ROCKFORD, Ill.- Saturday afternoon the Rockford University football team did something that it had not done in almost a decade. The Regents won their first season-opening game since winning 16-6 at Aurora University in 2006. In addition the Regents won their first home-opener, also since 2006, when they beat MacMurray College 22-0. A 19 point first quarter, including scoring within the first minute of the game, gave the Regents all the momentum they needed for the game and a 15 point fourth quarter sealed the victory against the visiting Lawrence University Vikings.
Rockford received the ball to begin the game and after a 29 yard return Andrew Stochl (Fox Lake, Ill./Marian Central Catholic) hit Milton Phillips Jr. (Rockford, Ill./Guilford) for a 49 yard gain. Phillips and Stochl would be a common connection during the game. After a 5 yard penalty on the Vikings Pete Berry (Ocala, Fla./Vanguard) broke a couple of tackles on a 20 touchdown run.
Lawrence would get a quick first down on its first possession but the Regents only allowed two more yards on the drive and forced a quick punt. On Rockford's next possession a combination of Stochl's arm and Berry' and Phillip Jr.'s legs drove the Regents 32 yards. Stochl then found DeBret McGee II (Decatur, Ill./Esienhower) deep down the middle of the field. McGee made an outstanding leaping catch and beat a couple of defenders for a 51 yard touchdown reception.
Stochl and his receivers were not done scoring in the first quarter. At the 8:30 minute mark Rockford received the ball for the third time of the quarter and would score on its third straight possession. Stochl hit Phillips Jr. on a 12 yard pass and on the next play hit Phillips Jr. again for a 15 yard touchdown reception. Lawrence's defense would tighten up after that and would not allow the Regents back in the end zone until the fourth quarter.
Despite not scoring for two quarters, and thanks to Rockford's defense, the Regents maintained the momentum and control of the game. The Vikings were able to punch in a touchdown at the beginning of the second quarter after a fourth-and-one encroachment penalty gave Lawrence and first down. Rockford also stopped Lawrence for a loss on a fourth down run but a face mask call gave the Vikings new life and they quickly scored their only points of the game after the penalty.
The score held at 19-6 in favor of Rockford until the fourth quarter. On a fourth-and-five play Stochl found Preseason All-American Dane Kirk (Rochelle, Ill./Rochelle Township) for a beautiful over-the-head 22 yard touchdown catch. On the very next offensive play by Lawrence Pascal Sylla (Fort Wayne, Ind./R. Nelson Snider) came down with a tipped ball and returned it 31 yards for a Regents defensive touchdown. That would be the final scoring play of the day with Rockford coming out ahead 34-6.
Stochl finished the game 17-for-27 with 291 yards and three touchdowns. Phillps Jr. had five catches for 127 yards and a touchdown. He also had 33 rushing yards on four attempts. Kirk had four catches for 40 yards and a touchdown. Berry led the Regents on the ground with 45 yards on eight carries. In addition to the pick six Sylla had five tackles. Defensive lineman Tremaine Berry (Ocala, Fla./Vanguard) had five tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and he was also in on a sack. Rockford's offensive outpaced Lawrences 448 to 234 in total yards.
The Regents travel to Ripon next week for a 1:00 p.m. start. They return home on September 20th, also a 1:00 p.m. start, to face Trine in Rockford's homecoming game.
