ROCKFORD, Ill. - Rockford put forth its best home effort of the season on Saturday against the Wisconsin Lutheran College Warriors (4-5, 3-2 NACC). Despite never leading in the game, the Regents were able to hang around and give themselves a chance in the fourth quarter. However, it was not meant to be as the Warriors hung on for a 27-12 victory.

Wisconsin Lutheran got the scoring started midway through the first quarter on its first possession of the afternoon. The Warriors used a nice mix of play calling on a 13-play 95-yard drive to grab an early 7-0 lead. 

Late in the first quarter the Rockford offense was set up with excellent field position thanks to a turnover created by the Regents special teams unit. Junior Josh Holsinger (Tinley Park, Ill./Tinley Park) forced a fumble on a muffed punt by the Warriors, which was then recovered by freshman Dustin Murdock (Trenton, Tenn./Gibson County) at the Wisconsin Lutheran 5-yard line. It took Rockford's offense just one play to score when senior quarterback Aabed Nekrawesh (Fremont, Calif./Fremont) found junior tight end Dane Kirk (Rochelle, Ill./Rochelle) in the back of the end zone for a touchdown. Rockford would miss the extra point allowing the Warriors to retain a 7-6 lead.

The Warriors added to their lead in the second quarter scoring a touchdown on a 10-play, 76-yard drive to make it a 13-6 game. However, like the Regents earlier, Wisconsin Lutheran would miss the point after keeping it a 7-point game entering halftime.

The Wisconsin Lutheran offense struck first in the second half, just as they had done in the opening half. This time on a 4-yard touchdown run to widen their lead to 20-6.

With the game entering the fourth quarter and the Regents still down by 14 points, it is was Rockford's defense that set up its offense with great field position. Sophomore cornerback Reginald Haynes (Chicago, Ill./Prosser Career Academy) forced a fumble that was recovered by fellow sophomore Hugo Olivas (Bolingbrook, Ill./Downers Grove South) at the Wisconsin Lutheran 49-yard line. Nekrawesh then engineered a 6-play, 49-yard drive capped off by an 11-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Rob Toth (Huntington Beach, Calif./Edison). The Regents again faltered on point after and thus still trailed 20-12.  

Despite making it a one-possession game, the Warrior offense sealed the game on their next possession with a 12-play drive that took over six minutes. The Warriors were able to convert on a pair of third downs on the drive before scoring their fourth touchdown of the game en route to the 27-12 victory.

Offensively the Regents saw multiple records go by the wayside on Saturday. Quarterback Aabed Nekrawesh broke multiple records and now currently holds a total of 9 Rockford University records. Nekrawesh's 30 pass completions and 49 pass attempts each easily broke the previous records of 21 completions and 41 attempts. The senior now holds single game records in completions, attempts, passing yards, longest touchdown pass and total offense. He is also single season record holder in passing yards, completions, attempts and total offense. Senior wide receiver Delroy Russell Jr. (Richmond, Calif./Albany) tied the single game school record with 11 receptions on Saturday. He already holds the school record in both receiving yards in a game and a season. Currently Russell has 999 yards receiving this season needing just 1-yard in his final collegiate game to reach the 1,000 yard mark. Dane Kirk was the final Regent to rewrite the record book against Wisconsin Lutheran. Kirk caught 10 passes bringing his season total to 55 receptions and breaking the single season record. 

The defense did not set any records but had multiple players turn in their best performances of 2013. Senior Nicholas Lloyd (Rosamond, Calif./Rosamond) had a monster game leading the Regents and tying his season high with 10 tackles. Safety Ian Walton (Acworth, Ga./Sprayberry) had a season-high 10 tackles including one tackle for loss. Cornerback Reginald Haynes played his best game of the year as well. Haynes recorded 9 tackles, forced a fumble and intercepted a pass.

The Rockford University football team will play its final game of the season on Saturday, November 16th at 12:00 p.m. at Aurora University.