sr., OL), Erik Ferguson (Sr., WR) and Joe Gast (So., RB), UW-La Crosse's Jedediah Jensen (Jr., K), Steve Tennies (So., QB), Troy VanZile (Jr., OL), UW-Platteville's Dan Lilla (So., P), UW-Stevens Point's Cody Childs (Fr., RB), Kurt Kielblock (Jr., WR) and Robb Kolodziej (Jr., OL), UW-Stout's Mike Klieforth (Sr., OL), Matt Schaeuble (Jr., FB) and Josh Towner (Sr., C) and UW-Whitewater's Derek Stanley (Fr., All-Purp.) and Adam Whittaker (Sr., TE).

Individuals receiving recognition on the all-league second team defense included: UW-Eau Claire's Pat Cummings (Sr., DB), Mike Lansing (Jr., LB) and Dave Maas (Jr., DL), UW-La Crosse's Kenneth Halverson (So., DB), Khary Jeffers (Sr., DL) and Adam Schneider (Jr., LB), UW-Oshkosh's Jason Boehlke (Jr. • DL • Germantown), UW-Platteville's Mitch Repka (Sr., LB), UW-River Falls' Jeff Horton (Sr., DL) and Lewis Parish (So., DB), UW-Stevens Point's LaRon Ragsdale (So., DB), UW-Stout's Matt Mueller (Sr., DL) and UW-Whitewater's Collin Price (Jr., LB).

Receiving honorable mention recognition from UW-Oshkosh were defensive tackle Dustin Drexel (Jr. • Campbellsport) and tight end Chad Lindsley (Sr. • Oconomowoc).

UW-La Crosse head coach Larry Terry was named the George Chryst Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season by the league coaches. He is the first coach to win the award in back-to-back years since UW-La Crosse's Roger Harring claimed the honor from 1991-93.

The UW-Stevens Point football team used to a pair of defensive stops in the final two minutes of the game to preserve a 13-9 victory over UW-Oshkosh on Saturday (Oct. 25) at Titan Stadium. The UW-Oshkosh Homecoming contest marked the 101st meeting between the schools, with UW-Stevens Point registering its 54th victory in the 16th-longest rivalry in NCAA Division III history.

UW-Stevens Point (5-2/2-2 WIAC), ranked 23rd in the NCAA Division III by D3football.com, scored its winning points on a five-yard touchdown run by halfback Eric Reible with 2:46 left in the game. The five-play, 53-yard scoring drive was aided by a 15-yard pass interference call on UW-Oshkosh and an 18-yard pass from quarterback Scott Krause to wide receiver Tony Romano. UW-Stevens Point's try for the two-point conversion failed as Reible's rushing attempt was stopped short of the goal.

UW-Oshkosh (4-3/1-3 WIAC) took the ensuing kickoff and marched 47 yards in seven plays before quarterback Nick Wara (Jr. • Oshkosh) lost the football on a hit by UW-Stevens Point linebacker Brett Maxwell at the Pointers' 34-yard line with 1:24 remaining in the game. UW-Stevens Point defensive tackle Josh VanderVelden recovered the fumble to halt a UW-Oshkosh drive that included Wara passes of eight yards to running back Chris Kirch (So. • Lake Geneva) and 16 yards to tight end Chad Lindsley (Sr. • Oconomowoc).

Stopping UW-Stevens Point on three rushing plays and effectively using all three of its timeouts, UW-Oshkosh forced a punt and got the football back at its own 37-yard with 59 seconds left in the game. UW-Stevens Point's defense limited UW-Oshkosh's potential comeback victory to just four plays as Wara threw an incomplete pass on first down, was sacked by defensive end Craig Johnson on second down, tossed a 12-yard pass to fullback Aaron Chaltry (Jr. • Peshtigo) on third down and threw an incomplete pass on fourth down, with the last play ending with just 10 seconds left in the contest.

After a scoreless first quarter, UW-Stevens Point tallied the first points of the game on fullback Jason VanderVelden's one-yard dive with 13:05 left in the second period. The Pointers went 86 yards in 18 plays for the score, converting four third down situations. UW-Stevens Point made the score 7-0 on Dan Heldmann's extra point kick.

UW-Oshkosh cut its deficit to 7-3 on place-kicker/wide receiver Mike Kinateder's (So. • Waukesha) 22-yard field goal with 24 seconds left in the quarter. The Titans moved the football 69 yards during the 13-play drive, including Wara passes of 19 yards to Kinateder, 18 to Lindsley and 16 to wide receiver Justin Heinkel (So. • Schofield).

