EAU CLAIRE, Wis.- UW-Eau Claire scored the first 28 points and did not allow a score until time expired in the fourth quarter on its way to a 28-7 win over UW-Oshkosh football at Carson Park on Saturday (Oct. 17).
Demir Ashiru (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) spoiled the shutout as time expired with a 2-yard pass to
Jackson Brush (Franktown, Colo./Legend).
The Titans (2-4, 0-3 WIAC) had not lost to the Blugolds (5-1, 2-1 WIAC) since a 20-14 decision in Eau Claire on Nov. 3, 2018, and had not lost by more than a touchdown since falling, 44-35, in Oshkosh on Oct. 31, 2009.
The 35 combined points were also the fewest scored in a game between the programs since Oshkosh won, 31-3, in Oshkosh on Oct. 19, 2019.
The Blugolds outgained Oshkosh both on the ground (236-118) and through the air (284-202) on just 66 plays, which was seven less than the Titans' total, and owning a nearly 5-minute deficit in time of possession.
Oshkosh was plagued by penalties through the game with 10 for 80 yards against the Blugolds' five for 50 yards.
Demir Ashiru (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) reached the 200 passing yards-mark for the sixth time this season, completing 22 of 39 attempts for one touchdown. He was sacked four times and threw one interception.
Ashiru was also the Titans' leading rusher, totaling 49 yards on 15 attempts.
Ben Vallafskey (Appleton/Appleton West) followed him with 13 attempts for 36 yards.
Jackson Brush (Franktown, Colo./Legend) posted his fifth game with at least 80 yards on Saturday by catching six passes for 83 yards and his first touchdown of the season.
The Titan defense recorded two interceptions in the first half.
Taye Derrico (Appleton/Appleton East) had the first and returned the ball to the Oshkosh 47-yard line and
Dayshawn Henry (Oshkosh/Oshkosh North) had the second with a return to the Titans' 32. The offense was stopped by a 3-and-out on Derrico's and the second quarter ran out of time before Oshkosh could tie the game on Henry's.
Kanaan Jewett (South Bend, Ind./Mishawaka) paced Oshkosh's tacklers with eight (five solo), while
Jacob Buck (Jackson/Kettle Moraine Lutheran) had six (three solo) and both
Jake Shutter (Plymouth/Plymouth) and
Ty Adams (Fort Dodge, Iowa/Fort Dodge) recorded five.
Bryce Manders (Brown Deer/Brown Deer) was busy behind the line all day, racking up four quarterback hurries to go with a quartet of tackles.
The Titans received the opening kickoff and marched down to the Blugolds' 26-yard line, but a pair a false starts pushed the line back to the 36 and a broken up pass forced
John Abernathy (Valdese, N.C./Draughn) to punt for the first of seven times.
The Blugolds scored on a 59-yard run late in the first quarter and held a 7-0 lead at halftime after forcing the Titans to punt four times and inducing a turnover on downs over the first two quarters.
Eau Claire added another rushing touchdown in the third quarter and scored on an 11-yard pass and a 30-yard run in the fourth to go up, 28-0, with 2:58 remaining in the final period.
The Titans took control of the ball at their 24-yard line after the kickoff and used a series of short passes and runs to creep their way downfield to Eau Claire's 7-yard line. After Ashiru spiked the ball to stop the clock, he got the line of scrimmage to the 2 with a 5-yard rush and then passed to Brush in the end zone to spoil the shutout.
Cooper Winslow (Montgomery, Ill./St. Francis) made the extra point attempt to bring the deficit to 28-7.
UW-Oshkosh is off to its first 0-3 start to conference play since 2002.
The Titans return to J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium next Saturday (Oct. 17) to host UW-Platteville (6-0, 3-0 WIAC), ranked fifth in the nation by
D3football.com and third by the
American Football Coaches Association, for their 101st homecoming. Oshkosh carries a 55-50-4 edge in the all-time series over the Pioneers into the matchup, including a 14-9-2 mark in homecoming contests.
Since the first homecoming on Oct. 22, 1921, incidentally against Platteville (a 27-7 win), Oshkosh has posted a 48-43-9 record and has won each of the last 13 games, starting with a 34-13 win over Platteville on Oct. 13, 2012.
