ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University football team won its second straight game on Saturday and its third in a row dating back to last season. It is the first time Rockford has started a season 2-0 and won back-to-back games at any point in a season since the Regents joined the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference in 2008. Through two games this year the Regents have now outscored their opponents 66-30.
The first half of Saturday's game against the Ripon College Red Hawks was all about the Regent defense. Rockford has yet to allow any first half points as the Regents shut out the Red Hawks in the first two quarters. Despite defending a short field for much of the first half the Regents were able to keep the game scoreless as the defense surrendered just 5 first downs and 50 yards of total offense on 28 plays. The Regents forced two turnovers on downs while senior Reggie Haynes (Chicago, Ill.) intercepted a pass to end another Ripon possessions and junior Colbey Stigsell (Litchfield Park, Ariz.) recovered a fumble on a punt to keep the Red Hawk offense on the sideline.
The Rockford offense finally began to build some momentum in the third quarter. The Regents used a 10-play, 55-yard drive to find the end zone and take a 7-0 lead. On fourth and one from the 12 yard line, freshman quarterback Adam O'Malley (Elk Grove, Ill.) lobbed a pass into the back of the end zone and connected with wide receiver Mar Sean Vercher (Chicago, Ill.) for the game's opening score.
The lead did not last for long as Ripon answered on its very next possession. The Red Hawks marched 67 yards on 13 plays and eventually tied the game on the first play of the fourth quarter with a one-yard touchdown run by the Ripon quarterback.
The Regents turned the ball over on downs on their next possession to give the ball right back to the Red Hawks. Ripon then went 71 yards to score its second straight touchdown and take its first lead of the game at 13-7. However, a poor snap resulted in a botched extra point attempt as the Red Hawk lead remained just six with only 2:42 left in the game.
With very little time remaining the Regent offense took to the air looking to answer the Ripon touchdown with one of its own. After a ten yard completion and an incomplete pass, the Regents faced a second and ten on their own 35-yard line with just over two minutes remaining in the game. Adam O'Malley took the snap and fired the ball down the middle of the field hitting Mar Sean Vercher in stride for the 65-yard touchdown to tie the game at 13-13. Kicker Brandon Moody (Taylorville, Ill.) knocked through the extra point as the Regents retook the lead with 2:07 remaining.
Ripon would make it interesting as the Red Hawks converted on a pair of fourth downs to give themselves a chance to win the game with a 39-yard field goal in the closing seconds. Fortunately, the Red Hawk field goal fell short and wide to the right as Rockford defeated Ripon 14-13 and moved to 2-0 on the season.
Adam O'Malley and Mar Sean Vercher accounted for nearly all of the Regents offense on Saturday. O'Malley completed 12-of-20 pass attempts for 193 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was also Rockford's leading rusher as he carried the ball 10 times for 47 yards. Vercher led the Regents with 6 receptions for 133 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Defensively Rockford was once again outstanding as it held Ripon to only 223 yards of total offense. Linebacker Michael Watson (Schaumburg, Ill.) tallied a career-high 15 tackles including a tackle for loss. Senior Tremaine Berry (Ocala, Fla.) also hit double-digits in tackles with 10 including a sack. Benjamin LeRoy III (Pacoima, Calif.), Michael Krieter (Rockford, Ill.) and Brandon Imel (Polo, Ill.) were also all over the field recording 9, 8 and 7 tackles respectively.
The RU football team will be back in action next Saturday, September 19 at Alma College. Kickoff will be at 5:00 PM central time.
