Nov. 12, 2016 - Today's season finale between the Concordia-Chicago Cougars and Wisconsin Lutheran Warriors resulted in a contrast of styles. The Cougars were able to hit on some big-yardage plays for scores, but the Warriors owned a sizeable time-of-possession advantage, and the visitors eventually emerged as the 43-25 victors in Rivere Forest.

Much of the crowd was not fully settled in their seats when the Cougars struck in lightning fashion. Taking the ball at the 25 as WLC booted the opening kickoff out of the end zone, Rob Granquist hit Rashad Lofton on a short route, and the speedy senior did the rest as he outraced the defense 75 yards to the end zone. Orlando Hayes added the extra point, and CUC had a 7-0 lead just 12 seconds into the game.

While the visitors were stunned by the fast start, it did not set them back on their heels. Instead, Wisconsin Lutheran controlled the ball for most of the quarter and kept CUC's offense off the field. The Cougars kept the Warriors without points on their first three drives, with Peyton Seidler's fumble recovery putting an end to one drive at the CUC 16. However, the Warriors were able to win back field position, and it paid off for them with a touchdown in the first minute of the second quarter. Jared Bruemmer's four-yard run capped a 53-yard drive, and the game was tied at 7-7.

Late in the half, Emilio Araiza took over at quarterback, and his first drive produced instant results. He completed successive passes to Ryan Allison for 15 yards, Lofton for seven yards and then Corey Dooley on a fly pattern down the right side for a 30-yard touchdown. The extra point missed, but CUC had a 13-7 lead with just 73 seconds remaining before halftime.

Wisconsin Lutheran wasted no time, as quarterback Pat Mathieson led the Warriors downfield, using the sidelines judiciously to save time. He used just 43 seconds to put his team in the end zone, hitting J.K. Witkofski from 24 yards out to tie the score. Sasha Bornschlegl's extra point then gave WLC the 14-13 lead at the half.

Looking to take back the momentum as the second half began, the Cougars caught the Warriors napping on the kickoff. Hayes hit a dribbler that took a perfect bounce, allowing Deshawn Battle to fall on the onside kick. The Cougars had starting position at their own 49, and Corey Sheehan's 10-yard run picked up a quick first down. However, the drive stalled as Araiza's fourth-down pass to Dooley was broken up, and the Warriors took over. They needed just eight plays to extend their lead as Bruemmer scored from nine yards out to give WLC a 21-13 lead.

A quick three-and-out returned the ball to the WLC side, and the Cougars found themselves in a deeper hole. Mathieson connected with Theo Belhomme on a 36-yard pass play, and Mathieson then ran in from 14 yards out. Suddenly, the Cougars were trailing 28-13 midway through the third quarter.

Just as swiftly as the Warriors had extended their lead,however, the quick-strike Cougars returned. Following the kickoff and return, Lofton stung the visitors again with a long touchdown reception, hauling in Araiza's deep throw and completing the 68-yard scoring play. Once again, CUC attempted a two-point conversion but came up short, and the score stood at WLC 28, CUC 19.

The Warriors' momentum sparked up again as the kickoff return brought the ball to the 50. Two Mathieson completions moved the ball inside the five-yard line, and Austin DeNoyer's one-yard plunge capped the scoring drive ro build the lead to 34-19.

Concordia-Chicago made one more run in the fourth quarter as Kareem Dabney's interception provided the opportunity. a 30-yard pass to Allison and a 23-yard pass to Lofton  put CUC in the red zone, and the score came on a seven-yard strike to Allison. However, the inability to convert after a touchdown cost the Cougars again, and it remained a two-score game at 34-25 with 11 minutes remaining.

Wisconsin Lutheran then took the remaining wind out of CUC's sails as they held the ball for nearly eight minutes. The drive was extended with a couple of conversions on a third-and-14 and a fourth-and-one. When Mathieson hit Witkofski with a five-yard scoring pass with 3:05 left, the final result was all but sassured. The Warriors then added a final field goal following a Cougars' fumble deep in their zone.

The Warriors outgained the Cougars for the day, 489 yards to 324. WLC rushed for 224 yards, led by Austin DeNoyer's 82. Mathieson threw for 265 yards on 19 of 34 with Belhomme catching six passes for 108 yards. The Cougars rushed for 31 yards and passed for 293 yards as quarterbacks Araiza, Granquist and Brandon Kowalkowski combined for 14 of 34. 
Receivers Lofton and Allison had big days in their final games for CUC; Lofton caught five passes for 178 yards, and Allison caught four for 60 yards, establishing a new CUC record for catches in a season with 67.

Defensively, Adeoluwa Olaniyan notched a career-high 11 tackles (10 solo) while Thaddous Daniel added 12 tackles(five solo) and Tim Bahr 10 (five solo).

Concordia-Chicago finishes the season at 4-6 overall, 2-4 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.