Box Score
Oct. 1, 2011 - The Concordia Cougars hosted Benedictine University for Homecoming this afternoon, hoping to get off to a good start in Northern Athletics Conference play and exact some revenge on the team that handed them two of their four defeats over the last two seasons. However, a combination of big plays by the visitors and turnovers by the home team added up to a 43-21 Benedictine victory.
Benedictine took the opening kickoff and marched downfield behind the running of John Borsellino (31 carries, 164 yards). Quarterback Matt Brown also chipped in with a 23-yard scramble on a third-and-seven. The Eagles reached the eight-yard line where, on fourth down, Brown threw to Borsellino for the score. However, the extra point was blocked to keep the score at 6-0.
Concordia fielded the ensuing kickoff and needed less than a minute to answer. Jake Koehler (Belvidere, IL/Rockford Lutheran) scrambled for gains of nine and 13 yards to move the Cougars into Eagles' territory. From the 34, Koehler hit Savonte Hunt (Archer, FL/Buchholz) on a short route, and Hunt broke free to race into the end zone. Danny Colapietro (Chicago, IL/Maine South) added the extra point to give Concordia a 7-6 lead.
The Cougars' defense stopped the Eagles on their next two possessions, but the offense found themselves backed up against their own goal line after the second stop. Concordia faced a fourth down from their seven, and Ryan Kastner (South Bend, IN/Clay) bobbled the snap. He was unable to get the punt off, and the Eagles were awarded a safety on the final play of the first quarter.
Benedictine would add to their 8-7 lead in the second quarter with a pair of scores. On the drive following the safety, Brown hit Brandin Austin with a nine-yard pass to cap a 50-yard march. The Eagles later scored with 1:40 remaining in the half on Borsellino's two-yard run. That drive was highlighted by Brown completing passes of 14 and 16 yards to Chris Schultz. The half ended with Benedictine leading by a 22-7 score.
Concordia threatened to cut into Benedictine's lead on its first two drives of the third quarter. On the opening series, a 15-yard run by Andrew Maddox (Gainesville, FL/P.K. Yonge) gave the Cougars a first down at the Eagles' 32. Three plays later, Koehler scrambled 11 yards for what would have been a first down, but a defender came from behind and punched the ball loose. Benedictine's Mike Theriault recovered the fumble to end the threat.
Later in the quarter, Sherman Jones (Pensacola, FL/J.M. Tate) gave the Cougars a spark with five carries totaling 53 yards. The Cougars reached the 20, but a sack put them back at the 25. Concordia opted for the field goal, but Colapietro's 42-yard attempt missed wide left.
The Eagles stretched their lead on the first play of the fourth quarter. On a second-and-five from the BU 40, Brown found Schultz behind the defense. Brown's pass led his receiver perfectly, and the two completed the 60-yard play for a touchdown and a 29-7 lead.
It took less than three minutes for the Cougars to respond. Koehler hit Jamal Thomas (Weirsdale, FL/Lake Weir) for completions of 15 and 17 yards. Moments later, facing a third-and-13, Koehler hit Kevin Hagens (St. Louis, MO/Lutheran North) up the middle. Hagens hit his stride and outraced his trailing defenders for a 60-yard touchdown, cutting the Cougars' deficit to 29-14.
A third big touchdown play followed on the first play following the kickoff. This time, it was Borsellino who took a handoff, cut to the right and raced down the sideline for 67 yards and the game's third long scoring play in a 2:50 span.
The Cougars looked to come back once again, putting together a 15-play drive. The drive ended when Koehler was intercepted in the end zone on a fourth down. However, Marty Beckman (Parma, OH/Lutheran West) got that back when he intercepted Brown on the second play of the Eagles' drive and returned the ball 17 yards for a touchdown. The extra point put the Cougars within 15 points again at 36-21.
Robert Hammack (DeKalb, IL/H.S.) then recovered an onside kick and, with over seven minutes remaining, the Cougars and their fans had renewed hope. But, a holding penalty and a sack put the Cougars in a deep hole, and they would be forced to punt.
Concordia held on to a sliver of hope after David Sodetz (Chicago, IL/Kennedy) came up with his second block of a Benedictine field-goal attempt. But interceptions would kill off the Cougars' final chances, and the Eagles added a final score on John Alessi's five-yard run with 2:59 remaining.
The Eagles finished with 487 total yards, 269 on the ground. Brown threw for 218 yards on 14 of 23 with the three touchdowns and one interception. The Cougars rushed for 143 yards, led by Jones' 66 on eight carries. Koehler was 15 of 34 passing with two touchdowns and five interceptions.
Defensively, Chris Thompson (St. Louis, MO/Lutheran North) led the Cougars with 10 total tackles (seven solo). Beckman added nine tackles plus his interception return.
The Cougars (1-2, 0-1 NAC) will travel to Milwaukee next Saturday to face Wisconsin Lutheran College.
