Box Score  Oct. 25, 2014 - What began as a promising day for the Concordia-Chicago Cougars turned around in a difficult second quarter of this afternoon's football game. The Benedictine University Eagles scored 16 unanswered points and then made a key defensive stop late in the half en route to a 44-11 victory.
The Cougars received the opening kickoff but went nowhere as the Eagles' front line put immediate pressure on
Acusio Bivona (Los Angeles, CA/Hamilton). However, the hosts did nothing with their first possession as
Travone Petty (Calhoun City, MS/H.S.) broke up a third-down pass.
Concordia-Chicago began their second possession at their own 12 and put together an impressive 88-yard drive for the opening score.
Jakari Cammon (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park-River Forest) rushed for 18 yards on a third-down to give CUC its initial first down. Latrer, Bivona hit
Nelyja Floyd (Miami, FL/Park Vista) for an 18-yard gain to the Eagles' 40. The drive continued to gather steam, helped out by a late hit penalty that put the ball at the 12. On third-and-five, Bivona hit Floyd on the left side, and Floyd twisted his way into the end zone for the score
. Christian Wilke (Spring, TX/Concordia Lutheran) surprised the Eagles with a two-point conversion run, and the Cougars led 8-0 with 6:36 left in the first quarter.
Benedictine used a long return on the ensuing kickoff to set up shop at the CUC 45. The Eagles drove to the 17 where, on third down, the combination of Ryan Keener and Greg German connected for six points. Benedictine opted for the extra-point kick, making the score CUC 8, BU 7.
The Cougars were forced to punt on the next series, and the Eagles used an 81-yard drive to take the lead. Running back Artie Monaco did much of the damage, getting the hosts out of their own end with a pair of 13-yard runs. Monaco later scored on a six-yard run, and BU matched the Cougars' earlier two-point conversion run to make the score Benedictine 15, CUC 8.
The Eagles made it 21 unanswered points on their next drive. A 39-yard catch and run from Keener to Monaco capped the 51-yard drive. The extra point attempt hit the upright, leaving the score at 21-8 Eagles.
Late in the half, things got tougher for the Cougars. Pinched deep inside their zone, a bad snap allowed the Eagles to score a safety. The ensuing free kick was returned to the Cougars' 28.
Tyson Burch (Cooper City, FL/H.S.) saved another score with an interception on fourth down, but his 79-yard interception return for an apparent CUC touchdown was waved off by a block in the back. The Cougars did get the ball on the Eagles' 23 but were driven backwards by the Eagles' pass rush. The late scoring opportunity was erased, and CUC went to the locker room at the half, trailing 23-8.
Starting the second half, the Cougars continued to battle unfavorable field position. Pinned at their own one after an Eagles' punt, the Cougars got out to the five. However, on third down, a pass in the flat was picked off by Jarrett Lecas who had a short path to the end zone for the score and a 30-8 lead.
The Cougars were forced to punt on their next series but caught a break when the Eagles' return man muffed the punt. Abdias Corgelas (Fort Myers, FL/H.S.) alertly fell on the ball, and the Cougars had the ball at the Eagles' 33. Cammon ran for a first down, but the drive stalled at the 13. Zach Slusher (Park City, UT/H.S.) came on to boot the 30-yard field goal and make the score 30-11. In the fourth quarter, Keener added his third and fourth touchdown passes of the day covering 26 and 16 yards to close the scoring.
Cammon rushed for 76 yards on 17 carries, but the Cougars were held to a net 44 yards rushing die to the Eagles' frontline pressure. Bivona passed for 56 yards on 11 of 17. Defensively, A.J. Seidler (West Chicago. IL/H.S.)Â recorded a career-high 13 tackles (three solo).
The Eagles (3-4, 2-2 NACC) totaled 356 yards on 145 rushing (Monaco 16 carries, 70 yards) and 211 passing (Keener 16-21). They were led defensively by Dylan Rose's 10 tackles (three solo).
The Cougars (0-6, 0-4 NACC) will play at Aurora University next Saturday, Nov. 1 at 1:00.
