Oct. 12, 2019 - For the Concordia-Chicago football team and their fans, Saturday's game at Aurora University was one of mixed blessings. Senior Lance Moise became CUC's all-time rushing leader and also the first in school history to go over 4,000 yards. However, the Cougars could not match the collective firepower of the Spartans as Aurora's offense continued to sizzle this season. The Spartans downed the Cougars by a 63-27 score, improving to 4-1, 2-0 in conference, while dropping CUC to 3-2, 1-1.
The Cougars won the toss and deferred. The Spartans' first play from scrimmage saw Antonio Sanders break up and nearly intercept a pass down the middle, and from that point on, the Spartans would take what they were given underneath. The drive lasted 11 plays covering 67 yards. with Gavin Zimbelman throwing to Jacolby Maxwell at the pylon from 11 yards out.
Following the kickoff, the Cougars were intercepted on the first play, giving the Spartans' prime field position. Tyler Creamer sacked Zimbelman on the first play, but Zimbelman came back to hit Colton Jewell on a short pass. Jewell broke a couple of tackles, and the result of the play was a 24-yard touchdown. The Spartans led just 4:20 into the game.
The Cougars' second possession picked up a first down saw Lance Moise convert a third-and seven to pick up the Cougars' initial first down. Griffin Beaudette and Da'Nas Pinellas then hooked up on a third-and-six to move the chains again. Later in the drive, Moise got loose on a 28-yard run down to the six. Moise was pushed back a yard on a pitch, but on third down, he powered up the middle and kept his balance into the end zone for the Cougars first touchdown. Andrew Lechuga's extra point made the score Aurora 14, CUC 7. Moise's rushing total on the drive was eight carries, 58 yards
Aurora answered on the next drive, and it was two running plays that jumped up to bite CUC. A 27-yard run by Tyran Bailey after he escaped a tackle in the backfield gained a first down at the Cougar 39. Later on the drive, Zimbelman was back to pass, and he evaded a CUC rush by cutting toward the left side. He would scamper 21 yards into the end zone for the score, and Aurora led 21-7 with 1:07 remaining in the opening quarter
On the first two plays of the second quarter, Moise's moment came. On a third-and-one from the Aurora 49, Moise found a hole off-tackle and was not caught until the Spartans hauled him down at the Aurora five. The 44-yard run brought him to within two yards of Khyree Copeland's all-time mark of 3,957 yards, and fittingly, Moise would break the record on a five-yard jaunt to the end zone. Moise's carer total was now 3.960, and the Cougars were within 21-14.
Unfortunately for CUC, Aurora's momentum was not slowed. The Spartans answered with an eight-play, 65-yard drive that culminated in a Tyran Bailey three-yard run. The Cougars would not be able to put up points on their next drive, but it appeared as if they had a chance to put the Spartans in a hole as Levi Hrabos' punt was downed at the two. Nevertheless, Aurora drove 98 yards with Jewell catching a 32-yard pass for his second score of the day.
Concordia-Chicago did have the final say in the half as they scored with 34 seconds remaining. Beaudette connected on passes of 15 yards to Pinellas and 17 yards to Semaj James, the latter advancing the ball to the 13. From there, Beaudette dropped back and, seeing his receivers covered, took off toward the right sideline. He beat the final defender to the pylon for the touchdown, making the score Aurora 35, CUC 20 (extra point blocked).
The Spartans put the game away with two scores in the third quarter on drives of 47 and 42 yards. The Cougars put together an 11-play drive in the quarter, marching as deep as the AU 15, but a sack on third down and an interception on fourth down would deny them any points.
Aurora put up two more touchdowns in the fourth before CUC added the game's final seven points. Jaxon Aubry saw his first action at quarterback in three weeks, Aubry's 33-yard scramble brought the ball to midfield, and Aubry then hit Corey Dooley on a pass good for 42 yards to the four. Aubry then threw to the right corner of the end zone where Pinellas hauled it in for the points.
Moise would finish with 205 yards rushing on 28 carries and the two touchdowns. Today marked the sixth time in his career that Moise has rushed for 200+ yards. His career total is now at 4.059 yards, and his rushing touchdowns give him 47, adding to the new career record he established last week versus Lakeland University.
The Cougars finished with 384 yards of offense for the day. Quarterbacks Beaudette and Aubry combined for 11 of 19 passing for 123 yards, with Pinellas making five catches for 35 yards and the touchdown, and Dooley making three catches for 61 yards, highlighted by the 42-yarder. On defense. Matt Henning made 12 tackles (seven solo) while Creamer had nine tackles, including two sacks for minus-12 yards.
Aurora wracked up 538 yards with Zimbelman throwing for 319 yards and six touchdowns on 28 of 36. Maxwell was his top receiver with nine catches for 96 yards.
Concordia-Chicago will play at Eureka College next Saturday, Oct. 19. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.