|
|
Week 5
The Aurora University football team improved their season record to 2-2 on Saturday afternoon, as they beat visiting Panthers of Greenville College 16-0. The win takes Aurora’s Illini-Badger Football Conference record to 2-0, while Greenville falls to 1-3 on the season and 0-2 in the IBFC.
The story of the day was the Spartan defense. Led by sophomore linebacker Mike Budzinski (eight tackles), sophomore linebacker Dave Gesiakowski (seven tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery) and junior defensive back Matt Meyer (five tackles and one interception), the AU defense allowed Greenville just 153 total yards on the afternoon and kept Panther quarterback Dominic Kegel under wraps. Kegel managed 162 yards on the day (54 rushing and 108 passing).
The first quarter was dominated by the defenses of both teams, with both teams trading turnovers, Meyer’s interception of Kegel came on the first play of the game. AU and freshman kicker Ryan Subick missed a 22-yard field goal attempt for a 0-0 first quarter score.
Aurora got on the board early in the second quarter, when junior running back Jeff Fellers pounded in a three-yard touchdown run. The touchdown was preceded by a Craig McQuade to Travis Paro strike for 15 yards. The extra point attempt was no good.
Greenville kicker Kyle Sanniec would have two field goal attempts (38 and 41) miss and Aurora took a 6-0 lead into halftime.
Aurora took the second half kick and five minutes into the third quarter, McQuade scampered around the left end en route to a two-yard touchdown run and following the two-point conversion run by Ryne Reder, AU led 14-0. The junior QB had a solid day, going 12 of 21 passing for 126 yards and one interception, while also adding the touchdown run.
Greenville was able to keep the Spartans off the scoreboard as the fourth quarter began, when Aurora was unable to convert on a first and goal from the Greenville eight yard line. The Panther’s defense stiffened and stuffed Reder on four rushing attempts, two from inside the four yard line. Despite not finding the end zone, Reder finished the day as the Spartan offensive workhorse with 30 carries for 129 yards.
The Aurora defense responded, holding the Greenville offense pinned deep in their territory, forcing a punt by Daniel Covert. That is where the day’s scoring would come to a close. The attempted punt near the Greenville goal line resulted in a wild snap that went through the back of the end zone. The safety gave Aurora the 16-0 lead which would hold up as the games final score.
Greenville punter Daniel Covert had a 72 yard punt in the middle of the fourth quarter downed at the AU four yard-line. The punting effort ties an AU Field record which dates back to 1990, when Benedictine University’s Willy Fajkus had a 72 yard punt as well.
The Spartans return to action next Saturday (October 6) as they travel to Wisconsin to take on IBFC foe Concordia University, WI. Game time is set for 1:00 pm in Mequon, WI
Week 4
The Aurora University Spartan football team notched its first win of the season on Saturday afternoon as they beat the MacMurray College Highlanders 47-0 in the Illini-Badger Football Conference opener at AU Field.
The win pushes Aurora’s record to 1-2 overall and 1-0 in the IBFC, while MacMurray falls to 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the IBFC.
Aurora would score early and often in the opening quarter of play, with AU sophomore running back Ryne Reder scoring three times in the opening frame on 13 ruches and 100 yards.
Aurora got on the board on its opening possession as Reder pushed in a two yard run to put the Spartans up 7-0 with 9:09 left to play.
The Spartan defense forced MacMurray to a quick three and out and with six and a half minutes left in the first quarter, Reder again found the end zone, this time he broke away for a 69 yard touchdown run.
A little over a minute later, after another Highlander three and out, Reder scored again, this time from four yards out, making the score 20-0. The score was set up by a fantastic punt return by freshman Sean Saglin. Saglin’s 43 yard return set up the AU offense at the MacMurray four yard line.
Both teams traded possessions as MacMurray was able to stop Aurora on the fourth possession on an interception by freshman defensive back Josh Davidson. But on the Highlanders first play, freshman running back Chris Booker fumbled the football on a hit by Spartan linebacker Mike Budzinski. AU defensive end Mike DeVries scooped up the loose ball in the end zone to widen the Aurora lead to 27-0.
The second quarter saw Aurora score once on a Reder one yard touchdown run and Aurora took a 34-0 lead to halftime.
With 2:27 left in the third quarter, senior fullback Brent Harner broke away for a 10-yard touchdown run. His TD made the score 41-0 in favor of Aurora. And with 13:30 left in the fourth quarter, junior running back Jeff Fellers capped off the Spartan scoring with a one-yard touchdown run.
For the day, the Spartan offense finished with 309 yards rushing on 55 carries and 448 total yards of offense. A stingy Aurora defense held MacMurray to 103 total yards on 51 plays.
Offensively for Aurora, Reder finished with 153 yards on 23 carries and four touchdowns, Fellers had 13 carries for 70 yards and one touchdown.
Defensively, AU was led by junior linebacker Chris Jackowiak (eight tackles, one and one-half quarterback sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery), Mike Budzinski (five tackles, one quarterback sack and one forced fumble), and Mike DeVries one tackle and one fumble recovery for a touchdown).
MacMurray was led by Robert Brooks 38 yards on 13 carries and Tobias Alaribe (ten tackles and one and one half quarterback sacks).
Week 2
Spartans Fall in Home Opener to Coe Kohawks
The Aurora University Spartan football team fell to 0-2 on the season Saturday afternoon on AU Field, after being defeated 37-7 by the visiting Kohawks of Coe College. Coe improved to 2-0 on the season with the win.
Leading the way for Coe was quarterback Andy TeKippe, who went 27-of-38 on the day with 328 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Daniel Wagner had 20 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown and seven receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown, while receiver Nick Ratchford had nine catches for 102 yards and a touchdown.
On the other side of the ball, Coe’s defense never allowed Aurora’s running game and back Ryne Reder to get going, as the visitors limited Reder to 25 yards on 14 carries. Despite the efficient play of Spartan quarterback Craig McQuade, who was six of 10 for 80 yards, Coe’s defense prevailed only giving up the lone Spartan score.
Coe‘s Wagner scored the first points of the game with 4:59 left in the first quarter. His rushing touchdown was quickly followed up by a Coe field goal (Elliot Rausa) in order to make the score 10-0 at the end of the first quarter. The field goal was the first of three on the day for Rausa (22 yards, 22 yards and 21 yards).
A TeKippe touchdown pass to Ratchford made the score 17-0 with three minutes left in the second quarter.
The big play of the game for Aurora came in the second quarter when McQuade connected with freshman wide receiver Levi Reeder on a 48 yard touchdown. The reception highlighted a solid day for the freshman receiver, as he went on to finish with three receptions and 55 yards receiving.
Coe struck back just 1:23 later and with 47 seconds on the game clock in the first-half on a TeKippe to Wagner eight yard touchdown reception.
The second half saw much of the same as Coe would out score 13-0 over the final 30 minutes. Coe’s Sam Hammes scored on a six yard run and Rausa connected on his second and third field goals.
Defensively, the Kohawks were led by Kyle Brockmeyer (seven tackles and a forced fumble) and Tate Harrison (seven tackles – one and one-half tackles for loss). Tom Breitbach had three punt returns for 62 yards and two kickoff returns for 50 yards.
Aurora was led by Matt Meyer (11 tackles and one pass break-up), Tony Musaraca (11 tackles) and Marcus Goedken (10 tackles, three for loss and half a quarterback sack). Meyer, the Spartan punter, had 10 punts for 373 yards and a long of 52.
The Spartans have next week off and play again on Saturday, September 22, against Illini-Badger Football Conference foe MacMurray College. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. at AU Field. |
|
|
