LISLE, ILL. — The Concordia University Chicago (CUC) football team (0-3, 0-1) opened up Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference (NACC) play on Saturday by paying a visit to the Benedictine University Eagles (1-2, 1-1). Despite tying the game early, Concordia could do little to contain a high-powered Benedictine offense, losing the game 48-14.
-Inside the Box Score
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Troy Pratley (St. Joseph, Mich.) went 14/24 for 150 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
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Pratley's highschool teammate, Joron Brown (St. Joseph, Mich.), caught a receiving touchdown while rushing for 62 yards.
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Jayce Levy (Davenport, IA) also reeled in a touchdown pass.
-How it Happened
1st Quarter
The game started as a defensive back-and-forth, but Benedictine broke through with 7:41 left in the quarter thanks to a Gregory Hoard 40-yard touchdown run. The Cougars responded on the next drive however, when Brown took a short pass from Pratley the 13 yards required for a touchdown. Heading into the second, the two teams were tied 7-7.
2nd Quarter
Benedictine found their offensive footing in the second. Less than two minutes into the quarter, Nathan Rillo punched in the touchdown on a six-yard run to give the Eagles a 14-7 lead. Following a CUC turnover on downs, Rillo struck again, catching a 25-yard pass from Hector Gonzalez for the score.
After another Concordia turnover thanks to downs, Hoard scored his second touchdown of the day with a one-yard rush, building the Eagles's lead to 28-7. This is where the score stood as the dueling squads left for the locker rooms at halftime.
3rd Quarter
Receiving the second half kickoff, Benedictine's offense picked up right where they left off, scoring another touchdown on Nick Shelton's 19-yard touchdown reception. CUC got back on the board the following drive, which was capped off with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Pratley to Levy, cutting Benedictine's lead down to 35-14.
That score gap did not hold for long though, as Rillo's third touchdown of the day wrapped up a near four minute drive. When the third quarter came to a close, the Eagles were in control, 42-14.
4th Quarter
Concordia's drive stalled out to start the final quarter of regulation, giving the ball back to Benedictine. On this drive, the Eagles ate up roughly eight minutes of clock to score yet again, the touchdown coming from Blake Shoddie on the ground.
Following one more failed Concordia drive, Benedictine ran the clock out to clinch their victory, 48-14.
-Up Next
NACC play continues next weekend for CUC with the battle of the Concordias. The Cougars host Concordia University Wisconsin on Saturday, Sept. 30, for Homecoming. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m., and coverage can be found on our website,
cucougars.com.