UW-Oshkosh took a 9-7 lead at the 8:26 mark of the third quarter in impressive fashion, moving 98 yards in just four plays after a UW-Stevens Point punt pinned the Titans down at their own two-yard line. After two runs by Chaltry went for no gain, UW-Oshkosh marched length of the field on its next two plays as Wara completed a season-best 73-yard pass to tight end Bob Docherty (Jr. • Oshkosh) and Kirch ran 25 yards for a touchdown. The score remained 9-7 as Kinateder's extra point kick was blocked by UW-Stevens Point defensive end Jake Nantell.

UW-Stevens Point outgained UW-Oshkosh in yards 366-335, with Krause completing 21 of 29 passes for 200 yards and Jason VanderVelden rushing 29 times for 115 yards. Romano caught seven passes for 80 yards and wide receiver Cody Childs seven for 53 yards to lead the Pointers.

UW-Oshkosh got the bulk of its yards via the throwing and running of Wara. Wara completed 16 of 22 passes for 207 yards and rushed 13 times for 26 yards. Kirch led the Titans with 62 yards rushing in 15 attempts, while Lindsley caught a team-best seven passes for 51 yards.

Defensively, Maxwell recorded 14 tackles, one tackle for a loss and one forced fumble to lead UW-Stevens Point, while cornerback Jon Thomas (Sr. • Madison) had 11 tackles and one forced fumble to pace UW-Oshkosh. The Pointers also received 10 tackles from linebacker Steve Vandevoort and the Titans nine tackles from linebacker Craig Korth (Jr. • Menasha).

UW-Oshkosh's loss ended a six-game winning streak for the Titans at Titan Stadium. The string of home victories was the longest for UW-Oshkosh since a span involving games played during the 1976 and 1977 seasons.

Eighth-ranked UW-La Crosse (5-1, 2-1 WIAC) scored on its first five possessions of the game and went on to a 56-14 victory over UW-Oshkosh (4-2, 1-2) on Saturday at Roger Harring Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Matt Pagel opened the scoring on a 1-yard run with 10:41 remaining in the first quarter. Steve Tennies then hit Scott Burnoski with a 14-yard touchdown pass with 6:56 left in the opening quarter and Andrew Mocadlo scored on a 26-yard run to make it 21-0 after the first quarter.

The Eagles scored 21 points in the second quarter to make it 42-0 at halftime. Tennies hit Chester Janke with a 34-yard touchdown pass; Mocadlo scored on a 6-yard run and Ken Halvorson returned a fumble 52 yards.

Tennies hit Jeremy Korth with a 36-yard touchdown with 12:16 remaining in the third and Mark Wilcox finished the scoring for the Eagles on a 6-yard run with 7:01 left in the third.

UW-Oshkosh scored twice in the fourth. Nick Wara hit Bob Docherty with a 7-yard pass with 13:51 remaining and Wara scored on a 5-yard run with 2:20 left.

UW-L finished with a season-high 535 yards, including 248 rushing and 287 passing. Mocadlo had 94 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 14 carries. Tennies finished 11-for-13 for 246 yards with three touchdowns. Burnoski caught five passes for 99 yards and a touchdown.

UW-Oshkosh was held to 211 yards, including 124 rushing and 87 passing. The Titans were 4-for-16 on third-down and were forced to punt nine times. Chris Kirch had 58 yards rushing on 11 carries. Wara was 10-for-26 for 87 yards and a touchdown. He was sacked three times. Docherty caught three passes for 28 yards and a touchdown.

Jason Manikowski led the Titans with 13 tackles while Deke Stanek led UW-L with six.

UW-Platteville used two fourth-quarter drives, a bit of trickery and a game-ending stop to defeat previously undefeated UW-Oshkosh 20-17 before a large UWP Homecoming crowd Saturday.

Jason Borchardt made two field goals in the last period, helping the Pioneers overcome a 17-14 deficit. The latter came with 3:39 to play, capping a 51-yard drive that was helped by a Coach Mike Emendorfer's fake punt call. Punter Dan Lilla passed to a wide-open defensive tackle Matt Lee, who brought the ball 15 yards to the Titan 33. Lee had practiced for this moment by playing some receiver during the Pioneers' May game in Germany, where he caught two touchdown passes. Nine plays later, Borchardt's kick from 22 yards was good.

The Titans weren't done, however, as they drove down the field in the game's waning minutes.Quarterback Nick Wara completed a huge fourth-and-seven pass for 20 yards to Justin Heinkel, bringing the ball to the UWP nine. Wara spiked the ball on first down, stopping the clock with under 30 seconds to play. The Pioneer defense then forced two incomplete passes, and the Titans missed a 26-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining.

The Pioneers improved to 3-2 overall, while the Titans fell to 4-1. Both teams are 1-1 in the wild Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference race.

UW-Platteville got on the board first, as receiver Max Seroogy took a screen pass from Tom Stetzer and went 30 yards for his first collegiate touchdown. The Titans answered with a five-yard scoring pass from Wara to Bob Docherty and a 37-yard Mike Kinaedeter field goal for a 10-7 halftime lead.

