Blugold Football Stumbles Against Nationally-Ranked Titans
OSHKOSH, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire football team had a tough time today, falling 50-13 to nationally-ranked UW-Oshkosh on J.J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium.
The Titans, who are ranked 18th in the American Football Coaches Association top 25 poll and 19th in the D3football.com top 25 poll, are off to a 5-0 start for the first time since 1968 while they are 2-0 in the conference. The Blugolds drop to 1-4 overall and 1-1 in WIAC play.
Oshkosh jumped out to a 26-0 lead by halftime. In the first half, the Blugolds punted four times while ending one drive on an interception, compiling just 127 yards of total offense (29 passing, 98 rushing). Oshkosh ended the half with 364 yards of total offense (243 rushing, 121 receiving) and had 21 first downs to seven for the Blugolds.
Despite being down by 26, the Blugolds started the second half with a touchdown on the opening drive. Austin Neu (Sr.-Iron Ridge, Wis./Hustisford) capped the eight-play, 75-yard drive with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Cody Gerver (So.-Mahtomedi, Minn.).
But on the next drive, Oshkosh drove 67 yards in five plays to the end zone to bring the margin back to 26 points. Oshkosh scored again on its next drive to take a 40-7 lead into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth, the Titans kicked a field goal to open the quarter and found their way to the end zone again late to build a 50-7 lead. On the final drive of the game, the Blugolds drove 70-yards in seven plays and Mark Munger (So.-Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial), who came in for Neu at quarterback on the final drive, ended the drive with a one-yard touchdown as time expired to make the final score 50-13.
The Titans finished with 637 yards of total offense, the most the Blugolds have given up since Oct. 14, 2000 in a game against UW-River Falls (788 yards allowed). Eau Claire had 298 yards of offense (147 passing, 151 receiving).
The 37-point margin of defeat is the largest all-time against the Titans while it is the 23rd largest margin in Blugold history. The last time the Blugolds gave up 50 or more points was in the contest against River Falls on Oct. 14, 2000.
Eau Claire will try to get back on track next Saturday when UW-La Crosse comes to Carson Park for a game that will be televised live on WQOW TV 18 in Eau Claire and WXOW T 19 in La Crosse. Kickoff is set for 11:30 a.m.
-KM-
