After taking the handoff from Lincoln quarterback Hengry Ogala (left), running Terry Hunter would bust into the end zone for a two-yard touchdown run during the second quarter of Saturday's game with Wisconsin-Oshkosh at Reed Stadium.

Loeffler's Link

Sept. 15, 2018

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. --- Momentum in sports can be as fickle as your ex-wife's mood.

Or your ex-husband's, ladies.

Momentum can also be as elusive as a mosquito in a tornado, so when you get it, cherish it like it's the last slice of pizza. Because it won't last long.

The Lincoln Blue Tigers had it three times Saturday, with great chances to put as many as 21 points on the board. Instead, they got zero.

As a result, the Blue Tigers will have to wait yet another season to achieve the program's first 2-1 start since 1980.

The Wisconsin-Oshkosh Titans scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to break open a 7-7 tie and secure a 17-7 win and spoil the Blue Tigers' season opener on a hot, steamy Saturday at Reed Stadium.

That 2-1 record, which most people would agree is a modest goal, is now at 38 years and counting. And the result irked Blue Tigers head coach Steve Smith.

Let's put it this way --- Smith didn't give the players hugs after the game.

"I got on them, because they didn't get beat because they weren't good enough, they didn't get beat because the other team was better," Smith said. "They got beat because we made too many crucial mistakes.

"I can't keep saying the same things over and over again, harping about the small things and being technically sound and being focused. And some guys just aren't getting it."

The first wasted chance proved to the biggest.

After the Titans (2-1) had taken a 7-0 lead on the first possession of the game, the Blue Tigers put together an impressive 15-play, 91-yard march, capped by Terry Hunter's 2-yard run midway through the second quarter to tie it 7-7.

After the ensuing kickoff, and on the Titans' second play from scrimmage, Chavon Gross forced a fumble that was recovered by JaJuan Chambers at the Oshkosh 17.

Here we go.

But a penalty against Lincoln and three plays later, a 35-yard field goal attempt by Fernando Ramirez was blocked.

There it went.

"We had a false start, then I called a timeout to calm them down because they were a little revved up," Smith said. "But we didn't capitalize, a (blocker) didn't take the right steps and we get it blocked ... again, it was the mistakes that cost us.

"It wasn't big things, it was the little things that cost us."

Late in the first half, the Blue Tigers moved it from their 15 to the Titans' 40, but that effort ended with an interception. Of the three, that one hurt the least.

To start the second half, the Titans tried an onside kick, but the Blue Tigers recovered at the 47 and promptly moved it to the Oshkosh 18. The next three plays lost seven yards, however, and the Ramirez's field goal atempt was once again blocked.

There it went ... again.

"The kicker just didn't kick the ball high enough, he kicked it too low," Smith said.

The Titans finally applied the knockout blow in the fourth quarter on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Radavich to Mitchell Gerend and a 34-yard field goal by Peyton Peterson.

Oshkosh is a Division III school and that alone, on the surface, seemed like a great chance for the Division II Blue Tigers to end this 38-year, 2-1 drought.

But the Titans are a perennial contender to win the national championship. They're currently ranked No. 15 in country in Division III, and they finished ranked No. 3 last season.

And there's this --- the state of Wisconsin has no D-II football schools, just D-I and D-III. So there are a lot of players for Oshkosh who could easily play at a higher level.

If that's any consolation.

"They're a good football team and they're used to winning," said Lincoln defensive coordinator Phil Pitts, whose teams will host Southwest Baptist next Saturday. "They've got a great program, their coach does a great job, and they're used to winning.

"They've got a lot of really talented kids and they came in here and beat us."

At this point, Lincoln has a razor-slim margin for error, it's that simple. The Blue Tigers actually held a 285-273 edge in total yards, but oh, that big thing --- momentum --- and those little things led to another frustrating outcome.

"We didn't make a lot of mistakes (one turnover, only five penalties)," Smith said, "but they were always coming at the wrong time, those crucial times.

"We've just got to play sound, because we're right there."

Blue Tigers waste opportunities,
fall short to Wis-Oshkosh, 17-7

After 1-1 start,

Pitts assesses

progress team​