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OSHKOSH – The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team made a strong push in the third quarter and early in the fourth to draw within a field goal Saturday afternoon but was unable to complete the comeback effort in a 37-20 setback at third-ranked UW-Oshkosh in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener for both teams at J.J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium.
The Warhawks (1-3 overall, 0-1 WIAC), who dropped their first conference opening game since the 2001 season, rallied from 23-7 down to within three with 10:49 left in the contest.
Junior running back
Drew Patterson (Sussex, Wis./Hamilton) completed a five-play, 94-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run at the 4:00 mark of the third quarter to bring the team within 10. The score was set up by a 62-yard catch-and-run by junior wide receiver
Jarrod Ware (Bradley, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) on the first play of the drive.
On the next drive, the Titans (3-0, 1-0) drove inside UW-Whitewater's 5-yard line, but junior linebacker
Bryce Leszczynski (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) stripped Dylan Hecker at the 1-yard line, and sophomore linebacker
Jacob Erbs (Reedsburg, Wis./Reedsburg) recovered in the end zone.
From there, the Warhawks converted on a 31-yard pass to senior tight end
Jack Deichl (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville), a 15-yard pass to senior wide receiver
Marcus Hudson (Delavan, Wis./Delavan-Darien) and a 40-yard run by Patterson to set up a 1-yard touchdown plunge by senior tight end
Tony Gumina (Sussex, Wis./Hamilton) on third-and-goal.
UW-Oshkosh took the momentum right back with a quick strike, and two interceptions helped the Titans seal their win.
Patterson finished with 23 carries for 147 yards and one touchdown. Hudson tallied 78 all-purpose yards, including a 53-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback
Cole Wilber (Dana Point, Calif./Dana Hills) down the sideline early in the third quarter.
Wilber passed for 226 yards, and Ware finished with 77 receiving yards.
Leszczynski led the defense with 14 tackles, and Erbs finished with 10, including one for a loss. Junior defensive lineman
Harry Henschler (Janesville, Wis./Craig) posted UW-Whitewater's lone sack in the affair.
The Titans held the ball for nearly 40 minutes of the game and converted 11-of-16 on third down.
The Warhawks play their 2017 home opener next Saturday, Oct. 7, against No. 22 UW-Stout. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. at Perkins Stadium.
