OSHKOSH, Wis. – The No. 1 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team lost for the first time since October 27, 2012, falling 10-7 at UW-Oshkosh in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest at J.J. Keller Field in Titan Stadium.
With the setback, the Warhawks' win streak, which had been the longest active run in all of college football, ends at 36 games. It is the sixth-longest win streak in NCAA Division III history.
UW-Whitewater (4-1 overall, 1-1 WIAC) was held to 221 yards of total offense in the affair, its lowest output since Nov. 9, 2013, in a 17-7 victory at UW-Stevens Point.
The Titans (4-1, 2-0) took the lead for good on a 41-yard field goal with 10:45 to play in the contest.
After back-to-back punts following the field goal, the Warhawks drove into UW-Oshkosh territory, keyed by a pair of third-and-long connections from junior quarterback Chris Nelson (Twin Lakes/Wilmot Union) to junior wide receiver Marcus Hudson (Delavan, Wis./Delavan-Darien).
A 44-yard field goal attempt by junior kicker Lake Bachar (Wheaton, IL/Wheaton North) was blocked with 1:59 to play. After UW-Whitewater used two of its timeouts, the Titans converted a third-and-two and ran out the clock.
Nelson finished 20-of-26 for 150 yards passing. Hudson, senior wide receiver Joe Worth (Hartford/Hartford Union) and sophomore tight end Tony Gumina (Sussex, Wis./Hamilton) caught six passes apiece.
RELATED: Box score from Wis.-Oshkosh's 10-7 win
Senior running back Jordan Ratliffe (Milwaukee/Milwaukee Vincent) tallied 19 carries for 76 yards, and freshman running back Jarrod Ware (Bradley, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) posted five carries for 30 yards.
Junior linebacker Paul Foster (Janesville/Craig) led the defense with 12 tackles. Sophomore linebackerMatt Seitz (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) registered five stops, including two for a loss, and senior linebackerJustin Dischler (Milwaukee/Pius XI) added nine tackles.
The game started with five straight punts before UW-Oshkosh struck with an 11-play, 87-yard drive capped by a touchdown with 12 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Warhawks tied it at 7-7 on the ensuing drive with 10:32 on the clock. Nelson completed six straight passes and, after an 11-yard run by Ratliffe to the half-yard line, Nelson snuck past the goal line over right guard.
On the next drive, senior defensive back Dylan Morang (Saint John, IN/Lake Central) made a leaping interception in UW-Whitewater territory to stunt a drive by the Titans.
UW-Oshkosh drove deep into Warhawks territory following a punt, but missed a 35-yard field goal just before the end of the first half.
UW-Whitewater turned back the Titans after a turnover deep in its own territory. The defense stuffed UW-Oshkosh's Dylan Hecker on fourth and three from the Warhawks' 16-yard line.
UW-Whitewater ended the third quarter with the ball, and drove into Titan territory early in the fourth before being forced to punt.