The Pioneers re-took the lead on the first drive of the second half, going 75 yards in 11 plays. The Pioneers, held to 124 first-half yards, opened the second half in the team's jumbo formation. The move worked against the Titan three-man line as the Pioneers rushed on seven of those 11 plays, with Damian Droessler carrying for 21 yards and Stetzer running a quarterback draw for a 14-yard touchdown.

The Titans answered back with a 14-play, 77-yard drive, capped by Andy Moriarty's five-yard touchdown run, making the score 17-14.

Stetzer found Jason Leonard open over the middle for a 45-yard gain, setting up Borchardt's 29-yard field goal to open the fourth quarter and tie the game and set up the final drives.

Stetzer completed 19 of 38 passes for 235 yards, with Matt Kent grabbing five passes for 68 yards. Leonard and Greg Siebers each had four receptions.

Wara hit on 20 of 33 passes for 246 yards, with Chad LaLuzerne catching six balls for 113 yards. Chris Kirch rushed 21 times for 62 yards, while WIAC leading rusher Andrew Stern gained 58 yards on 14 carries before leaving with an injury.

Kendall Syse and Mike Bach led the UWP defensive effort with 11 and 10 tackles, respectively, while Adam Lewis came up with a first-quarter interception for the game's only turnover. Droessler added three special teams' tackles, while Lilla averaged 44.2 yards per punt to go along his 15-yard pass.

Jon Thomas and Dustin Drexel led UW-Oshkosh in tackles with five each.

The defense of the UW-Oshkosh football team came up big as the Titans upset nationally-ranked and pre-season WIAC favorite UW-Stout, 15-7, on Saturday (Oct. 4) at Titan Stadium. UW-Stout (2-2/0-1 WIAC) entered the contest ranked 11th in the NCAA Division III by D3football.com, 18th by the American Football Coaches Association and 22nd by Don Hansen's Football Gazette.

Coupled with a victory over UW-Whitewater in last year's season finale, UW-Oshkosh (4-0/1-0 WIAC) has won its last five games. The winning streak is the longest for the Titans since they won their last three games of the 1976 season and their first two contests of 1977. UW-Oshkosh also has won its last six home contests and begun a season unbeaten in four games for the first time since 1968.

UW-Oshkosh's defense smothered UW-Stout's offense from nearly start to finish, with the only exception being in the last three minutes of the game when the Blue Devils drove 71 yards in 13 plays for a touchdown. UW-Stout had 11 possessions prior to that score, but none of them covered more than 30 yards.

UW-Stout invaded Titan Stadium averaging 34 points and 457.3 yards of offense per game, but left the facility with just seven points and 237 yards of offense. The Blue Devils, who had two of their offensive starters miss the game due to an automobile accident that took place earlier in the week, had the football for just 21:59 of the game and made only three of their 15 third down conversions.

UW-Oshkosh's defensive effort was led by cornerback Jon Thomas (Sr. • Madison), end Jason Boehlke (Jr. • Germantown), linebacker Craig Korth (Jr. • Menasha) and strong safety Ryan Slowik (So. • Green Bay). Thomas had eight tackles, including one for a loss, and one forced fumble, while Boehlke had seven tackles, including a quarterback sack, and Korth and Slowik six tackles each.

After a scoreless first quarter, UW-Oshkosh changed the scoreboard twice in the second period on field goals by wide receiver/placekicker Mike Kinateder (So. • Waukesha). Kinateder gave the Titans a 3-0 lead with a 25-yard kick at the 7:58 mark of the second stanza and a 6-0 advantage with a 30-yard boot with just one second left before intermission.

UW-Oshkosh extended its lead to 15-0 in the fourth quarter on Stern's five-yard touchdown run with 7:09 left in the period and Kinateder's 26-yard field goal with 2:53 remaining. UW-Stout entered the scoring column with just 1:05 left in the game, a 10-yard touchdown run by quarterback Nick Ohman and an extra point kick by Evan Larsen.

Offensively, UW-Oshkosh controlled the football for 38:01 of the game. The Titans rolled up 22 first downs and 386 yards of offense, including 240 on the ground against a UW-Stout defense that yielded an average of just 88.7 per contest. Halfback Andrew Stern (So. • Wisconsin Rapids) led UW-Oshkosh in rushing with 125 yards and one touchdown in 36 attempts, while quarterback Nick Wara (Jr. • Oshkosh) added 85 yards in nine attempts.

In the air, Wara completed 12 of 24 passes for 146 yards, with wide receiver Chad LaLuzerne (Fr. • Algoma) catching five for 59 yards and tight end Chad Lindsley (Sr. • Oconomowoc) four for 53.

