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lance moise
54
Winner Benedictine (Ill.) BENEDICT 3-7 , 3
41
Concordia-Chicago CUC 2-8 , 1
Winner
Benedictine (Ill.) BENEDICT
3-7 , 3
54
Final
41
Concordia-Chicago CUC
2-8 , 1
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
BENEDICT Benedictine (Ill.) 21 6 14 13 54
CUC Concordia-Chicago 0 13 7 21 41

Game Recap: Football | | Neil O'Donnell, Athletic Communications Assistant

Moise Sets Season Rushing Record, But Cougars Bow in Finale

Nov. 10, 2018 – Concordia University Chicago and Benedictine University met on the football gridiron for the 81st time this afternoon to wrap up the 2018 season. It was a bittersweet day for CUC fans, as they witnessed junior running back Lance Moise set a new single-season rushing record, even while the visiting Eagles won the game by a final score of 54-41.

The first quarter was all Eagles, as they caught the Cougars by surprise on the opening kickoff. A line-drive kick hit off a CUC player, and Benedictine recovered to give themselves the initial possession of the game. They would score on an eight-play drive, quarterback Tyler Jarnagin doing the honors on a 15-yard scramble. The Eagles remained hot as they scored on two subsequent drives to lead 21-0 after one quarter of play.

Starting the second quarter, the Cougars began to move the ball behind Moise. The game had started ominously with Moise being brought down for a loss on each of his first two carries, but that soon changed. Moise would cover 50 yards on the Cougars' first scoring drive and, after a Jordan Sepulveda to Eric Hoff pass would take the ball to the one-yard line, Moise finished the job with the first of his five touchdowns on the day, and CUC was within 21-7.

The Eagles got the touchdown back on a 5-yard run by Troy Menna to take a 27-7 lead (extra point blocked by Randall Klaage). But Moise would not be stopped, bringing the Cougars right back. After a 14-yard run jump-started the drive, followed by a 19-yard pass from Sepulveda to Hoff, Moise scored on one of his prettiest touchdown runs of the year. Beginning as a run to the left side, Moise avoided a tackle near the sideline and cut back to the right, outrunning the last couple of defenders. The score had the Cougars back in the chase, although their extra point kick was blocked; the half ended with the score Benedictine 27, Concordia-Chicago 13.

Benedictine received the second-half kickoff, and a good return let them set up shop near midfield. It would take them nine plays to get to the end zone, with Williams' five-yard run making the score 34-13. The visitors would strike again after stopping the Cougars on downs at the BenU 33. They needed just three plays, with Williams getting loose on a 47-yard run to take their largest lead at 28 points.

Concordia-Chicago answered with a 62-yard scoring drive. Moise would run for gains of 12 and 16 yards, but this score came through the air. Sepulveda hooked up with Moise for an 18-yard completion and, moments later, would hit Robert Barragan from 14 yards out to make the score Eagles 41, Cougars 20.

The Cougars had a chance to cut into the Eagles' lead after forcing a punt, but instead, an interception and a return to the nine-yard line set up Benedictine's next score. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Williams scored from two yards out to restore the visitors' lead to 28 at 48-20.

Early on in the Cougars' ensuing drive, Moise broke off a 14-yard run that enabled him to break Khyree Copeland's single-season record of 1,566 yards. Moise still had more in his bag of tricks, however. He later added a 12-yard run to keep the drive going, and he capped the drive with a two-yard run to bring CUC within 21 points.

Benedictine punted again on their next drive, and matters became a bit more interesting when Moise got free on his longest run of the day, a 68-yarder that took the ball down to the Eagles' 15. Two carries by Tylor Martens took the ball to the two, and Moise would get the call from there. His fourth rushing touchdown of the day gave him 18 on the season, tying Copeland's season record from 2010 and making the score Benedictine 48, Concordia-Chicago 34.

Any thoughts of a late CUC comeback came crashing down as the Eagles marched 65 yards for an insurance score on Williams' five-yard run. His score came with 4:26 remaining. The Cougars would get one more score as Moise played the role of receiver, Sepulveda throwing to him for a 13-yard score. Concordia-Chicago then recovered an onside kick, Jeshua Torrens doing the honors, but CUC would lose the ball on downs and allow Benedictine to run out the clock.

Moise ran for a career-high 328 yards on 43 carries, raising his new season-record total to 1,678 yards. His three-year career total stands at 3,415 yards, and he will take aim next season at Copeland's career total of 3.957 yards.

The Cougars massed 534 yards of offense today, with Sepulveda throwing for 203 yards on 17 of 41. Hoff was the team's leading receiver with seven catches for 58 yards. 

For Benedictine, Williams ran for 227 yards and five touchdowns, Jarnigan was 19 of 25 passing for 210 yards as the Eagles totaled 527 yards of offense. Alex Mitchell caught six passes for an even 100 yards.

The Cougars finish the season 2-8 overall and 1-6 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.



   
 

   

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