Box Score Oct. 19, 2013 - In recent years, a football matchup between the Concordias of Chicago and Wisconsin have leaned toward high-powered offensive production, and this year's contest in River Forest was no exception. The two teams combined for over 1,100 yards of offense and 90 points, but it was the CUW Falcons who built an early lead and withstood several rallies by the host Cougars to take the 48-42 victory.

The Falcons jumped to a 10-0 lead in the first five minutes on a 24-yard field goal by David Gonzalez and a 47-yard pass play from Austin Damaschke (24-47, 380 yards) to Garrett Wenzelburger. But the Cougars unleashed a solid ground game behind C.J. Woodford (Detroit, MI/John Glenn) and the mobility of quarterback Ryan Fischbach (South Elgin, IL/St. Charles North). Fischbach also hit Elijah Walker (Hobart, IN/H.S.) for a key third-down completion to keep the drive alive. Eventually, it was Woodford getting the call from the one-yard line, and he took it in for the Cougars' first points of the day to make it a 10-7 ballgame.

A five-yard run by Damaschke made it 17-7 Falcons after one quarter, but the Cougars answered early in the second quarter. Fischbach hit Walker in stride down the right sideline, and Walker outraced the secondary for a 48-yard touchdown reception to make the score 17-14. But the visitors extended their lead on a 10-yard run by LaCurt Evans and a 37-yard field goal by Gonzalez to take a 27-14 lead into halftime.

Walker opened the second-half scoring by hauling in an eight-yard pass five minutes into the third quarter. Just one minute later, however, Damaschke scored on an eight-yard keeper to push the lead back up to 13. Evans later scored on a three-yard run, and the Falcons were threatening to run away and hide after three quarters with a 41-21 lead.

The Cougars did not slow their pursuit however. Fischbach hit David Campbell (Fort Myers, FL/East Lee County) from 10 yards out to make it Falcons 41, Cougars 28.

Midway through the quarter came the key sequence of the game. Facing a fourth down at the CUC 36, the Falcons lined up in punt formation. Hunter Bruenig's punt was shanked towards the right but came down just inside the sideline. Incredibly, the ball bounced at a 90-degree angle back toward the end zone, and the Falcons' downed the ball at the one-yard line. Three plays later, Brett Waldorf stepped in front of a CUC receiver and intercepted Fischbach's pass, taking it seven yards into the end zone for the score. The Falcons led 48-28 with less than six minutes to play.

The Cougars continued to display their "never say die" attitude. They needed just 33 seconds after CUW's score to reach the end zone, Fischbach throwing hia fourth TD strike of the day. This one went 25 yards to Nick Awrey (Marquette, MI/Saginaw Nouvel Catholic) for Awrey's first touchdown reception in a Cougar uniform. The Cougars then forced a punt and marched 49 yards to score on Woodford's eight-yard run. Danny Colapietro's (Norridge, IL/Maine South) sixth extra point of the day made it a six-point game with 2:16 remaining.

Having all three timeouts remaining, the Cougars kicked deep to the Falcons and looked for the defensive stop. However, Damaschke converted a pair of first downs, and the Falcons were able to run out the clock and prevent the Cougars from completing a spirited comeback.

The Falcons accumulated 531 yards of offense behind Damaschke's passing and Evans' 92 yards rushing on 16 carries. The Cougars amassed 596 yards behind Fischbach's 315 yards passing (24-41) and 78 yards rushing. Woodford ran for 159 yards on 26 carries, his third straight game over 100 yards.

Defensively, C.J. Pasley (St. Louis, MO/Lutheran North) recorded nine tackles and two pass break-ups. Tim Bahr (Hartland, WI/Lake Country Lutheran) had eight tackles (three for minus-yardage) and a fumble recovery. Jarrell Dillard (Plainfield, IL/Plainfield South) also had eight tackles and forced a fumble.

The Cougars (1-5, 1-2 NACC) return to action next Saturday at 1:00 with a road game at Aurora University.