Box Score
Oct. 15, 2011 - The Concordia Cougars improved to 3-2 on the season, 2-1 in Northern Athletics Conference play, with a 48-14 win over visiting Rockford College this afternoon.
Concordia overcame some offensive inconsistencies in the first half with a 27-point third quarter that allowed them to open up a 41-0 lead. Held to 186 total yards in the first two quarters, the Cougars erupted for 289 in the third despite having the ball for just seven minutes.
The Cougars opened the scoring with a 44-yard touchdown drive that came completely on the ground. Kevin Hagens (St. Louis, MO/Lutheran North) carried four straight times for 14, 14, 3 and 13 yards, the final carry going into the end zone for the score. Charlie Henke (Wauwatosa, WI/Milwaukee Lutheran) added the extra point for the 7-0 lead with 11:32 left in the first quarter.
Concordia's offense found the going rough after that, although the defense did its job by forcing Rockford to punt five times in the half. Another Rockford drive ended when Marcus Frazier (Chicago, IL/Evergreen Park) recovered a fumble at the 44.
With three minutes remaining in the half, the Cougars took possession at midfield and covered 51 yards over two minutes. Jake Koehler (Belvidere, IL/Rockford Lutheran) picked up a first down on a 15-yard scramble to give the Cougars a first-and-goal at the seven. From there, Sherman Jones (Pensacola, FL/J.M. Tate) ran for four yards and then the final three for the touchdown. Henke's extra point put Concordia up 14-0 at the half.
Rockford received the kickoff to start the second half, but Marty Beckman (Parma, OH/Lutheran West) and David Dwyer (St. Louis, MO/Ladue) combined to sack quarterback Jake Gorsuch and stall the drive. Following the punt, Koehler picked up 21 yards on a scramble and then threw a screen to Jamal Thomas (Weirsdale, FL/Lake Weir) who made an inside move, evaded a tackle and covered the 28 yards to the end zone. The Cougars led 21-0 just two minutes into the third quarter.
The big plays continued to escalate on the ensuing drives. Andrew Maddox (Gainesville, FL/P.K. Yonge) ran 14 yards for a first down on the next series. The drive threatened to stall with a third-and-13, but Koehler's pass into a crowd was grabbed by Jones who spun away from a defender and scampered into the end zone to complete a 51-yard scoring play and boost Concordia's lead to 28.
Midway through the quarter, Koehler provided the biggest play of the day. From the 19, Koehler scrambled to the right, slipped through a couple of tackles and took off down the right sideline. Aided by some good blocking by his receivers, Koehler did not stop until he reached the end zone 81 yards later. It was the Cougars' longest run from scrimmage in the last two years and gave Concordia a 34-0 lead (extra point missed).
The offensive fireworks continued on the next possession, sparked by a Maddox 22-yard run and a Koehler 42-yard completion to Savonte Hunt (Archer, FL/Buchholz). On second-and-seven, Maddox took a handoff, found a hole up the middle and raced in for the touchdown.
Concordia's final score came on the first play of the fourth quarter. On second down from the 25, Koehler hit Terrence Miller (Jacksonville, FL/Potter's House Academy) in the middle of the end zone to cap a seven-play, 46-yard drive. Danny Colapietro (Chicago, IL/Maine South) added the extra point this time to give Concordia its largest lead at 48-0. The touchdown spelled the end of the afternoon for many of the Cougar starters.
Rockford ended Concordia's bid for a shutout with 11:50 remaining. The Regents put together a 72-yard drive as Gorsuch completed passes of 11 yards to Arnold Flores and 22 yards to Milton Phillips. From the 12, Gorsuch hit Phillips on a short toss, and Phillips got around the right end and into the end zone.
The visitors chalked up one final score following an interception. Reserve quarterback Tyler Baran led a 67-yard drive, culminating on an Isaiah Whack three-yard run that was set up by a pass interference call.
The Cougars racked up a season-high 561 yards of offense on 332 rushing and 229 passing. Koehler rushed six times for 144 yards and passed for 192 yards on 8-17 with the three toucxhdowns and one interception. His favorite teceiver was Hunt who caught four passes for 82 yards.
Rockford totaled 246 yards, split evenly between rushing and passing. Dominique Dennis led the ground game with 14 carries for 61 yards. Gorsuch passed for 102 yards on 10-23 with one touchdown and no interceptions.
Defensively, Beckman led the Cougars with nine tackles that included 2.5 quarterback sacks and four total tackles for minus-yards. Chris Thompson (St. Louis, MO/Lutheran North) and Dwyer each added eight tackles. Antonio Richardson led the Regents' defense with eight tackles.
Concordia's win keeps them one game behind Benedictine University and Lakeland College in the NAC standings. The Cougars will play Lakeland next Saturday in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
