UW-Stevens Point turned four giveaways into 24 points to come from behind and defeat the UW-Oshkosh football team, 41-17, on Saturday (Oct. 9) in Stevens Point.
The Pointers (3-2/1-1 WIAC) tallied 21 points in less than seven minutes during the second half to finish off the Titans (2-3/2-1 WIAC). In the opening 19 minutes of play, UW-Oshkosh took a 14-0 lead with the help of two takeaways. UW-Stevens Point capitalized on mistakes to dominate the rest of the way. This was just the second time in the last 11 meetings that the contest was decided by more than seven points.
The comeback began when Jared Jenkins booted a 60-yard punt to the UW-Oshkosh one-yard line. The Pointers' Curtis Krump then grabbed an interception and returned it 19 yards to the five-yard line. Jenkins finished what he started, booking a touchdown catch from there to cut the deficit in half midway through the second quarter.
UW-Stevens Point posted two long throws as it tallied twice in the final 3:25 of the opening half. Jake Swank found a double-covered Theo Maglio for 44 yards, setting up a 26-yard field goal by Jared Fohrman. On the Pointers' next possession, Jenkins got free for a 55-yard score that put his team up, 17-14, at intermission.
Each squad notched a long field goal in the third quarter. The Pointers turned a fumble into Fohrman's successful kick from 48 yards. UW-Oshkosh then utilized 14 snaps to move 54 yards into scoring position. With 8:06 on the clock, Andy Lindsay (Jr. • Howard) pounded a 41-yarder through the uprights to make it a 20-17 Pointer cushion.
Swank decided to go solo when UW-Stevens Point got the ball back. He ran for a gain of 13 before sprinting for 43 more yards on 3rd-and-8. Three plays later, Swank connected with Maglio for a six-yard touchdown pass and a 10-point lead.
The Pointers converted back-to-back giveaways by Nate Wara (So. • Oshkosh) to score 14 points and put the game away. Kyle Furhman ran in from one yard out to up the lead to 34-17 late in the third period. Just three minutes later, UW-Stevens Point cashed in a turnover on Anthony Aker's 16-yard touchdown catch to post the final score.
Wara didn't throw for a touchdown after recording 12 in the season's first four games. The Titans' 128 passing yards were a season-low, but they did manage to rush for 183 yards. Charlie Weissman (Jr. • Colgate) ran for 95 yards on 19 carries to help UW-Oshkosh possess the football for just under 30 minutes, a season-best.
An interception by Luke Bingen (Sr. • Hartford) set up the Titans' first score of the day. Wara and Paul Coburn (Sr. • Sussex) connected twice for a total of 26 yards. On the drive's sixth play, Wara found running room and took it into the end zone for the 22-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
Early in the second quarter, Aker picked up 22 yards on a reception before fumbling the football away. The Titans' Charlie Stueck (Jr. • Clintonville) recovered and set up his offense 49 yards from pay dirt. Garrie Fox (Jr. • Madison) did the majority of the damage, hauling in a 38-yard pass to reach the one-yard line. From two yards out, Weissman plunged in to make it 14-0 with 11:26 left in the half.
Swank connected on just 13 of his 32 throws, but four of those completions went for touchdowns. He piled up 228 yards, with 76 going to Aker, 66 to Maglio and 60 to Jenkins. Mike Griffin paced the Pointers' ground game with 68 yards on 20 attempts, while Swank tacked on 63 yards (eight carries). The defensive effort included four sacks and also featured 15 tackles by Krump, 13 from Peter Peterson and 10 via Skylar Stecker.
The Titans struggled on third down, achieving success three times in 16 attempts. Along with his 50 rushing yards, Wara found his target on 18-of-28 throws. Fox compiled 58 yards on his four grabs while Justin Budiac (Jr. • Mukwonago) topped the team with five receptions. On the defensive side, Logan Heyden (Sr. • Kenosha) racked up eight stops and Nick Jolin (So. • Three Lakes) five.
UW-Oshkosh plays its last nonconference game when it visits Lambuth University (Tenn.) on Oct. 16.