Oct. 27, 2012 - For much of today's football game between Concordia University Chicago and Benedictine University, the host Eagles used the clock to control play. But the Cougars needed less than a minute in the third quarter to completely reverse the momentum. Concordia went on to outscore Benedictine 19-0 in the second half and claim victory number eight on the season by a final of 26-13.

The Cougars took the opening kickoff and drove inside the 20. Along the way, Jake Koehler's (Belvidere, IL/Rockford Lutheran) completion to Jamal Thomas (Weirsdale, FL/Lake Weir) put the senior quarterback over the 4,0000-yard mark for his career. However, Koehler was intercepted at the Eagles' two by L.J. Stolarski to end the threat.

The Eagles took over at their 18 and drove downfield behind the running of John Borsellino. They picked up a first down at the Cougars' seven, but Marcus Frazier (Chicago, IL/Evergreen Park) dropped Borsellino behind the line. Two more plays stopped the drive at the three, and the 21-yard field goal attempt was missed, keeping the game scoreless.

As the second quarter began, Benedictine was on the move again, but Daniel DeBonnett (Chicago, IL/DeLaSalle) sacked Cyle Schultz for a 13-yard loss. Moments later, the Cougars' pass coverage forced Schultz into an incomplete on fourth down, and Concordia took over at its own 29.

The Eagles intercepted Koehler on the next two possessions. The second one finally produced the first points of the game as Stefan Herron stepped in front of Trent Yancy (Chicago, IL/Simeon) and returned the pick 39 yards down the right sideline. The extra point gave Benedictine the 7-0 lead with 6:19 left in the second quarter.

A conduct penalty on the touchdown gave the Cougars good field position after the kickoff, and Concordia capitalized just over a minute later. Koehler connected with Mike Bailey (Spring Hill, FL/Central) for 39 yards down to the three-yard line. From there, Andrew Maddox (Gainesville, FL/P.K. Yonge) ran off right tackle for the six points. Danny Colapietro's (Norridge, IL/Maine South) extra point tied the game.

Benedictine took over after the kickoff and drove 62 yards to the go-ahead score. With six seconds left, Benedictine looked to kick a 27-yard field goal. Concordia called timeout to ice the kicker, but the Eagles came back from the timeout with their offense on the field. Cyle Schultz threw to the right corner of the end zone where Chris Schultz outjumped the Cougars' coverage and landed barely inbounds for the score. The extra point missed, but the Eagles held a 13-7 lead at the break.

Time of possession went to Benedictine by a huge 21-9 margin in the first half. The Eagles accumulated 187 yards of offense (140 rush, 47 pass) to the Cougars' 138 (62 rush, 76 pass).

The Cougar defense forced a three-and-out to start the second half and then marched 62 yards to the tying score. On a fourth down at the seven, Koehler rolled to the left and hit Yancy just across the goal line. The extra point was missed, leaving the score tied at 13-13.

The tie did not last long as the kickoff was fumbled with Angelo Turco (Aurora, IL/Metea Valley) recovering at the 37. A short screen to Thomas turned into a 34-yard gain to the three. Koehler kept the ball on the next play and crossed the goal line for the go-ahead score. Colapietro added the extra point for a 20-13 lead, completing the Cougars' 13-point burst in 23 seconds.

Following the scores, the defense continued to put the clamps on Benedictine's running game. The Eagles had rushed 31 times for 140 yards in the first half, but the Cougars held the hosts to 56 yards on 22 carries over the final 30 minutes. The bigest among the stops came midway through the fourth quarter when the lead was still at seven. The Eagles faced a third-and-one at the Cougars' 16, but the middle of the line led by Bret Behnke (North Prairie, WI/Lake Country Lutheran), Matt Rolf (Rochester, MI/Lutheran Northwest) and Frazier stopped John Alessi on two carries to leave the Eagles without points.

On Benedictine's next possession, C.J. Pasley (St. Louis, MO/Lutheran North) intercepted to give Concordia possession in Benedictine's territory. On third down, Koehler hit Yancy down the middle for 43 yards to the three. Maddox then went right tackle for the touchdown and a 26-13 lead.

The Cougars needed just more stop, helped out by DeBonnett's second sack of the half. On a fourth-and-13, quarterback Schultz looked to scramble for the first down but was stopped three yards short by Frazier and Julius Little (Montclair, NJ/H.S.) to put a wrap on a hard-earned win.

Five Cougars finished in double-digit tackles, led by Andrew Gleason's (Elm Grove, WI/Milwaukee Lutheran) 15. Robert Hammack (DeKalb, IL/H.S.) recorded 14 (six solo) followed by DeBonnett with 13 (four solo). Rolf's 11 and Marty Beckman's (Parma, OH/Lutheran West) 10 rounded out the group. Behnke had an interception to go with five tackles.

Koehler passed for 172 yards on 13-21 with two touchdowns, both to Yancy (3-51). Maddox rushed for 100 yards on 18 carries and the touchdown run. Concordia finished with a perfect balance of 172 yards rushing and passing for 344 total. Benedictine amassed 328 yards on 196 rushing (John Borsellino 122 yards, 27 carries) and 132 passing (Schultz 16-27).

Concordia matches its eight-win total from each of the last three seasons with the victory, and they improve to 5-0 in Northern Athletics Conference play. With a win next Saturday over Lakeland College, the Cougars will clinch the conference's berth to the NCAA Division III playoffs.