Oct. 24, 2015 - A couple of early turnovers set the tone this afternoon as the Concordia-Chicago Cougars hosted the Benedictine Eagles. Unfortunately, the two turnovers led to an early 14-point lead for the visiting Eagles, and they rolled to a 41-0 win over the Cougars in River Forest. 

The Cougars received the opening kickoff, and a penalty on the return set them back at their own nine-yard line. On the third play from scrimmage, the ball came loose at the four-yard line, and the Eagles recovered. Two plays later, Josh Williams ran in from the one-yard line for the quick 7-0 lead.

Concordia-Chicago's second drive also ended abruptly, as Jarrett Lecas made the first of his two interceptions on the day, returning the pick to the five-yard line. Benedictine promptly made it a 14-0 game as Ryan Sample threw to Jake Valas for the score.

Benedictine added a third touchdown later in the quarter, despite Zach Slusher (Park City, UT/H.S.) pinning them in their own end of the field with a 50-yard punt. The Eagles drove 68 yards in 10 plays and scored on a Derek Miles' three-yard run to lead 21-0 after one quarter. The Cougars fell behind by 28 in the second quarter before driving late in the half. Rashad Lofton (Detroit, MI/Romulus) broke off a 36-yard punt return to the 50. Lofon then caught a 14-yard pass from Peyton Seidler (West Chicago, IL/H.S.) for a first down at the 36. However, Lecas' second interception at the 14. moments later kept the Cougars' deficit at 28 as the two teams went to the locker rooms at the half.

The second half saw both teams move the ball effectively on the ground, although only Benedictine would score. The Cougars received a boost from senior running back Brent O'Halloran (Olivia, MN/BOLD), who played his first game today since the Sept. 5 season opener. O'Halloran rushed six times for 29 yards and also caught an eight-yard pass from Seidler to bring the Cougars down to the Eagles' 15. However, the drive stalled there as Seidler was hurried on the fourth-and-seven and threw incomplete into the end zone. 

CUC;s lone drive in the fourth quarter was ignited by Lofton's catch-and-run of 34 yards which put the ball at the Eagles' 27. They advanced to a fourth-and-four at the 21, but a run was stopped two yards short. Benedictine then ran out the final 10 minutes of the clock in locking up the victory. The Eagles finished the game with a time of possession of nearly 39 minutes.

The Eagles amassed 436 yards of offense. Williams led the rushing game with 100 yards on 20 carries while Sample passed for 180 yards on 17 of 21. The Cougars racked up 195 yards on 77 rushing and 118 yards passing (Seidler 11-20). 

Defensively, the Cougars were led by Joshua Nash (Fort Myers, FL/H.S.) with eight tackles (four solo). Rondell Newton (Markham, IL/Tinley Park), Nick Hostetler (Bozeman, MT/H.S.) and Teddy Wayo (Evergreen Park, IL/H.S.) all added seven tackles apiece.

The Cougars (2-5, 0-4 NACC) will host Alma College in non-conference action next Saturday, Oct. 31 at 1 p.m.