What: CUC Football at Concordia University Wisconsin 
Where: Tomasini Stadium, Mequon, WI
When: Saturday, Oct. 20, 1:00 PM
Links: Video   Live Stats

In sports, it's not variety that is the spice of life, but rivalry. And that is the case for the Concordia-Chicago Cougars this Saturday as they travel to the Badger State to renew acquaintances with the Concordia Wisconsin Falcons.

As with the Aurora series, this is a rivalry that was heavily lopsided for some years but has tilted back the other way in more recent meetings. Concordia Wisconsin once owned a 25-2 lead in the series, including 21 straight wins between 1988 and 2008. However, a memorable 22-21 overtime victory in CUC's 2009 Homecoming game began to turn the tide, and the Cougars now come into this week's game having won six of the last nine including the last two. In 2016, when the teams last played at CUW's Tomasini Stadium, the Cougars outscored the Falcons 48-38 behind Rob Granquist's 306 passing yards and four TDs, and Lance Moise's 272 rushing yards. Last year's rematch in River Forest saw Shane Virnala throw for four TDs while the CUC defense kept CUW out of the end zone until the fourth quarter in a 37-17 victory.

The Cougars expect to find the Falcons a more formidable foe this time around. Concordia Wisconsin comes in tied with Eureka for first place in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference with 3-0 records. CUW (5-1 overall) is averaging just over 28 points per game behind the double threat of quarterback Aaron Nixon who has not only thrown for 1725 yards and 16 TDs this season but also rushed for a team-leading 423 yards. In the passing game, Nixon's favorite target by far has been Josh Sanders with 51 catches for 832 yards and 10 of those 16 touchdowns. Defensively, the big names for the Falcons have been senior Dwayne Rackard III and freshman Josiah McDermit. Both played key roles in CUW's 23-20 win at Aurora last Saturday as Rackard recorded a game-high 15 tackles while McDermit had six solo tackles and an interception.

There will be some interesting and key assignments on both sides of the ball, but keep an eye on the trio of CUC linebackers as they look to keep the Falcons' offense and particularly Nixon contained. Thaddous Daniel Jr. (CUC Male Student-Athlete of the Week) put up 15 tackles (6-9) last week against Eureka, while Rodolfo Payan (8-5) and Matt Henning (6-5) were right behind. All three continue to beb among the NACC leaders, Payan remaining at the top with 11.0 tackles per game. Henning is currently in fourth place and Daniel Jr. in ninth.