Box Score Nov. 15, 2014 - The final game of the 2014 football season between Concordia University Chicago and Rockford University saw an old-school type of contest with even a bit of unusual football history thrown in for good measure. However, the game was decided by Rockford winning the line of scrimmage and the turnover battle in a 25-11 final.
The gridiron history between the two teams was one of high-scoring affairs. but the beginning of this game did not indicate a similar pattern. Both teams failed to pick up a first down on their initial two possessions, but Rockford broke through on their third. Working with a short field following a punt, the Regents marched downfield behind the running of Pete Berry. A 13-yard run by Berry was the key play of the drive, giving Rockford a first-and-goal at the seven. Three plays took the Regents to the one-yard line from where Berry gave a great second effort and powered his way into the end zone for a 6-0 lead.
The extra-point effort by Rockford proved anything but routine. Mike Bailey (Spring Hill, FL/Central) blocked the kick, and the ball found its way into the hands of Bryndon Williams (Fort Wayne, IN/Concordia Lutheran). Williams had a clear path to the goal line at the opposite end of the field, and he scored only the second defensive PAT in the history of CUC football to make the score 6-2. An interception led to Rockford's next score late in the second quarter. The Regents chewed up much of their yardage on the ground again, but a pass interference penalty was also key to the drive. Rockford got to the four-yard line from where Berry again got the call to cap the 13-play, 81-yard drive. His touchdown made the score RU 12, CUC 2 (extra point run failed).
The Cougars had just 49 seconds to work with, but a 49-yard kickoff return by Jakari Cammon (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park-River Forest) gave CUC great field position at the RU 35. A fourth-down completion from Acusio Bivona (Los Angeles, CA/Hamilton) to Elijah Walker (Hobart, IN/H.S.) gave the Cougars a first-down at the 17 and, on the next play, the same combination hooked up for a CUC touchdown to the left side of the end zone. Zach Slusher (Park City, UT/H.S.) kicked the extra point, and the Cougars went in at halftime trailing by only a 12-9 score. The second half began with the home team seemingly holding the momentum, but the Regents snatched it away quickly. After stopping CUC on a three-and-out, Rockford struck in lightning fashion on their possession. Quarterback Reginald Haynes found Andrew Stochl on a fly pattern down the right side. Stochl evaded a tackle and scored to complete the 54-yard play. The visitors added the extra point for a 19-9 lead.
Later in the quarter, Concordia-Chicago looked to get back into the game as they attacked the Rockford defense with 13 straight rushing plays. Cammon had all but two of the carries including an 11-yarder that gave CUC a first down at the 24. However, the drive came to an end when a hard hit popped the ball loose at the nine-yard line. The Regents recovered to keep the lead at ten.
The turnover proved even more costly as Rockford came down the field for an insurance score. A 57-yard completion put the Regents deep into Cougar territory, and the visitors cashed in on Berry's third touchdown run of the day, this one from six yards out. However, the Cougars turned in the Regents' extra-point try into their second defensive PAT of the day. This time, it was Ramon Guerrero (Hobart, IN/Andrean) that fielded the blocked kick and raced to the end zone to make the score RU 25, CUC 11. The Cougars still had 12 minutes remaining to overcome a two-score lead, but the Regents' defense was able to step up the pressure and hold down the Cougars over the final three possessions. Rockford then ran out the final five minutes of the game to close out the game.
Both teams received strong efforts from their top rushers with Berry carrying 26 times for 105 yards and Cammon 22 times for 99 yards. Rockford's Haynes threw for 217 yards on 10 of 18 with Milton Phillips catching six passes for 107 yards.
Defensively, Bailey led the way for Concordia-Chicago in his final game. The senior safety recorded 11 total tackles (five solo) and two pass-breakups. A.J. Seidler (West Chicago, IL/H.S.) had eight tackles (three solo), followed by Tim Bahr (Hartland, WI/Lake Country Lutheran) with seven (four solo). Kendall Lee led Rockford with 10 tackles (four solo), two pass breakups and a fumble recovery. The Cougars finished with an overall record of 1-8, 1-5 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.
