Issued: September 28, 2002

FOOTBALL SLUGS OUT WIN OVER OSHKOSH

EAU CLAIRE - With both teams unable to muster any consistent offense, the UW-Eau Claire football team led by a suffocating defense took the air out of the UW-Oshkosh offense en route to a 12-10 victory here today at Carson Park.

The wins improves the Blugolds to 3-1 overall and evens the WIAC record to 1-1. The Titans fall to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

The defense responded in a big way after last week's setback by holding the Titans to 235 yards of total offense. Five different Blugold recorded sacks in addition to forcing three Titan turnovers.

Dan Larson (Sr.-Baldwin/Baldwin-Woodville) led the defensive charge with 10 total tackles, five solo. Derek Sikora (Fr.-Neillsville) totaled eight tackles, six solo and Nick Goeser (Sr.-Iola/Iola-Scandinavia) assisted five tackles to finish with seven.

After a Titan field goal at 8:40 of the first quarter gave Oshkosh a 3-0 lead, both teams remained scoreless until Nick Diciaula (Jr.-Brookfield/Central) kicked a 21-yard field goal with two minutes remaining in the first half to tie the score at 3-3.

The Blugolds grabbed their first lead in the third quarter when Jeremy Darnell (Fr.-Withee/Owen-Withee) connected with Erik Ferguson (Jr.-Eyota, MN/Eyota-Dover) on a 20-yard touchdown pass to move the Blugolds ahead 9-7.

On the next Blugold possession the Titans tipped a Darnell pass on first down that was intercepted by Nick Carlson and returned for a 35-yard touchdown return giving the Titans a 10-9 lead.

After the next five possessions ended in punts, the Titans were driving until Austin Crow (Jr.-Woodbury, MN) forced a quarterback Nick Wara to fumble and Andrew Jones (Fr.-Wild Rose) recovered the ball on the Titan 42-yard line.

The Blugolds went 32 yards on 12 plays taking 4:09 off the clock setting up the game-winning 27-yard field goal from Diciaula off the right hash mark that sailed inside the left upright.

The Titans had two chances to take the lead in the game's final 3:46 but missed a 42-yard field goal with 2:23 and threw a desperation interception as time expired.

Darnell ended the game 16-of-29 for 143 yards with a touchdown and one interception. Joe Gast (Fr.-Wauconia, MN) gained 52 yards on the ground while Jason Foemmel (Sr.-Marshfield) caught six passes for 48 yards.

The Blugolds finish their non-conference schedule next weekend when they travel to St. Paul, Minnesota to take on the Bethel Royals for a 1:00 P.M. game.