Box Score Oct. 2, 2010 - The two top offensive teams in the Northern Athletics Conference, Concordia-Chicago and Benedictine University, matched up in this afternoon's conference opener in Lisle. The game went true to form with both teams piling up huge numbers, but Benedictine had the final say as they scored with 13 seconds left to beat Concordia 47-41.
Each team picked up one first down on its opening possession, but a bad snap on a Cougar punt gave the Eagles starting position at their own 42 for the second series. The Eagles marched steadily downfield, helped by a key third-down reception to the CUC 14 by John Borsellino. Moments later, Borsellino ran right from the three to score the initial points of the game. Benedictine led 7-0 after the extra point with 5:26 remaining in the first quarter.
The extremely windy conditions affected the ensuing kickoff. The kick appeared far out-of bounds, but a gust blew the ball back in play at the 29 and the Eagles recovered what in effect was a long onside kick. Benedictine turned the play into points as Preston Earl hit Mike Trombetta from 11 yards out to up the lead to 14-0.
As the first quarter ended, the Cougars began to move the ball behind the running of Khyree Copeland (Jacksonville, FL/Potter's House Academy) and a 18-yard Mike Marotta (Brookfield, IL/Riverside-Brookfield) to Jamal Thomas (Weirsdale, FL/Lake Weir) completion. A clutch third-down completion to Jonny Johnson (Miami Gardens, FL/Norland) kept the drive going, and Marotta found Savonte Hunt (Archer, FL/Buchholz) just three plays later from 23 yards out. The extra point by Andrew Shine (Carol Stream, IL/Glenbard North) made the score Eagles 14, Cougars 7 with 13:46 still to play in the second quarter.
Concordia stopped Benedictine on the next possession and regained possession at their own 18. On the first play, Marotta threw a short pass to Thomas who accelerated past several tacklers and was finally caught at the Eagles' 18 for a 64-yard gain. The Cougars got down to the one from where Copeland took it in for the score. Shine's conversion tied the score with 10:10 left in the half.
The Eagles answered with a couple of big pass plays to earn a first-and-goal at the one. A penalty pushed the Eagles back, but that only delayed the touchdown. A five-yard pass from Preston Earl to Brandin Austin put the Eagles back on top 21-14.
The Cougars came back quickly looking to tie. They reached the 20, but a holding penalty pushed them back, and a fourth-down sack of Marotta minutes later halted the drive with Concordia still trailing. Benedictine then turned around and drove 72 yards for a score, Borsellino scoring from two yards out with 24 seconds remaining. The Cougars did nothing in the final seconds, and Benedictine took a 28-14 lead into halftime.
A look at the halftime stats showed Benedictine outgaining Concordia by just seven yards (244-237). Marotta threw for 195 yards on 11-16 with Thomas catching four for 134 yards. Eagles' quarterback Earl was 11-15 for 138 yards, and the hosts rushed for 106 yards led by Borsellino's 49 on 12 carries.
The Cougars took the opening kickoff of the second half and wasted little time getting back into the chase. Concordia capped a 57-yard drive that took just two minutes on another Marotta-Thomas connection. Marotta hit Thomas on a short pattern to the right, and Thomas slipped a tackler and ran in for a 26-yard strike to trim the Eagles' lead to 28-21.
After a defensive stop, Copeland started the Cougars' next possession with runs of 14 and 40 yards. Marotta then hit Hunt down the middle for a 24-yard touchdown for a scoring drive that took just 34 seconds. However, Shine's extra point attempt hit the right upright, enabling the Eagles to hold on to a slim 28-27 lead.
After each team's defense caused a three-and-out on the following series, the Eagles went back to work from their 25. They marched downfield with a 40-yard pass to Trombetta providing the big play of the drive. A couple of penalties pushed the Eagles back, but completions of 12 yards to Trombetta and 23 yards to Borsellino set them up with a first down at the 11. On the first play of the fourth quarter, on a third down from the five, Earl hit Brandin Austin in the left corner for six points. However, Alden Crawford (Jonesville, FL/Buchholz) blocked the extra point try, leaving the margin at seven points, 34-27.
Copeland picked up a huge first down on the next series when he took a pitch on a fourth and one at Concordia's 43-yard line. A 10-yard pass to Johnson and a 24-yard run by Copeland moved the chains further, and another pitch to Copeland covered the final 11 yards. Shine's kick tied the score at 34-34 with 10:25 left.
Malcolm Godwin (Ocala, FL/Vanguard) looked to turn the tide for the Cougars with an interception, returning it 17 yards to the Cougar 40. However, the Cougars could do nothing with it, and they punted to the Eagles. Benedictine then marched 56 yards to the go-ahead score, scoring on Earl's 23-yard pass to Trombetta for a 41-34 lead with 4:04 left.
The Cougars rallied as Marotta hit Thomas for 21 yards and Mike Egebrecht (Wheeling, IL/Buffalo Grove) for 18 yards. Egebrecht's reception gave the Cougars a first down at the one and, two plays later, Copeland covered the final yard for the score and a 41-41 tie.
The 1:24 remaining would be more than enough time for Benedictine to come down and score the winning points. Kicking against the wind, a short kickoff gave the Eagles possession at their own 47. Rushes by Earl for 11 yards and Eric Ritter for 15 yards picked up big first downs and put Benedictine in field goal range, but Earl put the nail in the coffin on a first down from the 11. Stepping back to pass, Earl saw room up the middle and he tucked the ball and covered the distance to put the hosts up with 13 seconds left. The extra point was missed, giving the Cougars a final shot at victory down by six.
Benedictine's kicker squibbed the kickoff despite having the wind behind him, but the ball deflected off a Cougar and went out-of-bounds at the 10. Looking at a 90-yard miracle, the Cougars gained 35 yards on a pass to Thomas and 22 on a throw to Hunt, but time ran out on Concordia.
Concordia amassed 555 yards for the game on Marotta's 397 yards passing (25-32). Thomas caught 10 passes for 231 yards, the yardage setting a single-game record previously held by Todd Black (211 in 1984). Copeland rushed for 183 yards on 28 carries and, with 45 yards next week, will reach the 3,000-yard mark for his career.
Benedictine totaled 495 yards on 293 rushing and 202 passing. Borsellino ran for 102 yards on 25 carries and added another 43 yards on six pass receptions. Earl was 24 of 32 passing with four touchdowns, one interception and no sacks.
Four Cougars finished in double figures for tackles, led by
Curtis Underwood's (Fort Lauderdale, FL/Pope John Paul II) 14. He was followed by
Matt Rolf (Rochester, MI/Lutheran Northwest) and
Chris Decker (Ocala, FL/St. John Lutheran) with 13 each and
Jason Talos (Chicago, IL/Guerin Prep) with 10.
Concordia (2-2, 0-1 NAC) will host Wisconsin Lutheran College at 1:00 next Saturday for Homecoming.
