The scoring chances were there for the Lincoln Blue Tigers. They just couldn't capitalize on them.
Wisconsin-Oshkosh blocked two field goals and scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to pull past the Blue Tigers for a 17-7 win Saturday afternoon at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.
"At times when we needed to execute, we didn't," Lincoln coach Steven Smith said. "There were too many little things that we were getting hurt on. Those are offensive and defensive things we're asking guys not to do, and they're still doing them anyway.
"I'm just at the point right now where I'm not going to accept any more excuses."
UW-Oshkosh, an NCAA Division III program, picked up its first win against a Division II team since 2004.
The Titans drove the ball 85 yards on 14 plays to open the game, finishing with a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Kyle Radavich on fourth-and-goal. Peyton Peterson's extra point put UW-Oshkosh ahead 7-0 with 7:58 to go in the first quarter.
While the Titans converted on each of their first three third-down attempts on the drive, they would go 3-for-11 the rest of the game. UW-Oshkosh punted on five of its next six possessions.
"The defense did a good job," Smith said. "They held them."
Lincoln's offense had a pair of three-and-outs to start the game. As the second quarter began, Smith said he decided to use his team's size as a strength and began pounding the ball up the middle against the Titans.
"Our guys are bigger, so we just spread them out," he said.
The Blue Tigers opened the drive on their own 9-yard line and moved the chains time and time again. Freshman running back Hosea Franklin has six carries for 43 yards, including a 6-yard run on third down that moved the ball to the Titans' 2.
Terry Hunter ran the ball into the end zone on the next play and Fernando Ramirez made the extra point, tying the score at 7 with 6:52 left in the first half.
Franklin finished with 19 carries for 116 yards to lead the Lincoln offense.
"He has to prepare his body so we can be able to ride him and be that type of back for us," Smith said of Franklin. "He has all the ability. He has the speed, he has good balance, he can hit the hole fast."
On UW-Oshkosh's next possession, Lincoln cornerback Chavon Gross put a hard hit on the Titans' JP Peerenboom, who fumbled the ball. Blue Tigers lineman JaJuan Chambers picked up the loose ball and took it 15 yards to the Oshkosh 17-yard line.
But the big play would go to waste. UW-Oshkosh blocked Ramirez's 36-yard field goal attempt, keeping the score tied at 7 heading into halftime.
"You've got to capitalize on those things," Smith said. "That's twice in two games when we didn't capitalize on a big turnover our defense got us."
The Titans attempted an onside kick to start the second half, but Lincoln recovered near midfield and worked into the red zone for the third time of the game. However, the drive stalled and UW-Oshkosh blocked a 42-yard field-goal try to keep the game tied.
Lincoln scored on 1-of-3 red-zone drives.
"We're not taking advantage of the things they're giving us," Smith said. " That could have put us ahead 21-7."
The Titans took control on the first play of the fourth quarter with a 61-yard pass. Two plays later, Mitchell Gerend caught a 6-yard pass from Radavich to give UW-Oshkosh (2-1, No. 15 in D-III) a 14-7 lead with 13:58 left in the game.
After a Lincoln punt, the Titans added to their lead with a 34-yard field goal with 5:31 left. The Blue Tigers' last possession ended with a turnover on downs at the UW-Oshkosh 34-yard line with 1:55 on the clock.
Lincoln outgained UW-Oshkosh 285-273. The Blue Tigers also had more first downs (14-11) and won the time of possession battle (32:22-27:38).
"We shot ourselves in the foot," Smith said. "I'm not going to sit here and say that Oshkosh beat us by overpowering us. We shot ourselves in the foot."
Henry Ogala completed 13-of-22 passes for 134 yards. He was intercepted in the final minute of the first half on a drive in Titans territory.
Edwin Durassaint had a team-high 11 tackles for the Blue Tigers, including three for loss. Amani Nelson added nine tackles.
Lincoln (1-2) opens Great Lakes Valley Conference play next Saturday at home against Southwest Baptist (0-2). Kickoff is at 6 p.m.