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Pointers Outlast
Titans and Weather in Overtime
Box Score
In a game that featured one dramatic play after
another, it was UW-Stevens Point�s Chase Kostichka that had the play to end
a long day at Goerke Field in the Pointers� 22-16 overtime victory over
UW-Oshkosh.
UW-Stevens Point scored on the first possession of
overtime when Brett Borchart hit Tony Romano on a short slant pattern on a
third-and-four play. The senior wide receiver weaved through the Titans�
defense for a 19-yard touchdown, but the extra point missed and gave
UW-Oshkosh an opportunity.
The Titans gained one yard on their first two
plays and on third-and-nine, quarterback Nick Wara was pressured and forced
to heave a pass toward the endzone that Kostichka picked off at the one-yard
line to end the game.
In addition to overtime, the day was made longer
when, with 4:13 left in the first quarter and UW-Stevens Point holding a 3-0
lead, the game was delayed 37 minutes as a severe thunderstorm roared over
the stadium. Lightning and heavy rains forced the teams to the locker rooms
and made the field slick for the remainder of the contest.
UW-Stevens Point expanded the lead to 10-0 with
10:09 left in the second quarter when Borchart leaped into the endzone from
four yards out to cap a 10-play, 64-yard drive.
UW-Oshkosh totaled just 81 yards in the first
half, but got its offense on track on the opening drive of the second half,
traveling 64 yards in six plays and scoring on a 17-yard pass across the
middle from Wara to Joe Patek.
The Titans� defense also stood tough, forcing
UW-Stevens Point to punt on all four third quarter possessions. After a punt
with 1:54 left in the quarter gave the Titans the ball on the Pointers�
42-yard line, Wara went deep to Chad LaLuzerne, who made a diving catch in
the endzone. UW-Oshkosh missed the extra point to hold a 13-10 lead.
The Pointers were stopped on downs at the
UW-Oshkosh 15-yard line early in the fourth quarter and forced to punt on
their next two drives. However, after holding UW-Oshkosh to a three-and-out
with 3:47 left, the Pointers drove 63 yards in eight plays and scored with
2:27 left when Borchart bootlegged untouched into the endzone from one yard
out on second down. The Titans blocked the extra point to remain within
three points.
UW-Oshkosh rallied with another big play on first
down as Wara appeared to overthrow his intended receiver, but fullback Aaron
Chaltry raced down the right sideline and caught the pass in stride for a
60-yard gain to the 15-yard line. The Titans threw three straight incomplete
passes and Lucas Raschke nailed a 32-yard field goal into a driving wind and
rain with 1:31 left to tie the game.
UW-Stevens Point drove to the Titans� 39-yard line
with one minute left before UW-Oshkosh�s Bryan Kent made a diving
interception. The Titans moved the ball to the Pointers� 42-yard line with
four seconds left and a Hail Mary pass in the endzone was knocked down to
send the game to overtime.
UW-Stevens Point entered the game with the
fifth-ranked passing offense in the NCAA Division III, but Borchart was held
to 206 yards on 23 of 46 attempts. The Titans, on the other hand, typically
average 25 pass attempts per game, but Wara was 19-for-44 for 268 yards.
LaLuzerne caught six passes for 96 yards for the
Titans and Romano had 91 yards on five catches for the Pointers. Kurt
Kielblock had 76 yards on nine catches, including eight in the second half
for UW-Stevens Point. Cody Childs rushed for 89 yards on 18 carries as the
Pointers totaled 225 yards rushing. |
