Oct. 3, 2015 - Concordia-Chicago's 2015 Homecoming game brought the Falcons of Concordia Wisconsin to River Forest for what was also the first Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game of the season. An entertaining contest between the two rivals turned sour for the home crowd in the second half as the Falcons shut down the Cougars and turned a close game into a 49-14 rout.

The Cougars threatened on their opening drive as Jakari Cammon (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park-River Forest) rushed for gains of 17 and 28 yards. However, the drive stalled on the Falcons' 25. While the visitors did not score on their first possession, a 56-yard punt enabled them to gain field possession. Following a CUC punt, the Falcons got into the Cougars' red zone with a 39-yard completion and then scored on an 11-yard run for the initial score and a 7-0 lead.

Looking to extend their lead later in the quarter, Nixon was intercepted by Ryan Shipley (Centralia, IL/H.S.). However, The Cougars returned the favor moments later as Damon Mull's pick set up CUW at the 19. Three plays later, the Falcons were in the end zone as Nixon passed to Kevin Folker for a 14-point advantage.

Concordia-Chicago fought back on the next drive with a fourth-and-two conversion. The drive hit a temporary roadblock as a 44-yard touchdown pass to Leroy Bridges (Chicago, IL/Perspectives Math and Science) was called back to a penalty, but CUC continued its march. Acusio Bivona (Los Angeles, CA/Hamilton) established a solid connection with Ryan Allison (Parkland, FL/Stoneman Douglas) as the two connected for pass completions of 15 and 22 yards. Then, from the 24, Bivona hit Allison in the end zone to cut the visitors' lead to 14-7.

Later in the second quarter, CUC's defense came through as A.J. Seidler (West Chicago, IL/H.S.) forced a fumble from Nixon, with Cliff Hamilton (Miami, FL/Hialeah) recovering the loose pigskin at the 38. Cammon's three-yard run helped the Cougars convert another key fourth down and, a few plays later, Bivona hooked up again with Allison from 27 yards out to tie the game at 14-14.

Unfortunately for the home team, CUW busted loose on a big play before the half. Nixon hit Andrew Gatz on a short toss. Gatz slipped a couple of tackles and rambled all the way to the north end zone for a 66-yard scoring play. The Falcons were stopped on a final drive at the end of the half, keeping the halftime score at 21-14, CUW.
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The Falcons put together a strong drive at the outset of the third quarter. Nixon scrambled for a 12-yard gain and also hit Dante Edwards for another 12. From the three, CUW converted on a third-and-goal, Nixon hitting Derrick Estfan for the touchdown and a 28-14 lead.

The Cougars were unable to get any offensive momentum in the quarter working against the wind, and a fumble late in the quarter set up CUW on the seven. Nixon promptly ran for the seven yards, putting CUC into a 35-14 lead.

Concordia Wisconsin put the game away with two scores in the fourth quarter. The Cougars had one final scoring chance as Riley Dennis (Elk Grove, CA/Capital Christian) recovered a fumble in CUW's territory, but good pass defense turned the Cougars away.

The Falcons won the total yardage battle 467 to 279 although the Cougars had 32 minutes of possession to the Falcons' 28. Nixon passed for 358 yards on 28-43 and also rushed 18 times for 58 yards. Cammon was the Cougars' biggest weapon, rushing for 119 yards on 25 carries. However, the Cougars gained just 215 yards through the air on 10 completions. Allison caught five of the passes for 95 yards and the two scores.

Defensively, Sang Lee (Tucson, AZ/Canyon Del Oro) recorded five solo tackles and five tackle assists. Hamilton added six total tackles, one of the fumble recoveries and two pass break-ups.

Concordia-Chicago (2-2, 0-1 NACC) returns to action next Saturday with a game at Lakeland College in Sheboygan.