Ohman and halfback Luke Bundgaard accounted for 229 of UW-Stout's 247 offensive yards. Bundgaard, UW-Stout's all-time leading rusher, carried the football 18 times for 87 yards, while Ohman completed 13 of 34 passes for 111 yards and rushed nine times for 31 yards.

UW-Stout had four defensive players who had double-digit totals in tackles, including linebacker Travis Phillips who had 14, strong safety Kevin Dewey who had 13 and free safety Jordan Sinz who had 11.

UW-Oshkosh leads the all-time series against UW-Stout by a 26-20-1 count after defeating the Blue Devils for the second time in three years. In 2001 at Titan Stadium, UW-Oshkosh defeated UW-Stout, 19-7. The Blue Devils entered that game two years ago as both the eighth-ranked team in the NCAA Division III by D3football.com and defending WIAC champion.

Mike Kinateder's (So. • Waukesha) 20-yard field goal from the right hash mark in the fourth overtime period gave the UW-Oshkosh football team a 26-23 victory over Lakeland College on Saturday (Sept. 20) at Titan Stadium. The overtime contest was the second in UW-Oshkosh history, with the other being a 20-14 loss to UW-Stevens Point at Titan Stadium in 1981.

Lakeland College (2-1) sent the game to overtime tied at 14 on quarterback Brent Luebke's 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Shaun Behrend and placekicker Gerald Starner's extra point kick with 2:56 left in the fourth period. The Muskies had trailed the Titans (3-0) by scores of 7-0 after the first and second quarters and 14-7 after the third.

UW-Oshkosh and Lakeland College both misfired on a couple of scoring opportunities in regulation play. UW-Oshkosh missed out on three scores as Kinateder had a 40-yard field goal attempt hit the left upright in the first quarter and a 22-yard field goal try miss left in the second. The Titans also had a second period fumble by quarterback Nick Wara (Jr. • Oshkosh) roll out of the Lakeland College end zone. Lakeland College, a second-time opponent of UW-Oshkosh, missed out on two scoring chances as Starner had a 21-yard field goal attempt blocked in the second quarter and a 33-yard field goal try miss left in the fourth.

In the first overtime period, neither team scored as Lakeland College ran out of downs before UW-Oshkosh's Kinateder had a 34-yard field goal miss left. The two teams reversed the order of possession in the second overtime period and remained tied after Kinateder made a 37-yard field goal before Lakeland College's Starner connected on a 29-yard field goal.

The third overtime period resulted in touchdowns for both teams as Lakeland College scored on a 10-yard pass from Luebke to Behrend and UW-Oshkosh on a 22-yard pass from Wara to fullback Aaron Chaltry (Jr. • Peshtigo). Both teams came up empty on the mandated two-point try on the extra point as Luebke and Wara threw incomplete passes.

In the fourth overtime period, UW-Oshkosh gained first possession and moved the football 23 yards in five plays before Kinateder made his 20-yard field goal. Down 26-23, Lakeland College then took control of the football and ran out of plays as Luebke threw incomplete passes on third and fourth downs. A big defensive play was made by the Titans on second down as tackle Dustin Drexel (Jr. • Campbellsport) sacked Luebke for a two-yard loss.

UW-Oshkosh took a 7-0 lead on Wara's 21-yard touchdown run and Kinateder's extra point kick at the 4:29 mark of the first period. Both teams scored touchdowns via the air in the third quarter as Lakeland College's Behrend caught a 24-yard pass from Luebke at the 10:55 mark and UW-Oshkosh tight end Chad Lindsley (Sr. • Oconomowoc) a 10-yard pass from Wara at the 6:37 mark. Extra point kicks were added by Starner of the Muskies and Kinateder of the Titans.

UW-Oshkosh totaled 396 yards of offense in the game, including 202 in the air as Wara completed 15 of 25 passes. Lindsley caught five of Wara's aerials for 83 yards, while Chad LaLuzerne (Fr. • Algoma) grabbed three for 40 yards and Kinateder three for 35. On the ground, halfback Andrew Stern (So. • Wisconsin Rapids) accounted for 83 yards and Wara 48 of the Titans' total of 194.

Lakeland College rolled up 344 yards of offense, with 301 coming on Luebke's 30 pass completions in 53 attempts. Behrend caught 12 of Luebke's passes for 153 yards, while wide receiver Jeff Taff snatched 10 for 78. The Muskies were held to just 43 yards rushing in 43 attempts, with the longest gain being an 18-yard scramble by Luebke.

Defensively, UW-Oshkosh was led by cornerback Noah Paquin (Sr. • Oak Creek), linebacker Craig Korth and strong safety Ryan Slowik (So. • Green Bay) who registered 11 tackles each and defensive end Jason Boehlke (Jr. • Germantown) who blocked a field goal, forced a fumble and recorded three quarterback sacks among his eight tackles. Paqin's tackle count included a game-high nine solo.

