ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University football team returned home for the first game at Sam Greeley Field in nearly a month after playing its previous two games on the road along with a bye week. Rockford hoped to pick up its first win of the season on Saturday when the Regents hosted the Lakeland College Muskies.
The game began as a defensive struggle and eventually turned into a shootout. Both defenses were stout in the first quarter with neither team surrendering any points. Lakeland broke the scoreless tie with 6-play 68-yard drive early in the second quarter to grab a 7-0 lead. The Muskies extended their lead to 14-0 on their next possession and would take that lead into the half. Following the intermission, Lakeland came out of the locker room on fire scoring on two of its first three possessions pushing its lead to 28-0. Rockford would not go away easily as the Regents punched the ball into the end zone on their next possession. The Regents marched down the field with 5-play 65-yard drive capped off by an impressive 15-yard touchdown run by Milton Phillips Jr. (Rockford, Ill./Guilford). Phillips ran over multiple Muskies and then carried the pile into the end zone for his first to cut down the Muskie lead to just 28-14. It was senior wide receiver Delroy Russell Jr. (Richmond, Calif./Albany) who broke a tackle after a short pass reception and turned it into a 63-yard touchdown. Rockford scored one more time late in the fourth quarter courtesy of tight end Dane Kirk (Rochelle, Ill./Rochelle). Kirk also hauled in a short pass, broke a tackle and rumbled down the sideline for 35-yard touchdown. However, it was not enough as the Regents fell 35-21 to the Muskies.
Offensively it was another fine performance for the Regents skill position players. Delroy Russell Jr. once again led the Regents in receiving yards with 6 catches for 99 yards and one touchdown. Russell now has 715 receiving yards this season and needs just 82 yards over the team's next 5 games to break Rockford's single season record. Dane Kirk also had a nice day catching a game-high 8 passes for 87 yards and touchdown. Kirk now leads the Regents with 31 receptions and needs just 21 more over the second half of the season to break Rockford's single season reception record. Running back Milton Phillips had has best game of the season out of the backfield. Phillips carried the ball 13 times for 68 yards with one touchdown. He also caught a pair of passes for 27 yards.
Defensively Rockford played much better despite what the score may indicate. As a team, the Regents were constantly in the Muskie backfield recording 12 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. The Regents pass defense had by far its best performance of the season allowing the Muskies to complete just 5 passes the entire game for only 83 yards. Sophomore Seth Swinehart (Rockford, Ill./East) spearheaded the defensive attack with a game-high 9 tackles including 2.5 tackles for loss. Sophomore defensive back Jordan Blair (Lanark, Ill./Eastland) had 6 tackles, 2 tackles for loss and his first sack of the year. Senior Moak Brown (Long Beach, Calif./Lakewood) led the way upfront in the defensive line recording 6 tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss and his first sack of the season.
The Regents will try to notch their first win of the season next Saturday, October 19th when they welcome the Benedictine University Eagles to Sam Greeley Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
