By Bryce Meade, UWEC Sports Information
OSHKOSH, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire football team dropped a conference game to the UW-Oshkosh Titans on Saturday afternoon at J.J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium, 31-3.
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An errant snap led to a short punt on Oshkosh's opening drive, setting up Eau Claire with good field position on their first possession at their own 43-yard line. However, the Blugolds were unable to take advantage and punted away just three plays later.
Oshkosh took over and drove 77 yards to go up 6-0 early on a read option that quarterback Kobe Berghammer took in from seven yards out.
Keshaun Story (Fr. – Andover, MN/Centennial) returned the ensuing kickoff 44 yards to once again give Eau Claire favorable field position. The Blugolds marched quickly down the field and found themselves in a first-and-goal from the three-yard line. A sack on first down and a pair of short completions led to a 22-yard field goal from Edgar Ficke-Anderson (So. Walker, MN/Walker Hackensack Akeley) to make the score 6-3 with 3:42 remaining in the opening quarter.
The Titans increased their lead to 8-3 when a fourth-down snap went over Ficke-Anderson's head and out of the endzone for a safety early in the second quarter.
After another Blugold punt, Oshkosh once again put up points on a long drive. Berghammer ran for his second touchdown of the day, capping off a 66-yard drive which put the Titans up 15-3. Neither team threatened offensively for the remaining six minutes of play in the first half.
The Blugolds had an opportunity to cut into the lead on their first second-half possession, as they drove deep into Titan territory, but came up empty after a turnover on downs handed the ball to Oshkosh.
Another methodical Titan drive spanned 57 yards and chewed up over five minutes of clock, ending with a field goal to extend the lead to 18-3 with 4:12 left in the third quarter. Each team traded punts near the end of the quarter, which ended with Oshkosh holding onto a 15-point lead.
The Titans ran for a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to put the Blugolds away, 31-3.
Austin Belot (Jr. – Neenah) topped 100 yards for the fifth time in six games this season, totaling 102 yards on 21 carries. Will Adair (So. – Ashwaubenon) matched a career-high with four receptions and set a career-high with 37 receiving yards.
Victor Martinelli (Jr. – Milton) tallied nine tackles and one tackle for loss. Alex Mashak (Jr. – Lodi) recorded six tackles and 1.5 sacks.
The Blugolds are 3-3 (1-2 WIAC) on the season following the loss, and will host the 4-1 (1-1 WIAC) UW-Platteville Pioneers next Saturday at 1:10 PM. Follow the action on Blugold Game Day or on the 'UWEC Blugolds' app from your mobile device.