Linebackers Mike Gregory and Roosevelt Moore led Lakeland College with 12 and 11 tackles, respectively.

The UW-Oshkosh football team relied on its stable of running backs for a second straight game as they handed Concordia University a 21-3 setback on Saturday (Sept. 13) at Titan Stadium. The contest, the second between the two schools, was played in a steady rain from start to finish.

After rushing for 357 yards in last Saturday's (Sept. 6) 38-3 win over Upper Iowa University, UW-Oshkosh (2-0) gained 199 yards on the ground against Concordia University (1-1). Fullback Aaron Chaltry (Jr. • Peshtigo) rushed for a career-high 90 yards on 21 carries, including a one-yard touchdown run with 5:58 left in the fourth quarter put the Titans ahead 21-3. Chaltry also hauled in two passes for 31 yards to emerge as the Titans' top offensive performer.

In addition to Chaltry, the Titans also received solid rushing performances from running backs Chris Kirch (Fr. • Lake Geneva) and Andy Moriarty (Fr. • Mequon). Kirch rushed 19 times for 65 yards and two touchdowns, while Moriarty rushed all five of his times in the fourth quarter for 19 yards. Kirch's 25-yard burst at the 5:22 mark of the first quarter put the Titans ahead 7-0, while his one-yard scamper at the 12:56 mark of the second quarter put UW-Oshkosh ahead 14-0. The Titans also received 35 yards rushing in eight attempts from quarterback Nick Wara (Jr. • Oshkosh).

In the air, UW-Oshkosh totaled 93 yards as Wara completed six of his 15 passes for 93 yards. Complementing Chaltry's receiving efforts were wide receiver Nic Sydorowicz's (Sr. • Neillsville) one catch for 23 yards, tight end Chad Lindsley's (Sr. • Oconomowoc) one catch for 18 yards, tight end Bob Docherty's (Jr. • Oshkosh) one catch for 17 yards and wide receiver Mike Kinateder's (So. • Waukesha) one catch for four yards. Kinateder also knocked home three extra points, while Sydorowicz had a 46-yard kickoff return.

For the second week in a row, UW-Oshkosh was led defensively by end Jason Boehlke (Jr. • Germantown). Boehlke registered two quarterback sacks and two other tackles for a loss among his 11 takedowns. He also forced and recovered a fumble on one of his quarterback sacks. Linebacker Craig Korth (Jr. • Menasha) also had 10 tackles in the contest, including two for a loss, while defensive tackle Dustin Drexel (Jr. • Campbellsport) chipped in eight tackles, including one quarterback sack.

UW-Oshkosh's defensive backfield also got in the action as Noah Paquin (Sr. • Oak Creek), Ryan Slowik (So. • Green Bay) and Ryan Radtke (Fr. • Peshtigo) all had pass interceptions, with Radtke returning his 37 yards on the last play of the game. Paquin led the defensive secondary with five tackles.

Concordia University, which scored 63 points in its season-opening win over Carroll College, was held to 191 yards of total offense against UW-Oshkosh. The Falcons rushed 31 times for 110 yards with running back Immanuel Mills leading the way with 103 yards on 11 carries. Quarterback Brad Sonneborn added 81 yards in the air, completing 15 of 32 passes with three interceptions. Wide receiver Brandon Parker grabbed eight passes for 47 yards to take game honors in both categories.

Linebacker Mike Schwab led the Falcons defensively with his 15 tackles, while defensive back Mike Litrenta, defensive tackle David Taylor and linebacker Jacob Knighton contributed 10 tackles each.

UW-Oshkosh has yielded just six points through two games of the 2003 season, the fewest total since the Titans shut out their first-two opponents of the 1996 campaign. Coupled with a victory in the 2002 season finale, UW-Oshkosh also increased its winning streak to three games, the Titans' longest winning skein since 1998.

The UW-Oshkosh football team gained 11 yards rushing on its first offensive play and didn't stop running as the Titans dominated Upper Iowa University, 38-3, in a non-conference game held Saturday (Sept. 6) at Titan Stadium. It was the 2003 season opener for both teams, with UW-Oshkosh winning its inaugural contest for the 21st time in 23 years.

UW-Oshkosh (1-0) racked up 357 yards rushing against its first-time opponent as six different players carried the pigskin. The 357 yards were the most since the Titans compiled 375 yards rushing during a 37-16 win over UW-Superior on Nov. 8, 1986.

