Oct. 1, 2016 - For 2 1/2 quarters of today's non-conference football game, the Concordia Cougars and Trine University were engaged in a rollicking offensive battle, trading shots like two heavyweight boxers. Without warning however, the Thunder took complete control of the final 25 minutes and outscored the Cougars 42-0 to breeze to a 62-19 win in Angola, IN.

Both teams entered today's game with 2-1 records and sporting some gaudy numbers in both the rushing and passing departments. As CUC took the opening kickoff, it appeared that pattern would continue as Shane Virnala hit Rashad Lofton for 30 yards and, three plays later, Corey Dooley for 31 yards. The Cougars advanced into the red zone but were stopped on a fourth down at the four-yard line. The Thunder then turned around and marched 96 yards for the game's opening score, Evan Wyse running in from a yard out for a 6-0 lead (extra point failed).

The Cougars continued to move the ball effectively on drive number two. Ryan Allison was Virnala's favorite target as he caught a couple of third-down passes to keep the chains moving. CUC would reach the red zone again, facing a fourth down at the 15. This time, the Cougars came through as Virnala hooked up with Allison again to complete a drive of 76 yards. Orlando Hayes added the extra point, and the visitors led by a score of 7-6.

The Thunder were stopped on their next possession but regained the lead early in the second quarter. Running back Lamar Carswell (23 carries, 322 yards) broke off runs of 15 and 29 yards on this drive. The Thunder went to the passing game for the touchdown, however, Brandon Rooze connected with Jeffery Barnett from 12 yards out, and the hosts led 12-7 (two-point conversion attempt failed).

Concordia-Chicago looked for an immediate response as Lofton returned the ensuing kickoff 53 yards into Trine territory. A couple of holding penalties comined to stall the drive, however, and the Cougars would not threaten for the remainder of the half, although they would trail by just the 12-7 score.

Trine took the opening kickoff for the second half and marched to the 38 before CUC stopped them on downs. Then, lightning struck as Virnala went deep to Lofton on the first snap. Lofton hauled in the pass and outraced the defense to cover the rest of the 62 yards for the score. The Cougars went for the two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving CUC up by a single point at 13-12.

The game continued at a frantic pace for the next few minutes. Carswell added a couple more big-gainers to lead Trine downfield from where Mark Wilson scored on a two-yard run. 
CUC answered back with a Virnala-Dooley connection for 68 yards. The Cougars missed out on the conversion attempt but trailed by just 20-19 with 8:49 remaining in the third quarter.

Though not known at the time, Dooley's touchdown signaled the end of CUC's scoring for the day. The Cougars managed just two first downs the remainder of the game. Meanwhile, Trine's running game remained strong as Carswell added touchdown runs of 23, 4 and 48 yards. The Thunder also tacked on two more long touchdown runs and an 88-yard punt return to run away with what had been a close contest.

Virnala passed for 326 yards on 19 for 32 while Dooley (3-114) and Lofton (4-106) both recorded 100-yard receiving days. However, the Thunder amassed 683 yards, 537 on the ground.

The Cougars will begin Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play next Saturday, Oct. 8 when they travel to Aurora University.