ROCKFORD, Ill. - Rockford Regents football (1-2, 0-1 NACC) lost a college football classic against Eureka (1-2, 1-0 NACC) on Saturday afternoon. The records that were tied last week are now officially broken, as well as multiple others on the offensive side of the ball. Rockford would go down  consistently in this contest, but always clawed their way back into it. Down 51-39, they would score 2 straight touchdowns to tie it, unfortunately unable to take the lead on the extra points. Overtime came, and after responding to Eureka's touchdown with one of their own, they went for 2 to win it, and came up just short, losing 58-57.

• It was all quiet in the first quarter until Eureka would block the Rockford punt and land Eureka on the Rockford 4 yard line, ready to score.
• They would score on the next running play, giving them a 7-0 lead.
• After a 3-and-out, Rockford tried to punt again, but was once again blocked and Eureka would recover it at the Rockford 10, in prime position again.
• 2 plays later another rushing touchdown would get Eureka a 14 point lead.
• The offense would finally come around for Rockford as Jaelen Ray found Joey Owens for a 51 yard score. A failed point after would make it 14-6.
• The first quarter would end on a 44 yard pass by Jaelen Ray to Jack Carey, putting them in the red zone.
• Jaelen Ray would open the second finding Joey Owens again for a passing touchdown. Failed kick attempt makes it 14-12.
• 2 quick drives would find Eureka with the ball, where they would pass for a 35 yard touchdown. 21-12 Eureka leads.
• After giving the ball back to Eureka, they would complete two plays over 20 yards for another touchdown. Eureka would go up 28-12.
• It would be another 5 minutes off the game clock before Jaelen Ray would find Emani Johnson right before the end of the half, and a 2 point conversion pass by LaVar Johnson Jr. to Joey Owens got them 2 points. 28-20 to end the half.
• The third quarter started with a drive by Eureka that spent 4 minutes going 20 yards.
• Rockford would take the ball and go 94 yards down the field on a 91 yard pass from Jaelen Ray to Maurice Williams for the touchdown. 28-26 Eureka still leads.
• Eureka would take the ball back and grab 74 yards and a touchdown themselves, putting themselves in a 35-26 lead.
• A Rockford fumble on the first play of the drive would give Eureka the ball, and the Rockford defense would hold Eureka to a field goal, 38-26.
• Rockford would only need three minutes to respond on a Jaelen Ray pass to Mykal Brown for a 10 yard touchdown.
• Eureka would move down the field, but see the third quarter end before they can see any more points.
• A 1 yard loss run would be followed up by a 33 yard touchdown pass for Eureka to go up 44-33 to start the 4th quarter.
• Jaelen Ray would take over and complete passes to Jack Carey and Titus Cannon, Cannon's catch going for a 15 yard touchdown. Fighting back into it, 44-39, Eureka still leading.
• A 51 yard Eureka kick return set them up well, converting it into 6 more points on a 19 yard rushing touchdown. Putting the game at 51-39.
• Jaelen Ray would keep up his throwing exhibition and hit Joey Owens for 14 yards and a touchdown. The kick attempt would be blocked, 51-45.
• The Rockford defense would hold strong and make multiple stops to give the offense a chance.
• 2 minutes to go, Rockford would charge down the field and LaVar Johnson Jr. took the ball 2 yards into the end zone to tie the game at 51-51. With a chance to take the lead, the point after will be blocked again, keeping the score at 51-51
• Regulation would end with that same score, going into overtime.
• Eureka would get the ball on the Rockford 25, and 5 rushing attempts later would see the end zone and give Eureka the lead they needed, up 58-51 after the point after.
• Jaelen Ray would rush the first 14, LaVar Johnson Jr. would find 3, and then a 8 yard pass to Joey Owens would put Rockford on the cusp of winning the game.
• A 2 point attempt would be a pass by Jaelen Ray that would hit the grass, incomplete, game over. A final score of 58-57.

• Jaelen Ray threw for 472 yards (school record), 8 touchdowns (school and NACC record, 1 shy of tying NCAA D3 record), attempting 49 passes (school record), and rushed for 56 yards.
• LaVar Johnson Jr. rushed 23 times for 142 yards and a touchdown.
• Joey Owens caught 9 passes for 162 yards, scoring 4 touchdowns (school record and tied NACC record)
• Maurice Williams only caught 4 passes but racked up 132 yards and a touchdown
• Andrew Heath led in total tackles with 17 (top 10 in school history), and tackles for loss with 2.5.
• Maddux Rigsby forced the only fumble of the day.

The Rockford University football team will go on the road for the first time this season, heading to Aurora University to take on the Spartans. Kickoff is scheduled for September 25th at 1pm.