A big contributor to the Titans' success on the ground was running back Andrew Stern (So. • Wisconsin Rapids), who rushed 15 times for a career-high 142 yards and one touchdown. Stern had 89 yards rushing in the first quarter, including a 56-yard touchdown run with 1:59 left in the period to give UW-Oshkosh a 14-3 lead. Stern, who had 135 yards rushing at halftime, carried the football only twice in the second half.

In addition to Stern, the Titans also got 69 yards rushing from running back Andy Moriarty (Fr. • Mequon), 59 from running back Chris Kirch (Fr. • Lake Geneva), 54 from quarterback Nick Wara (Jr. • Oshkosh), 31 from full back Aaron Chaltry (Jr. • Peshtigo) and three from full back Ryan Steilen (So. • West Bend). UW-Oshkosh increased its lead to 20-3 on Chaltry's two-yard touchdown run with 5:01 left in the second quarter, 30-3 on Wara's 17-yard touchdown run with 31 seconds left in the third quarter and Steilen's one-yard touchdown run with 6:40 left in the game.

In the air, UW-Oshkosh totaled 115 yards as Wara completed eight of 17 passes for 115 yards and one touchdown. His six-yard touchdown pass to tight end Chad Lindsley (Sr. • Oconomowoc) with 8:57 left in the first quarter gave the Titans a 6-0 lead. Lindsley and wide receiver Mike Kinateder (So. • Waukesha) each caught two passes to lead UW-Oshkosh.

UW-Oshkosh's scoring was completed by Kinateder, who made all five extra-point kicks and a 33-yard field goal, with the latter giving UW-Oshkosh a 24-3 lead with 11:24 left in the third quarter. Kinateder missed three field goals in the game, including a 45-yard boot that was wide and a 51-yard effort that hit the crossbar.

Defensively, UW-Oshkosh was led by end Jason Boehlke (Jr. • Germantown), who registered three quarterback sacks and three other tackles for a loss among his eight takedowns. The first-year transfer from the University of Northern Iowa also knocked down two opposing passes. Linebacker Craig Korth (Jr. • Menasha) also had eight tackles in the contest, including two for a loss.

With Boehlke and Korth leading the way, Upper Iowa University was held to just 141 yards of offense. The Peacocks (0-1) totaled a negative-nine yards in the second half on 32 plays, including a negative-46 yards on three errant center snaps from punt formation in the third quarter.

Upper Iowa University rushed the football 47 times for 96 yards, with running back Berkedius Womack gaining a team-high 92 yards on seven attempts. Mike Morrissey, the first of three quarterbacks to play in the game for the Peacocks, competed eight of 16 passes for 37 yards. Upper Iowa University had 45 yards passing for the contest.

Upper Iowa University scored its only points of the game on place-kicker Heath Zuck's 23-yard field goal with 2:19 left in the first quarter.

The Peacocks were led defensively by Calvin Jones and Josh Thomas who totaled a game-best nine tackles each.

UW-Oshkosh, which compiled a 23-9 advantage in first downs, played on a short field throughout the contest as its average starting field position was its own 49-yard line. Upper Iowa University had an average starting field position of its own 28-yard line.

Since a last-second 21-20 victory over UW-Whitewater to end the 2002 season, the attitude, commitment and off-season work ethic of the nearly 70 returning members of the 2003 UW-Oshkosh football team has been striking and unmistakable.

Now, with the addition of a talented group of first-year players and a schedule that includes a school-record seven home games, fourth-year head coach Phil Meyer and his UW-Oshkosh Titans look to improve their won-lost ledger for a third consecutive season.

UW-Oshkosh, despite a 4-6 overall record (2-5 WIAC), is coming off a productive 2002 season. The Titans were extremely competitive in nine of their 10 games, with the largest setback being a 24-3 count to UW-Stout. In addition to its late heroics against UW-Whitewater, UW-Oshkosh also topped UW-Platteville, 35-31, after scoring on its final possession of the game. The Titans were denied an opportunity to win four other contests when their last offensive drive stalled in losses of 24-20 to Wartburg College, 12-10 to both UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stevens Point and 13-12 to UW-River Falls.

Statistically in 2002, UW-Oshkosh averaged 303 yards per game while surrendering an average of 305. The Titans' defensive yield placed them third in the WIAC, UW-Oshkosh's highest overall ranking since 1977 when they also listed third.

UW-Oshkosh returns 32 lettermen for its 109th football season, including seven starters on both sides of the line of scrimmage. A total of 20 lettermen are gone from last year's team.

Returning starters on offense for the Titans are junior Chad Lindsley (29 career starts) at tight end, junior Jesse Turkow (10 career starts) at left tackle, junior Pat Hughes (10 career starts) at left guard, sophomore Mike Basch (8 career starts) at right guard, sophomore Andrew Stern (5 career starts) at running back, junior Aaron Chaltry (5 career starts) at fullback and junior Nick Wara (10 career starts) at quarterback. Lindsley was an All-WIAC second team selection last season, while Wara gained honorable mention recognition.

