ROCKFORD, Ill. - Saturday afternoon brought a long overdue sight for Regents fans as the Rockford College football team defeated the Maranatha Baptist Bible College Crusaders 34-14. It was the first Northern Athletics Conference win for the Rockford College football program since November 7th, 2009 when Rockford won at Marantha 16-12. Rockford was especially effective on the ground piling up 358 yards rushing. It was the most yards the Regents have chewed up on the ground since October 11th, 2008 when Rockford had 361 yards rushing in a 41-38 overtime win against Concordia University Chicago. The Regents now boast the third best rushing attack in the Northern Athletics Conference averaging 162.0 yards per game.
The first half went back and forth with neither team being able to blow the game wide open. Rockford punched the ball into the endzone first when quarterback Aabed Nekrawesh (Fremont, Calif./Fremont) connected on the 13-yard touchdown pass to fullback Nick Nowdomski (Coal City, Ill./Coal City). The lead would be short lived however as the Crusaders would score on a 17-yard touchdown pass just seven minutes later to tie the game at 7-7. The Regents defense came up huge in the remainder of the first half generating three Crusader turnovers on drives that were inside the Rockford 10-yard line.
The second half had a much different flavor to it than the first as the powerful Regent ground attack would eventually wear down the Crusader defense. Junior running back Matthew Botello (Whittier, Calif./Pioneer) was simply phenominal. Botello broke the 7-7 tie midway through the third quarter when he busted a 91-yard touchdown run and set a Rockford College record for the longest touchdown run in school history. Botello broke the previous school record of a 74-yard touchdown run by Marcus Howard in 2003 against Westminster College. The junior was not done yet though as he would essentially seal the victory midway through the forth quarter when he ran it in from 8 yards out. Botello finished the game with 22 carries for 214 yards with 2 touchdowns. Botello is now the second leading rusher in the Northern Athletics Conference with 739 yards on the ground this season. He trails the NAC leader by just 10 yards. Rockford would add two addition late touchdowns on the ground: a 45-yard run up the middle by senior Isaiah Whack (Deltona, Fla./Deltona) and a tough brusing 13-yard from sophomore Malcolme Ray (Kissimmee, Fla./Liberty).
Defensively the Regents were able to generate six turnovers and end two more Crusder drives on downs. Sophomore Seth Swinehart (Rockford, Ill./East) led the Regents in tackles recording a team-high 12 tackles. It is the second straight week that Swinehart has recorded double-digit tackles as the Rockford native had 16 tackles in his previous game. Senior linebacker Kirk Kabala (Plano, Ill./Plano) also had another outstanding game. Kabala had 9 tackles a fumble recovery and his first interception of the season. Defensive lineman Manuel Macias (Marengo, Ill./Marengo) played a solid all-around game upfront for Rockford. Macias made 6 tackles including a sack and two tackles for loss. In the secondary it was junior defensive back EJ Johnson (Bakersfield, Calif./Bakersfield) who stole the show. Johnson stuffed the stat sheet recording 5 tackles including one tackle for loss, forced a fumble, recoved a fumble, intercepted a pass and had a pass breakup. Johnson is now tied for the NAC lead with 4 interceptions this season.
Rockford will return the field next Saturday October, 27th when they travel to Mequon, Wis. to face the Concorida University Wisconsin Falcons. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
