UWO ready for 3rd ranked Linfield

OSHKOSH - The 5th ranked UW-Oshkosh football team will take on 3rd ranked Linfield in the NCAA Division III quarterfinals on Saturday.

Linfield is one of the dominate Division III programs on the West Coast. They've recorded 53 consecutive winning seasons, won a national title, and won 25 consecutive home games.

Despite carrying a 14 game winning streak, the nation’s longest, according to head coach Pat Cerroni, the Titans are approaching the game as underdogs.

"We've got the chip on our shoulder again," said Cerroni. "We're not picked to win, we're not supposed to do anything and really this team thrives on that."

The Wildcats lead Division III in sacks with 60 this season including 19 1/2 by Brynnan Hyland. UWO plans to counter that defensive prowess by taking the game to Linfield.

"Limit that speed by running right at them and let our big o-line just lock up on them," Cerroni said. "We won't get up on the edge on this team so we're going to have to attack them and we're pretty good at that."

Quarterback Nate Wara added, "They mix it up. They've got some great guys on the d-line and the linebackers. They're fast they can move. They've got some good moves. We just need to be able to handle those moves."

Wara went on to say, "We have an idea what they're going to throw at us and we've had a lot of different things thrown at us this season. I’m sure we'll see something like that again. We just have to do what we do and execute our plays."

Coach Cerroni said earlier this postseason that the Titans offense was designed with the postseason in mind. UWO utilizes multiple schemes which can be difficult to prepare for in a short week.

Running back Cole Myhra leads Cerroni's team in rushing this season with over eleven-hundred yards and twelve touchdowns. He talked about those multiple looks. 

"I think we run a lot of different offenses we can spread it out and then we can go in and run the option offense that Coach O'Grady has and I think we can cause them some real problems," said Myhra.

Besides winning the one-on-one matchups across the line, Myhra said that holding onto the football will be the key offensively.

"Turnovers I'd say. They've got 12 turnovers in the first two playoff games," Myhra said. "If we can hold onto the ball leave our defense up to what they do I think we'll be in it."

When the Wildcats have the football, they'll likely put it in the air. Linfield quarterback Mickey Inns threw for over 3,000 yards and 29 touchdowns this season.

Tim Filter will be one of the players charged with stopping that passing attack. Filter led the UWO with 8 interceptions this year, but he said it's not so much the turnovers but limiting big plays that will make a difference.

"Honestly I think it's just rallying to the ball, making tackles as soon as they catch it," Filer said. "They're going to get their catches they're going to get their yards, it's just that type of offense ya know we've just got to fly to the ball and make tackles on the spot."

While Linfield is adept at moving the ball through the air, they haven't had the same success consistently on the ground.

"They can throw the ball all over the park but run game wise we're real confident in what we can do to this team. That doesn't mean we're going to win but it means we know we can play with this team 100 percent."

UW-Oshkosh and Linfield is set for a 2 p.m. kick on Saturday at Linfield.