Box Score

OSHKOSH, Wis. – No. 4/5 Wisconsin-Oshkosh rushed for 332 yards, including 255 yards in the second half, in a 31-14 win over No. 9 Saint John's in the second round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 26.

Oshkosh racked up 430 yards of offense. But 224 of the 332 rushing yards came on four plays (108 yards on the other 33 carries, a 3.3 average per carry). The Titans entered the game ranked seventh in Division III with an average of 278.3 rushing yards per game, against SJU's second-ranked rush defense (63.1 ypg.).

Down 17-14 with momentum on 4th-and-inches from the Titans' 27-yard line, SJU (10-2, 7-1 MIAC) suffered a turnover on downs when junior running back Dusty Krueger (Lake Elmo, Minn./Hill-Murray) was dropped for a one-yard loss. Devon Linzenmeyer sprinted for a 72-yard touchdown on the Titans' second play of the ensuing drive, 51 seconds into the fourth quarter.

Dylan Hecker ended the scoring for Oshkosh (11-1, 6-1 WIAC) on a 20-yard touchdown run with 2:32 remaining. He ended the day with 198 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries. Linzenmeyer gained zero yards on his other six carries and finished with 72 yards on seven attempts.

Krueger rushed for 119 yards on 26 carries, the Johnnies' first 100-yard rushing performance in a postseason game away from Collegeville since Blake Elliott's 110-yard performance in the 2003 national-championship game.

Aided by a 45-yard run on first down following an SJU interception, Oshkosh found the scoreboard first with a three-yard touchdown run by Dylan Hecker with 7:48 left in the second quarter.

The Johnnies answered with an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive that ended on a 3-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Jackson Erdmann (Rosemount, Minn.) to senior running back Zack Sundly (Harris, Minn./North Branch) with 2:28 remaining in the first half.

A pass-interference penalty on the ensuing drive gave the Titans a 1st-and-goal from the 9-yard line, but the Johnnies' defense held strong and forced a 26-yard field goal attempt to give the home team a 10-7 lead with 32 seconds left until the break.

A 57-yard run by Dylan Hecker on the Titans' second offensive play of the second half set up Oshkosh's second touchdown of the day, a 16-yard scamper from Hecker on fourth-and-three 3:35 into the third quarter.

An interception and 16-yard return to the Oshkosh 16-yard line from senior linebacker Carter Hanson (Blue Earth, Minn.) set up the Johnnies' next score, another 3-yard touchdown pass from Erdmann to Sundly four plays later. The extra point from senior kicker Alexi Johnson (Shakopee, Minn.) cut SJU's deficit to 17-14 with 5:33 left in the third quarter.

The Johnnies forced a three-and-out and marched 43 yards on seven plays before Krueger was stuffed on 4th-and-short in Titan territory.

Erdmann ended the day seven of 15 passing for 44 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed for 33 yards on nine attempts. His favorite target, Sundly, caught six passes for 38 yards and the two scores.