OSHKOSH – Luke Cool made a 24-yard field goal as time expired to lift Stout to a 45-42 win over No. 13 UW-Oshkosh Saturday afternoon at J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium
Cool's walk off winner, helped Stout avoid a fourth quarter comeback by the Titans, which saw Oshkosh score 21 unanswered points to tie the game at 42 with six and half minutes to play in regulation. With the win, Stout (6-3, 4-2) moved into a three-way tie for second place in the WIAC standings, just a game back of UW-Platteville. The Blue Devils also secured their first winning season since the 2017 season.
Oshkosh scored on the first possession of the game, going 60 yards in 11 plays to take and early 7-0 lead.The ensuing kickoff went out of bounds and aided but a personal foul penalty, Stout started their first offensive drive at midfield. Two catches by
Tucker Haakonson set up Stout inside the five and
Adam Moen tied the game at seven with a three-yard touchdown run.
Hunter Scafe pounced on a loose ball on the Titans next drive to set Stout up at the Titans 49. The Blue Devils capitalized on the turnover and scored on an eight -play drive, capped off by a two-yard
Ben Tolkinen touchdown run.
But the lead was short lived, as Oshkosh scored on their next play, a 62-yard touchdown pass to tie the game up at 14 with two seconds left in the first quarter.
The Blue Devil offense responded with their third touchdown in as many possessions. Going 71 yards in 12 plays. Moen found
Patrick Corcoran on the left sideline for a seven-yard touchdown.
After a couple of Titan punts, Stout doubled their lead. Moen ran in from eight yards out for his second touchdown of the half to give Stout a 28-14 halftime lead.
Stout extended their lead to three scores on their first drive of the second half. Moen found Haakonson for a 34-yard touchdown to give Stout a 35-14 lead.
Oshkosh responded with a 10-play 84-yard touchdown dive to pull within two scored midway through the third quarter. Stout responded with their own 10-play 85-yard drive. Moen connected with Corcoran a second time for a 23-yard touchdown to regain the three-score lead at 42-21 with 3:17 left in the third quarter.
Oshkosh then went 91 yards in nine plays, and on the second play of the fourth quarter scored on a 16-yard catch to get within 14 at 42-28.
Corcoran had a 46-yard kickoff return to give Stout good field position, but the drive stalled, and Stout's punt was blocked, and Oshkosh took over at midfield. The Titans cashed in on the momentum shift, scoring four plays later to climb within a score at 42-35.
Stout's next drive stalled out, and Oshkosh used another quick drive to tie the game at 42 with 6:27 left to play. The Blue Devils fumbled the ensuing kickoff. But the defense held, and the Titans missed at 34-yard field goal attempt to give Stout the ball back with 3:15 left in regulation.
The Blue Devils traveled 74 yards in 13 plays. Stout had two key third down conversions to keep the drive alive. Moen found
Carter Zezulka on a third and four for 17 yards and then connected with Corcoran for 10 yards on a third and ten. Stout almost scored, but Haakonson was interfered with in the end zone and Stout had first and goal at the two-yard line. Moen nearly ended the game himself, but the Titans held firm stopping him at the one.
The Blue Devils called timeout and Cool came on to attempt the winner. Cool made his first attempt but Stout was called for a false start. Cool's second attempt was nearly blocked but had enough to go through the uprights for his school record 19
th field goal of the season.
Moen finished 27 of 39 for a career-high 352 yards and three touchdowns. He ran for 83 yards and two more scores.
Tucker Haakonson caught eight passes for128 yards and score and Corcoran made seven catches for 92 yards and two scores.
Brooks Brewer led the Blue Devil defense with 12 tackles.
Gavin Goodman and
Braxton Munnikhuysen each made nine tackles.
UP NEXT
The Blue Devils will host UW-Platteville on Saturday, Nov. 16. Kick-off from Williams stadium is set for 1:05 p.m. With a win, Stout would claim a share of the WIAC Championship, their first since 2000.