Wara (Oshkosh), who was promoted to starting quarterback last season after one year as an understudy, capitalized on his playing opportunity of a year ago and returns as the key performer in UW-Oshkosh's offense. Wara completed 156 of his 291 passes for 1,696 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2002 while adding 377 yards and two scores rushing. In UW-Oshkosh's win over UW-Whitewater in the 2002 finale, Wara completed a school-record 37 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw for a career-best 334 yards on 23 pass completions in the Titans' victory over UW-Platteville. Sophomore Mike Budziszewski (Greenfield) also returns to add depth at quarterback after completing nine of 26 passes for 117 yards and one touchdown.

Expected to join Wara in the backfield are Stern (Wisconsin Rapids) and Chaltry (Peshtigo). Stern proved himself very capable of carrying the football last season after rushing for a team-leading 452 yards and one touchdown. Among his rushing performances were 103 yards against UW-River Falls, 93 against UW-La Crosse and 92 against UW-Stevens Point. Chaltry, primarily a blocking back, rushed for 24 yards last year while catching four passes for 104 yards and one touchdown. Also back is sophomore Antjuan Taylor (Milwaukee) who rushed for 46 yards in 2002.

UW-Oshkosh's receiving corps undergoes a complete overhaul this fall as the top-three passing targets from a year ago are gone to graduation. Absent this season are Steve Wagner, Kris Johnson and Jeremy James who caught 55 passes for 733 yards and six touchdowns, 29 passes for 321 yards and two touchdowns and 22 passes for 246 yards last year, respectively. Wagner was an All-WIAC second team selection the past two seasons. Johnson also served as the Titans' punter, averaging 35.8 yards per kick. Lindsley (Oconomowoc) is the top returning pass catcher for the Titans after grabbing 15 aerials for 153 yards and three touchdowns last season, including six for 74 yards and a touchdown against UW-La Crosse. Stern also caught 12 passes for 108 yards out of the backfield last season, while senior wide receiver Nic Sydorowicz (Neillsville) grabbed 10 passes for 69 yards. Other wide receivers back are sophomores Mike Kinateder (Waukesha) and Justin Heinkel (Schofield) , who caught five passes for 22 yards and two passes for 12 yards last year, respectively.

UW-Oshkosh's play in the offensive line last season was consistent throughout the year as four of the five positions had the same starter in at least nine of the 10 games played. Three of those five starters in the trenches return in the likes of Turkow (Appleton), Hughes (Oshkosh) and Basch (Menomonee Falls).

Starters returning for UW-Oshkosh on defense are sophomore Mike Arendt (4 career starts) at tackle, junior Dustin Drexel (18 career starts) at tackle, junior Craig Korth (10 career starts) at linebacker, junior Tom Turner (11 career starts) at linebacker, senior Noah Paquin (21 career starts) at cornerback and senior Jon Thomas (6 career starts) at cornerback. Korth was an All-WIAC second team choice a year ago, while Bielmeier and Drexel received honorable mention recognition.

UW-Oshkosh's defensive strength could be up front, where Arendt (Port Washington) and Drexel (Campbellsport) both return as starters. Drexel totaled 35 last season and Arendt 17. Looking to fill the vacancy left by graduated end Justin Schneider, a 2002 All-WIAC first team pick who totaled 58 tackles and six quarterback sacks, are sophomores Ryan DeMars (Nekoosa), Rob Fett (Appleton), Jason Hartwig (Port Washington), Mark Meisel (Hartland) and Ryan Steilen (West Bend) and junior Andy Matter (West Allis). In 2002, DeMars registered 11 tackles, Fett seven, Meisel six and Steilen four. Matter missed the 2002 season due to an injury, but started a pair of games for the Titans in 2000.

With the return of starters Korth (Menasha) and Turner (Westfield), UW-Oshkosh should again be strong at the linebacker position. Korth ranked second on the team with 68 tackles last season, while Turner totaled 51, including 13 solo tackles against UW-Whitewater. Korth also had 11 tackles for a loss a year ago. Expecting to compete for the lone available linebacker position are sophomores Joe Gabriel (Big Bend), Andy Mahn (Oak Creek) and Shane Schutz (West Bend) and junior Dan Mulqueen (Milwaukee). Mulqueen started two games in 2002 and six contests in 2001, combining for 65 tackles and 11 tackles for a loss during those seasons. Last year, Mahn had five tackles, Schutz four and Gabriel three.

