Oct. 26, 2019 - A festive mood was in the air on Saturday morning as the Concordia University Chicago Cougars were set to square off against Concordia University Wisconsin for Homecoming Weekend.. However, the rain and cold that blanketed the area helped to take the edge off the excitement, and some key mistakes in the second half by the home team would finally put a damper on the afternoon as the CUW Falcons defeated the CUC Cougars 34-15.
The Falcons took the opening kickoff and were on the move when a mishandled snap from center caused CUW to take a 10-yard loss, and they would have to punt moments later. The Cougars would also have to punt on their initial drive after a couple of first downs. but they would gain on field position, which would lead to the opening score.
On the Falcons' second play of their next possession, the ball was knocked loose and recovered by CUC's Tyler Dudley at the CUW 22. It took just two plays to convert the visitor's miscue into points, as Eric Hoff ran the ball on an end-around for 16 yards down to the six. The following handoff was to Lance Moise, who powered into the end zone for a 6-0 lead (extra point hit the upright).
The Cougars stopped the Falcons again on the ensuing possession before embarking on a 60-yard drive. Jaxon Aubry hit Hoff on an 11-yard completion, and Moise and Juan Urrea both picked up 10-yard gains. The drive would stall on the CUW eight, but the Cougars came away with three points as Andrew Lechuga put the ball between the uprights from 25 yards out, and CUC led 9-0 with 1:05 remaining in the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter, the Cougars had a great chance to extend their lead as a CUW wide receiver tipped a pass right into the hands of Dudley. The linebacker returned the ball 40 yards to the CUW 23, and it appeared as if CUC Was in business. However, a holding penalty kept the Cougars from gaining a first down, and a 42-yard field goal fell short.
The Falcons would get on the board with 5:29 remaining in the quarter as quarterback James Linn would complete passes of 15 yards to Jake Riportella and 22 yards to Isaiah Tennette. The Falcons advanced to the 21-yard line, from where Linn would do it himself on a scramble to the left, cutting it back into the middle and reaching the end zone. The Cougars' lead was 9-6 after the extra point was blocked.
Concordia-Chicago was pinned inside their 10 on the following kickoff, and a motion penalty ensured that they would have to punt. Concordia Wisconsin too over at the CUC 41 and needed just four plays to take the lead. Matt Montgomery ran the ball in from 15 yards out, and CUW led 13-9.
The Cougars took the ball with 2:34 remaining and looked to regain the lead by halftime. Aubry connected with Semaj James to the CUW 18, but three straight incompletions and a fumble on fourth down would end the Cougars' chances, and the halftime score remained at Falcons 13, Cougars 9.
The weather conditions worsened as the teams took the field for the second half. Midway through the quarter, the Falcons drove to the Cougars' 11, but they were stopped on fourth down when Collin Salmon Jr. hauled down Linn. However, Aubry's first pass on the CUC drive was picked off by Troy Stewart, who took it 15 yards to the south end zone for the momentum-reversing touchdown and a 20-9 lead.
As the fourth quarter began, the Cougars were on the drive and would make good on a 15-play drive. Moise's second touchdown of the day would narrow the gap, as he took a handoff on a third-and-one at the 19, slipped through a hole off-tackle and ran untouched into the end zone. CUC failed on a two-point conversion attempt, but they were within 20-15 with 12:49 remaining.
The Cougars' hopes of another fourth-quarter comeback this week would take a couple of hits over the next few minutes. The Falcons returned the kickoff to midfield, and Montgomery's run on the first play went down to the one. CUW went back to Montgomery on the next snap, and he punched it into the end zone for the 27-15 lead. The ensuing kickoff was then fumbled by the Cougars, with the Falcons recovering at the 31. Two plays later, with runs of 11 and 20 yards, Montgomery was in the end zone again with the insurance score and the final points of the soggy afternoon.
Montgomery finished with 203 yards on 31 carries, while Linn was 15 of 27 for 146 yards. For CUC, Moise rushed for 156 yards on 30 carries, while quarterbacks Aubry and Beaudette combined for 14-28 passing for 110 yards. The defensive leaders were, for CUW, Connor Stoming with 14 tackles (11 solo) and Stewart with six tackles, two sacks and the interception. For CUC, Dudley had 13 tackles (six solo), a forced fumble and recovery, and the interception.
The Cougars (4-3, 2-2 NACC) will host Wisconsin Lutheran College next Saturday, Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. The Cougars will honor their seniors before start of the final home game of 2019.
Homecoming Spirits Dampened as Cougars Fall to Falcons
/seasons/2019/boxscores/20191026_3q74.xml
2019
Concordia (Wis.)
34
Concordia-Chicago
15
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concordia (Wis.) (3-4) | 0 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 34 |
| Concordia-Chicago (4-3) | 9 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 15 |
Oct 26, 2019