The Concordia University Chicago football team (0-1) is back at it this Saturday, March 26, for their second game of their unique 2021 spring season. They'll travel to Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference rival Aurora University (1-0) for their first away game this year.
 
The Cougars opened their season at home with a 28-0 loss to Benedictine, while the Spartans blew out Eureka College on the road 42-7.
 
Last Saturday's opener saw the return of junior quarterback Jordan Sepulveda (Lake Worth, Fla.) after a year away at St. Thomas University (Fla.). He completed 23 passes for 191 yards ground but will look to lead the offense to a more successful second game. Hoping to follow up a standout performance will be junior wide receiver Semaj James (Lakeland, Fla.), who racked up 95 total yards gained both on the ground and through the air.
 
On the other side of the ball, the Cougars will pick up where they left off after a solid performance that held Benedictine scoreless for the first 28 minutes of the second half. Sophomore defensive lineman Julian Ramirez (Zion, Ill.) and junior linebacker Tyler Dudley (Katy, Texas) will be the players to watch after combining for 14 total tackles last week.
 
It will be no easy task, however, with Aurora returning their biggest offensive weapon.
The Spartans are led by senior quarterback Gavin Zimbelman, who will make his 31st appearance with his eyes set on eclipsing 7,000 career passing yards. He is also coming off a 2019 season in which he threw for 3,614 yards and 57 touchdowns. Zimbelman ranks second among active DIII players in both passing yards and total offense.
 
A win for the Cougars would be their sixth all-time against Aurora and fourth on the road. It would also break a five-game losing streak, with the Cougars last victory being an extremely defensive 14-13 win back in November 2014.
 
Kickoff is scheduled for noon on Saturday and the game can be streamed via the Aurora University athletics website: athletics.aurora.edu.