UW-Oshkosh's defensive secondary bemoans the loss of safeties Nick Carlson to graduation and Nick Kilton to an injury. Carlson received All-WIAC first team honors last fall after compiling a team-leading 85 tackles, including five for a loss. Carlson also intercepted four passes last season, with three returned for touchdowns, and brought back one punt (28 yards) for a touchdown. Due to a slow recovery of an injury suffered in the 2002 finale against UW-Whitewater, Kilton will have to miss the 2003 season in hope of making a full return for the Titans in 2004. He was an All-WIAC honorable mention selection a year ago as an all-purpose performer after scoring four touchdowns rushing, intercepting two passes, averaging 23.6 yards per kick-off return and recording 37 tackles.

Returning in the defensive backfield are starting cornerbacks Thomas (Madison) and Paquin (Oak Creek). Thomas had 36 tackles and two fumble recoveries last year, while Paquin had 21 tackles. Also back in the secondary is senior Zachary Harrod (Genoa City) and sophomores Jacob Malzahn (Kenosha) and Ryan Slowik (Green Bay). Slowik made two starts for UW-Oshkosh last year when he compiled 30 tackles. Malzahn recorded 22 tackles and one pass interception last season, while Harrod had two tackles.

Also gone for UW-Oshkosh this season is placekicker Ryan Fitzgerald, who elected not to return to school. Fitzgerald scored 35 points last year on 25 extra points and five field goals. The Titans will also have to replace Johnson who was the punter the past three seasons.

And, if the previous high-water mark for home games in a season is any indication, UW-Oshkosh will not only improve its won-lost record, but also challenge for its first winning campaign since 1988.

UW-Oshkosh's previous record for home games in a season was six, a mark counted four times. The Titans used those six home games to help produce a 5-4-1 record in 1988, a 6-5 ranking in 1987, a 4-5-1 standing in 1985 and an 8-2 mark and a WIAC championship in 1972.

UW-Oshkosh's 10-game agenda in 2003, which also includes a school-record four straight home games, was partially designed by fourth-year head coach Phil Meyer to help raise the confidence level of his players. During Meyer's first-three seasons at the helm, UW-Oshkosh played a total of 13 home games, but the last two of the 2002 season may be the most memorable as they resulted in last-second victories of 35-31 over UW-Platteville and 21-20 over UW-Whitewater.

UW-Oshkosh, 4-6 in 2002, ushers in its 109th football season with a flourish of home games, beginning with non-conference contests against Upper Iowa University, Concordia University and Lakeland College and concluding with a WIAC encounter against UW-Stout. Upper Iowa University of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) is making its debut on UW-Oshkosh's schedule, while Concordia University and Lakeland College, both of the Illini-Badger Conference (IBC), are second-time opponents.

UW-Oshkosh's 2003 season kicks off on Sept. 6 when Upper Iowa University visits Titan Stadium under the guidance of first-year head coach Courtney Messingham. Upper Iowa University officially becomes a NCAA Division II provisional member on Sept. 1, thus, ending 82 years as a charter member of the NCAA Division III IIAC. The Peacocks, 2-8 a year ago will play their regular IIAC schedule in 2003, but will not compete for the league championship due to the NCAA Division II status of the school's athletics teams. UW-Oshkosh has won 20 of its last 22 season openers, with setbacks in 2001 and 2002 coming to Wartburg College of the IIAC.

With their 2003 baptismal behind them, the Titans remain at home on subsequent Saturdays to host Concordia University on Sept. 13 and Lakeland College on Sept. 20. Last year, UW-Oshkosh defeated Concordia University, 35-25, and Lakeland College, 33-14. Concordia University posted an 8-2 record last season, while Lakeland College went 6-4.

Following an open date on Sept. 27, UW-Oshkosh closes its rare four-game homestand on Oct. 4 by hosting WIAC pre-season favorite UW-Stout in the league opener for both teams. The Blue Devils not only return all 11 offensive starters from last season, but also six starters from a league-leading defense.

UW-Oshkosh's first excursion of the season is Oct. 11 when the Titans travel to UW-Platteville. That contest is followed by an Oct. 18 contest at defending WIAC champion UW-La Crosse. UW-Oshkosh']s remaining road game of the 2003 season is Nov. 8 at UW-Whitewater.

UW-Oshkosh's Homecoming opponent on Oct. 25 is popular enemy UW-Stevens Point. The contest will be the 101st between the two combatants, with UW-Stevens Point holding a 53-39-8 advantage in the all-time series. UW-Stevens Point, the Titans' most common opponent, last appeared as UW-Oshkosh]s Homecoming opponent in 1989.

Then, down the stretch, the Titans also find themselves with home field advantage as sandwiched around their road contest at UW-Whitewater are home games against UW-River Falls on Nov. 1 and UW-Eau Claire in the season finale on Nov. 15.

With exception of the Titans' Sept. 20 game against Lakeland College, which has a 6 p.m. start, every UW-Oshkosh home football game begins at 1 p.m.