Box Score
Sept. 11, 2010 - Concordia Cougar football fans have become accustomed to big plays and quick strikes on offense. Tonight, however, it was the University of Chicago Maroons making the majority of them in stunning the Cougars by a 56-24 final score.
The host Maroons caught lightning in a bottle on the third play from scrimmage as Francis Adarkwa took a handoff, slipped through a tackle in the backfield and took off on a 66-yard jaunt to the end zone. The extra point gave Chicago a 7-0 lead with just 56 seconds gone.
The Cougars took the ball on their first possession and gained ground on Mike Marotta's (Brookfield, IL/Riverside-Brookfield) third-down completions to Mike Egebrecht (Wheeling, IL/Buffalo Grove) and Jamal Thomas (Weisdale, FL/Lake Weir). The drive stalled at Chicago's 22 when Marotta was sacked on a fourth-and-seven.
Concordia got the ball back moments later on Malcolm Godwin's (Ocala, FL/Vanguard) diving interception at the Maroons' 45. Copeland did most of the work on the drive, and the Cougars were helped out by a key pass interference penalty in the end zone. From the three, Copeland ran left off-tackle and made it to the end zone. The extra point by Andrew Shine (Carol Stream. IL/Glenbard North) tied the game 7-7 with 6:58 left in the opening quarter.
Chicago regained the lead on another big play just two minutes later. This time. it came through the air as Maroons' quarterback Marshall Oium avoided a rush and threw down the right sideline to Clay Wolff. The receiver slipped a tackle and completed the 38-yard play into the end zone for a 14-7 lead.
The Cougars converted a third down pass to Egebrecht and a fourth down run by Copeland on the next drive, but a fumbled snap put the Cougars in a deep hole. they were forced to punt, and Jake Koehler's (Belvidere, IL/Rockford Lutheran) punt was blocked and recovered by Steve Tsilimos for a 35-yard touchdown return. Concordia trailed 21-7, still with 1:22 left in the first.
A 22-yard run by Copeland started the next possession. Short passes to Johnny Johnson (Miami Gardens, FL/Norland) and Thomas kept the chains moving. A sack on third down stopped Concordia's momentum, but freshman Danny Colapietro (Chicago, IL/Maine South) salvaged three points with a 39-yard field goals. Chicago's lead was 21-10 with 13:14 left in the second quarter.
The Maroons came back immediately as Wolff's 47-yard reception put the hosts deep in CUC territory. Four plays later, Chicago parlayed the big play into points as Adarkwa scored on a one-yard run for a 28-10 lead.
Matters got worse as the Cougars were stuffed on their next drive. The Maroons took over and, on a third-and-10, Oium completed a 60-yard pass to Dee Brizzolara, a gain on which the Cougars argued offensive pass interference to no avail. Three plays later, Adarkwa scored from a yard out for a 35-10 advantage.
Copeland brought the Cougars back with a 35-yard scamper around the right side to make it a 35-17 game, but the combination of Oium and Brizzolara struck again on the ensuing possession for a 17-yard touchdown and a 42-17 edge at the 5:30 mark.
Concordia threatened to score again in the final minutes of the half, but Marotta was picked off in the end zone on a first-down play from the 14. The Cougars regained possession on a punt but had no time for anything more than a few deep shots down the field. The teams went to the half with Chicago retaining their 25-point lead.
The Cougars' first two possessions of the second half ended on an interception and a third-down sack. Chicago missed on a 36-yard field goal on its first possession, but the Maroons struck midway through the third as Oium threw deep to Wolff, setting up a first-and-goal at the one. From there, Adarkwa scored his fourth touchdown of the night for a 49-17 advantage.
Chicago added to their advantage on the first play of the fourth quarter for their biggest lead of the night. The Cougars scored the final points of the night when freshman quarterback Josh Tylski (Jacksonville, FL/Mandarin) executed a brilliant fake hand-off and kept the ball, dashing around the right side for a 33-yard touchdown.
The Maroons finished with 509 yards of offense to the Cougars' 327. The teams' leading rushers turned in solid performances with Adarkwa gaining 123 yards on 20 carries while Copeland ran for 120 on 20 carries. For Chicago, Oium threw for 296 yards on 13-21 (22.8 yards per completion) with Clay Wolff catching six balls for 172 yards. Marotta threw for 170 yards on 17 of 36 but was intercepted three times and sacked four times. Egebrecht caught six passes for 60 yards.
Concordia (1-1) will host the College of St. Scholastica on Saturday, Sept. 18 at 1:00 on Hall of Fame Day.
