EUREKA, Ill. - The Rockford University football team fell 31-14 in its NACC opener at Eureka College on Saturday afternoon. Rockford fell behind 14-0 after the first quarter and were never able to dig themselves out of the early hole. Eureka completed just 9 passes in the game, but ran the ball 47 times for 235 yards. The Red Devils had just 57 more yards of total offense than Rockford, but were the beneficiary of good starting field position for much of the afternoon, which resulted in multiple short scoring drives. The Regents were also penalized 18 times in the game for 132 yards, compared to 8 penalties for 63 yards for the Red Devils.
- The Red Devils broke the scoreless tie on their second possession of the game after receiving excellent starting field position. Eureka's Noah Berlett tossed a 30-yard touchdown pass on the drive's first play and gave the Red Devils an early 7-0 lead.
- Two possessions later, Eureka would add their second touchdown of the first quarter. The Red Devils went 53 yards on 6 plays and scored on an 11-yard touchdown scamper by Angel Garcia. Bartkus added the extra point to make it a 14-0 Eureka lead.
- The score remained unchanged until a big play from the RU special teams got the Regents back into the game. Rockford's Marc Surpris came through and blocked a punt to set up his offense with a first and ten at the Eureka 20-yard line.
- The Regent offense needed just three plays to find the end zone. Jaelen Ray hit Jack Carey for a 9-yard touchdown pass and Kaden Finnestad knocked through the point after to make it a 14-7 game.
- However, Eureka responded right back with a 13-play, 71-yard drive that took nearly 7 minutes off the clock. The Red Devils got all the way down inside the Regent 10-yard line, but the RU defense stiffened and held Eureka to a field goal.
- Neither team was able to do anything the remainder of the half, as Eureka took a 17-7 lead into the break.
- Following a scoreless third quarter, Eureka continued to add onto its lead early in the fourth. The Red Devils found the end zone on a 4-yard touchdown run by Ben Bernabei on fourth and goal. Eureka tacked on the point after to seemingly put the game out of reach at 24-7.
- However, the Regents still had a lot of fight left in them. Quarterback Jaelen Ray led Rockford on a 63-yard touchdown drive that took less than a minute. Ray capped off the drive with a 7-yard touchdown run to make it a 24-14 game.
- Unfortunately, that was as close as Rockford would get. The Red Devils needed just two plays to find the end zone on their ensuing possession and secure a 31-14 victory.
- Jaelen Ray went 18-38 for 251 yards and 1 touchdown. Ray also carried the ball 9 times for 21 yards and another score.
- Joey Owens caught 7 passes for 111 yards.
- Jack Carey had 4 receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown.
- Dallas Brown finished with 10 tackles and a tackle for loss.
- Garrick McGregor had 3 tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception.
- Marc Surpris blocked a punt.
