RIVER FOREST, ILL.- The Concordia University (CUC) football team hosted at home against Aurora University (AU) for their final season game of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC). With the celebration of Senior Night, CUC couldn't pull off the win that resulted in the ending score of 59-26.
INSIDE THE BOX
- Jakob Redmond (Bishop, Calif.) passed for 261 yards, with four passing touchdowns.
- Kevon Lawson (Pompano Beach, Fla.) led in with 96 receiving yards followed by a CUC touchdown.
- Korey Randle (East Moline, Ill.) contributed to the team with his efforts of 54 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
- Jordan Lacey (Belleville, Ill.) and Devean Shearer (Saint Charles, Ill.) tied defensively for 13 tackles. Lacey led with ten of those solos.
- Will Dotson III (Chicago, Ill.) recovered a fumble for CUC.
HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER
CUC won the toss and deferred to the second half. AU received the ball and started off the game with a 37-yard return. AU began with a strong scoring drive, scoring a touchdown in four plays to put them up on the scoreboard 7-0. With CUC in possession, their inability to convert on downs forces them to punt. Continuing their momentum, AU completed another passing touchdown to raise the score by seven, 14-0. With five minutes remaining, CUC continued trying their running game. Despite Brown rushing for 11 yards in the first two attempts, a fumble and sack left the Cougars giving the Spartans another opportunity at a possession before the second quarter. CUC picking up defensive momentum, created a shutdown on an Aurora possession that caused them to get riled up for unsportsmanlike conduct. The penalty was enforced for CUC on their possession transitioning into the second quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
CUC started off the second quarter with a punt to AU. Beginning possession in Cougar territory, the Spartans rushed for a gain of 29 yards for a touchdown, making it 21-0. CUC continued to struggle, forcing another punt once again. Finding a deep 37-yard pass, AU scored another touchdown 28-0. Switching quarterbacks for CUC, Redmond got the offense going with a deep pass for 35 yards to Randle, advancing in AU territory. Trying to convert on downs, Redmond went deep intended for Randle only for AU to be penalized for pass interference leading CUC to enforce half the distance from the endzone and an automatic first down. Finishing off the drive, Redmond completed a nine yard pass to Randle for a CUC touchdown. With the attempted kick blocked, CUC ended up on the scoreboard 28-6. Strong defensive play from CUC, left AU with a failed field goal attempt. Moving into the CUC offense, big pass plays to both
Jayden Taylor (Southfield, Mich.) and
Wesley Jackson (Robinson, Ill.) for 37 yards gave CUC another opportunity to score before the half. Ending the half, Redmond completed a two yard touchdown pass to
Jaxon Martinus (Birch Run, Mich.). The half ends with CUC trailing AUR, 28-13.
THIRD QUARTER
CUC received the ball to start the second half. Redmond continued having success finding the deep passes, with another completion to Lawson for 25 yards, resulting in a seven yard rush that followed another penalty on AUR leaving CUC in scoring position. Redmond was able to complete a ten yard pass for another touchdown, 28-20. With CUC trying to gain possession again with an attempted onside kick, AU was able to recover possession and start their drive. With seven drives down the field, AU rushed for another touchdown on the board, 35-20. A failed CUC drive left another forced punt. A muffed return by the Spartans left the Cougars with possession recovered by Dotson. Redmond took a chance, finding Lawson for a completed touchdown pass for 32 yards. Missing the previous failed kick attempt, CUC tried for a two-point conversion but was no good. AU came back with possession, continued finding gain, with a 36 yard rush for a touchdown, 42-26. With back to back scoreless drives, AU broke the cycle to complete a 21-yard touchdown. Ending the third quarter, Lawson returned for 31 yards for CUC, but quarter ended with AU leading 42-26.
FOURTH QUARTER
CUC started the fourth quarter with possession but was unable to get a first down, giving AU another opportunity to convert. Leaving the Spartans with possession allowed for them to pick up another rushing touchdown, bumping up the score 56-26. Despite CUC coming in hot with a 23 yard completion, AU found a way to recover a fumble in the next play. AU was unable to score and left CUC with possession on a turnover of downs. With two minutes left, the Spartans completed a field goal to increase the score 59-26. On the final drive of the game, CUC ended the game unable to put another score on the board. Regardless of an intense battle from the Cougars, the Spartans would take the win 59-26.
WHAT IS NEXT
Ending the CUC season, coverage and updates for all things CUC Football can be found at cucougars.com.
