ROCKFORD, Ill. - Saturday marked the 2013 home opener for the Rockford University football team. The Regents welcomed the Loras College Duhawks to Sam Greeley Field for the fourth ever meeting between the two schools. The Rockford offense was able to put up some amazing numbers including 526 yards of total offense and 33 points. However, Rockford really hurt themselves in a few key areas on Saturday. The Regents committed 11 penalties, turned the ball over 5 times and had 6 drives start inside their own 15-yard line. The Duhawks took advantage of the miscues and went on to win the game by a final of 44-33.
Despite never leading in the game, the Regents were able to pull within striking distance on multiple occasions throughout the day. After Loras jumped out to a quick 13-0 lead, senior quarterback Aabed Nekrawesh (Fremont, Calif./Fremont) led his team on a 5-play, 75-yard drive capped off by a 24-yard touchdown pass to Delroy Russell Jr. (Richmond, Calif./Albany) cutting the Duhawk lead to 13-7. Loras answered back with two touchdowns of its own and just when it looked like the Regents would enter the half down 27-7 the Rockford passing attack struck once again to narrow the Loras lead. Nekrawesh connected on a 70-yard pass to Russell who was pushed out of bounds at the 2-yard line with less than 30 seconds remaining before halftime. That is when All-American tight end Dane Kirk (Rochelle, Ill./Rochelle) took over and grabbed 2-yard touchdown reception to put his team back within two scores, trailing 27-14 heading into halftime.
The second half started off great for Rockford as it struck first cutting into the Duhawk lead. The Regents put together a 12-play, 89-yard drive capped off by a 2-yard run by senior running back Matthew Botello (Whittier/Pioneer) bringing Rockford to within 6 points. However, the Duhawks then extended their lead to 37-21 late in the fourth quarter before the Regents made one final push down the stretch. Once again it was Dane Kirk who pulled the Regents to within ten when he finished off a 6-play, 62-yard drive by hauling in a 10-yard touchdown reception. Down ten with just 3:27 left in the 4th quarter, Rockford was forced to go for a 2-point conversion. However it was not meant to be as Nekrawesh's pass fell incomplete in the back of the endzone. Loras put the game away on its next possession with its fifth touchdown of the game en route to a 44-33 win.
Multiple players on the Rockford offensive unit put together impressive performances despite the loss. Dane Kirk was a human highlight reel the entire afternoon. The big tight end hauled in 10 receptions for 100 yards and 2 touchdowns which led Rockford in all three categories. Delroy Russell Jr. finished with 2 grabs for 94 yards and 1 touchtown. Out of the backfield it was Matthew Botello who anchored the Regents ground game. Botello carried the ball 21 times for 109 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Defensively Rockford was able to come up with some solid performances as well. Junior defensive back Jacob Gorsuch (Cherry Valley, Ill./Jefferson) led the team in total tackles with 11 and solo tackles with 8. Fellow junior Seth Swinehart (Rockford, Ill./East) was not far behind finishing with 9 tackles. Swinehart also recorded 1.5 tackles for loss. The Regents were also able to get pressure on the quarterback recording their first two sacks of the season. Rayfield Smith (Chicago Ridge, Ill./Harold L. Richards) had one sack while Jinks Arnold (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield North) and Hugo Olivas (Bolingbrook, Ill./Downers Grove South) each recorded a half a sack.
The Regents return to the gridiron on Saturday, September 21 at Olivet College. Kickoff is set for noon.
