Box Score



The Falcon football team dropped its WIAC opener as the No. 19 ranked Oshkosh Titans came to town and spoiled Homecoming weekend with a 19-7 victory.

Oshkosh improves to 4-0 winning its sixth consecutive game away from home, while River Falls drops to 0-4 as both teams opened WIAC play on Saturday.
 
Oshkosh entered Saturday with the fifth best offense in the nation, but were held to just 19 points and 374 yards. It was the lowest offensive output of the season for the Titans as the Falcons defense contained their explosiveness, as they have been averaging more than 555 yards per game.
 
The defense played well enough to win, but the offense struggled to put points on the board. The Falcons were held to single-digits scoring for the third consecutive week – the first time such a streak has existed since 2006.
 
Quarterback Ryan Kusilek prevented the Falcons from being shutout for the first time since 2008 as he found wide receiver Matt Woller in the end zone with three minutes remaining. It was Woller's only catch of the game and his first career touchdown as a Falcon.
 
The Falcons had opportunity early with the defense keeping the game close. Just three plays into the game, River Falls lost a fumble handing the ball over to the Titans at the Falcon 18. The defense made their first big stop of the day, holding Oshkosh to a field goal to fall behind 3-0.  Working with a shortened field again, Oshkosh started at the River Falls 41 for its second drive before settling for another field goal, grabbing a quick 6-0 lead.
 
Trailing 6-0 early in the second quarter, the Falcons threatened to take the lead with a first-and-goal at the Titan six. Four consecutive runs fell short, including two from the one yard-line, turning the ball over on downs and ending the drive.
 
Moving the chains has been a struggle for the offense all season, converting just 22 percent and eight percent on third and fourth downs, respectively. On Saturday the Falcons were just 4-for-17 on third downs, including 1-of-7 in the first half.
 
However the Falcons put together their best ground game of the season, racking up 96 yards against the nations 12^th best run defense. John Schimenz tied a career-best with 85 yards rushing, while sophomore Jesse McKune set his career-high with 33 yards on the ground.
 
In the second half, the Falcons carried a few more drives deep into Oshkosh territory before costly mistakes ended each threat. Down 16-0, the Falcons moved the ball inside the red zone before a holding penalty pushed them back to the 34 forcing a punt. On the ensuing drive, the Falcons were set up with a first-and-ten at the 21 before a fumbled snap lost 14 yards, killing the drive and resulting in another punt.
 
Sophomore punter Will Jensen did his job placing each of these punts inside the two-yard-line. Jensen had three punts inside the 20 on the day, including a career-best 70 yarder in the second quarter.
 
Linebacker David Scaro led the defense with a career-best 13 tackles, including two behind the line and his first sack of the season.  Linebacker Jacob Mandoza also had a sack, his second of 2012, while recording six tackles. Safety Alex Adams leads the WIAC in passes defended and knocked away two more while making seven stops.
 
Up next the Falcons travel to Whitewater to face the three-time defending National Champion Warhawks.  Kickoff is at 2 p.m., at Warhawk Field.

Box Score