ROCKFORD, Ill.- It has been a trying season for the Rockford University football team since its season-opening win against Lawrence University. Saturday afternoon at Sam Greeley field would be the final home game of the season and the final home game for 15 seniors and head coach Vic Wallace. The visiting Wisconsin Lutheran Warriors, who ranked third in the NACC before the game, looked to spoil the day for the Regents 2014 senior class. Ultimately the game would not go the way Rockford would have planned it, but the Regents flashed some promise for the future and one Regents broke a Rockford career record during the game.
Wisconsin Lutheran, who was second in the NACC in points per game before the game at 24, showed off its high-powered and fast-paced offense for much of the game. They were able to win the field position battle and took advantage of short fields for most of the day. The Warriors started the game hot by putting up 21 points in the first quarter, followed that up with 18 points in the second quarter, 17 points in the third quarter, and they did not let up until the fourth quarter when Rockford held them to one touchdown. Wisconsin Lutheran came away with the 63-6 win.
The Regents offense struggled at times throughout the game, but a couple of Regents showed some flashes of ability that make the future for Rockford University football look brighter. One such player was 6'4 freshman Mar Sean Vercher (Chicago, Ill./Thornton Township). He posted the biggest game of his young career so far with five catches for 71 yards and Rockford's only touchdown of the game. In shades of Delroy Russell from 2013, in the fourth quarter Mercer out jumped his defender, snatched the pass, and ran past the Warrior defenders for a 50-yard touchdown catch-and-run. Another freshman receiver, Joe Breeden(Burlington, Ill./Central) posted a strong game as he finished with four catches for 62 yards.
A couple of Regent defenders put up some big numbers for the game. One of those players was a senior who broke the Rockford University football career record for tackles. With his third tackle in the first quarter, senior Seth Swinehart (Rockford, Ill./East) recorded his 321st career tackle to move past Steve Crawford (2000-03) into first place. Swinehart finished with a game-high 12 tackles and he also forced one fumble. Right behind him was freshman Jon Porter (Rockford, Ill./Jefferson) who finished with 10 tackles.
Rockford had a pair of sacks for the game with one coming from Tremaine Berry (Oscala, Fla./Vanguard) and one from senior Sam Cady (Erie, Ill./Erie). Berry finished with four tackles, two going for a loss, one broken up pass, and one forced fumble.
Also having a good game was Joey Jefferson (Clarksdale, Miss./Clarksdale) who had four tackles, two pass break-ups, and his second interception of the season. The team leader in tackles coming into the game, Kendell Lee (Poplarville, Miss./Poplarville) finished with eight and two tackles for a loss.
Rockford's home season might be over but its season is not. The Regents travel to Benedictine next Saturday with a 1:00 pm game start. The following Saturday Rockford visits Concordia Chicago and that game starts at 12:00 pm.
