ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University football team (2-4, 1-3 NACC) won their first NACC game of the season in front of a home crowd 35-13. The Concordia University Chicago Cougars (2-4, 0-4 NACC) were held to 87 total yards passing but put up 204 total yards rushing in the game. The Cougars offense was only able to score one total touchdown on the day, even with four of their drives ending inside the Rockford 30-yard line, in which they only came away with 6 points on field goals. Rockford did not have their usual explosive plays, instead opting for steady movement down the field which often paid off with points on the scoreboard.
Jaelen Ray still threw for 261 yards and 3 touchdowns, breaking the season passing touchdowns record. All 3 of Ray's passing scores went to
Joey Owens, who continues his record setting season. Concordia Chicago had almost 10 more minutes of possession time, but the Regents won on homecoming, 35-13.
- Rockford won the toss and took the ball first. Jaelen Ray passed to multiple different targets on the drive, including the 10-yard touchdown pass to Joey Owens that got the scoring started for the Regents.
- Concordia Chicago ran the ball consistently on their first offensive possession. They got inside the Rockford 10-yard line, and on 4th and 3, a 1-yard pass came up short, turning the ball over to Rockford.
- LaVar Johnson Jr. got the next Regents drive started with a 14-yard rush. On a later 3rd and 9, a fumble off a pass recovered by CUC gave them the ball at Rockford's 32-yard line to start their next drive.
- After the end of the first quarter, CUC ended up in the end zone after a rush by their running back. The score by the Cougars tied the game at seven points each.
- The Regents got the ball back for their next drive. The 5 minute, 24 second drive ended when LaVar Johnson Jr. got his third touchdown on the season with a 2-yard rush. After the extra point, the Rockford Regents led again 14-7.
- The Cougars got a great return on special teams that set them up on Rockford's side of the field.
- Concordia Chicago threw a pass for 20 yards later in the drive, putting them inside the ten for a 1st and goal. CUC pushed for the end zone, but Rockford held them back, the Cougars settling for a field goal to make it 14-10.
- Rockford moved steadily down the field on their next possession, taking chunks of yards with passes to Joey Owens, Curtis Hosea, Emani Johnson, and Titus Cannon.
- A nearly 5-minute drive resulted in a pass from Jaelen Ray to Joey Owens for a 13-yard touchdown with only 19 seconds on the clock before halftime.
- Concordia Chicago got the ball and moved it only 13 yards before the clock hit zero for halftime.
- The Cougars and Regents both punted on back-to-back 3-and-outs to start the second half.
- CUC moved the ball on their next drive to the Rockford 32 and eventually faced a 4th down. The Concordia Chicago kicker lined up for a 45-yard field goal and put it just above the cross bar, good, for 3 points.
- Rockford looked like they would have to punt again their next drive, but the second fumble of the day was recovered by Concordia Chicago and placed at the Rockford 21-yard line.
- The Rockford defense held back the CUC offense again, forcing them into a 47-yard field goal, this one came up short and the Regents took over at their own 30-yard line.
- LaVar Johnson Jr. and Jack Carey helped run the ball on the Regents next possession, and got Rockford to the Concordia Chicago 6-yard line. Jaelen Ray completed the drive, passing to Joey Owens for their third touchdown hookup of the afternoon. Gerardo Zamudio hit the extra point, making it a 28-13 Regents lead.
- The 4th quarter gave CUC the ball, needing to score. The kickoff return set them up on the Rockford side of the field for 1st down. They reached the 30-yard line, however CUC faced a 4th down and 1. Rockford's Andrew Heath made a great play and tackled the running back before he had a chance to get the first down. Rockford again took over on offense, 1st and 10.
- The Regents moved down the field and were set to kick a field goal to extend the lead, but a CUC penalty gave Rockford a very lucky first down. What came next was LaVar Johnson Jr. taking a direct snap and handing the ball off to Emani Johnson who took it into the end zone from 4 yards out for a touchdown. The extra point set Rockford up nicely in the 4th quarter, 35-13.
- CUC couldn't settle for a field goal and marched downfield to the Rockford 15 yard line. Concordia Chicago's last chance on a 4th down and 7 was a pass that fell incomplete after an almost 6-minute drive. Rockford got the ball with only 1:57 left to play in the game.
- Two rushes by LaVar Johnson Jr. and Jaelen Ray led to a final kneel that ran out the remainder of the clock. Rockford won by a final score of 35-13.
The RU football team hosts Wisconsin Lutheran College at Sam Greeley Field next Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1pm.
