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Graboski's
Overtime Field Goal Gives Pointers Win
Box Score
UW-Stevens Point and UW-Oshkosh have met 104 times
on the gridiron, but few have been as dramatic as Saturday�s latest edition
at Goerke Field in Stevens Point.
Ryan Graboski kicked a game-winning 32-yard field
goal in overtime and Lincoln Berg had two forced fumbles that were both
returned for touchdowns as the Pointers pulled out a 27-24 decision, marking
the seventh consecutive year the rivalry has been decided by less than a
touchdown.
In fact, UW-Oshkosh appeared to have the game won
in regulation when cornerback Bryan Kent stepped in front of a Pointers�
receiver and looked to have returned his second clutch interception of the
game 38 yards for a winning touchdown with 13 seconds left. However, Kent
was called for pass interference to nullify the score and send the game to
overtime. Pointers� quarterback Brett Borchart was injured on the play as
both teams� backup quarterbacks finished the game.
In overtime, UW-Oshkosh had two short rushing
plays and then Dieter Juedes� pass was intercepted by Kasey Morgan at the
three-yard line. UW-Stevens Point tight end Adam Spoehr caught his first
pass of the game on a third-and-11 play from the 26-yard line and carried
tacklers for six yards to within a foot of the first down. Graboski, a
sophomore, then drilled the game-winner for just his fourth career field
goal and first from longer than 25 yards.
UW-Oshkosh jumped out to a 14-0 lead, using a
99-yard drive on its first possession that was capped by the first of three
one-yard touchdown runs by Tyler Jandrin. The Titans� fullback finished off
another 16-play, 73-yard drive early in the second quarter on UW-Oshkosh�s
fourth attempt to score from the one-yard line.
UW-Stevens Point came back with a 25-yard field
goal by Graboski and then Berg had the first of his two big plays. In
perhaps the turning point of the contest, the Pointers� senior linebacker
came behind Titans� quarterback Joe Patek on a blitz and simply stole the
ball away from behind and sprinted 25 yards for the score.
The Pointers took a 17-14 lead into halftime as
Borchart connected with Jacob Dickert on a fade pattern in the corner of the
endzone from four yards out on a third-and-goal play with 1:31 left in the
half.
After the Titans tied the game on a 20-yard field
goal by Lucas Raschke, Berg struck again for the Pointers with another
blindside blitz on Juedes. Berg, who also had a game-high 13 tackles, hit
Juedes from behind to force the ball loose. Brandon Czys scooped up the
fumble and rambled eight yards for a go-ahead score.
UW-Oshkosh tied the game at 24-24 on another
one-yard score by Jandrin with 8:21 left in the game. Both teams traded
punts and the Pointers drove to the Titans� 32-yard line where Kent picked
off a tipped pass and returned it 43 yards to the Pointers� 35-yard line
with 3:05 left.
UW-Oshkosh was stopped on three rushing plays and
Raschke had a 48-yard field goal attempt sail wide right with 35 seconds
left. Instead of playing for overtime, UW-Stevens Point played for the win
and it nearly backfired on Kent�s apparent interception return.
UW-Stevens Point managed just 24 yards rushing on
19 carries as the Titans outgained the Pointers 395-238, including 183-11 in
the first quarter. Dickert had nearly half of the Pointers� offensive yards
with 12 catches for 113 yards.
Tight end Kyle Kubasa had seven catches for 88
yards for the Titans as Patek was 11-for-15 for 192 yards passing before his
third quarter injury. Steve Stoltz had three catches for 96 yards � all in
the first quarter.
The win snapped a six-game losing streak on
homecoming for the Pointers and put them at 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the
Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. UW-Oshkosh is 4-4 overall and
2-3 in the conference. |
