Oshkosh, Wis. -- The Wartburg College Knight's record setting season game to an end Saturday against the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Wartburg tied the game 20-20 with 8:15 left in the third quarter before the Titans added three more touchdowns to claim the win 41-27. The Knights tied a school record with 12 wins this season before bowing out of the NCAA Division III football playoffs. 

Wartburg linebacker Rob Rottler caused a fumble on the Titan's first drive of the game, and was recovered by fellow linebacker Tony Anstoetter. The Defensive unit gave the Wartburg offense field position at the UW-Oshkosh 43 yard line. Wartburg's offense wouldn't be able to capitalize on their first possession, going three and out, but bounced back on their second drive. The Knights went 38 yards in seven plays, with a Matt Sacia 2-yard touchdown run capping the drive off.   

Oshkosh responded on their third possession with a 3-minute 22-second, 7 play, 74 yard drive to tie the score 7-7. A turnover on the Knights next possession would turn into points for the Titans as they went 45 yards in just three plays for the score. The play making combo of Brett Kasper to Dylan Hecker would connect for the 43-yard touchdown completion. Oshkosh would take the lead 13-7 after a missed extra point attempt.

The Knights next possession would take them into the second quarter, where a Sacia 5-yard run on fourth and four from the Titan's 27 yard line would keep the drive alive. A delay of game penalty and a loss of seven on a sack would stall the drive at the Oshkosh eight yard line. On fourth and goal from the eight, the Knights opted for the points and kicker Jordan Johnson connected on a 25-yard field goal to make the score 10-13 in favor of UWO. Another explosive play drive would end with a 29-yard touchdown completion from Kasper to Sam Mentkowski. With 6:18 left in the second quarter UWO held the lead 20-10. Wartburg's offense had plans of their own before the end of the half, going 10 plays, 80 yards in 5:15 to cut the Titan's lead to three at 17-20. Wartburg's touchdown would come on a huge fourth and one from the UWO five yard line. Sacia found Matt Mulford in the end zone on a play action pass that got the Titan's defense to bite on the run. With 1:03 left on the clock before half, UWO's offense stared with great field position on their own 45 yard line, but the Knight's defense would hold them off and head to the locker room with the score remaining 17-20. 

The first drives of the second half would result in defensive shutdowns for both teams, but Wartburg's offense would get on the board again with 8:15 remaining in the third quarter. The Knights equalized the score 20-20 on a 26-yard Johnson field goal. UWO's powerful offense answered the call on their next possession going six plays, 68 yards in 2:50 to regain the lead 27-20. Hecker closed out the Titans drive with a 1-yard TD run. Wartburg's offense would stall on their ensuing drive, going three and out. The explosiveness of UWO was shown again with Kasper finding Hecker for a 59-yard completion on the their first play. UWO capped off their four play, 74 yard drive with another Hecker 1-yard TD run. With 3:07 left in the third quarter the Titans held a 34-20 lead. 

Following UWO's score, Wartburg fought their way down the field with a 13 play 57 yard drive before coming up short on a fourth and 12 from UWO's 19 yard line. Coming up empty handed would prove to be a critical point in the game. With 11:43 left in the game the Titan's offense would go on a nine play, 85 yard drive to open their lead 41-20, finished off with a 9-yard run by Hecker. The touchdown was Hecker's fifth of the game.

Wartburg came to Oshkosh with a purpose and wasn't going anywhere. The Knights, starting their drive with 7:53 remaining the the game, went nine plays and 76 yards to find the end zone. Wartburg's score came from a Sacia 5-yard pass to Riley Brockway. With the score 27-41 and only 4:13 left in the game, the clock and score were in UWO's hands. Following the touchdown, Wartburg's Johnson attempted an onside kick. Johnson created a great second bounce with his kick but the Titans would come up with the ball. UWO would go onto run out the clock and collect the quarterfinal playoff win 41-27. 

Offensively the Knights were led by Sacia's 263-yards passing, connecting on 25 of 36 targets. Sacia finished the day with two touchdown passes, moving his Wartburg single-season touchdown record to 35. Running back Dylan Binion finished with 77-yards on the ground for the Knights. Brockway and Griffin Brennecke were the leading receivers with 82-yards each. 

On the defensive side of the ball Wartburg's Anstoetter was the leading tackler with 14. Cornerback Peyton Imhoff was the second leading tackler with nine and Rottler finished the game with seven. 

The Wartburg College football team (12-1) closed out the 2017 season having earned the program's fourth trip to the elight eight and their 13th Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title.