MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The Rockford University football team fell 52-20 on the road Saturday afternoon to the Wisconsin Lutheran College Warriors. The game was actually a lot closer than what the final score might indicate. Rockford trailed by just three points for most of the first half and was only down 24-20 midway through the third quarter. Unfortunately, Wisconsin Lutheran scored the final 28 points seal the victory. Statistically, the game came down to turnovers and running the ball. The Regents were -3 in the turnover battle and Wisconsin Lutheran piled up 301 yards on the ground, which helped give the Warriors nearly a commanding 10-minute edge in time of possession.
- Wisconsin Lutheran scored on each of its first two possessions of the game. The Warriors kicked a 31-yard field goal on their opening drive to take a 3-0 lead. WLC would then extend its lead to 10-0 after a 36-yard touchdown pass on third and six by Bryce Barbian.
- Rockford wasted little time responding though, as the Regents found the end zone on their very next possession.
- William Key gave the Regents excellent starting field position with a 36-yard kickoff return to put the ball at the WLC 48 yard line.
- Rockford needed just 6 plays to cover those 48 yards, capped off by a 13-yard touchdown pass from Jaelen Ray to Timothy Bearden. Kaden Finnestad knocked through the point after to make it a 10-7 game.
- The Warriors would tack on another touchdown on their final drive of the first half, to take a 17-7 lead into the break.
- Rockford came out of the half clicking on all cylinders and found the end zone on its first drive of the third quarter. Rockford went 75 yards on 9 plays, including converting on a pair of third and sevens, to score its second touchdown of the day. Jaelen Ray hit Curtis Hosea on a 20-yard touchdown strike to make it a 17-13 game.
- WLC responded with a touchdown of its own on its first drive of the second half. Bryce Barbian threw his third touchdown of the afternoon, this one a 3-yard pass to extend WLC's lead to 24-13.
- The third quarter scoring bonanza continued with Rockford finding the end zone on their very next possession. Jaelen Ray found Curtis Hosea for a 37-yard completion to begin the drive and give Rockford a first and ten at the WLC 13 yard line. A few plays later, Ray would run the ball in from a yard out and make it a 24-20 game.
- Unfortunately, things began to go downhill for Rockford after that. The Regents turned the ball over on three of their final five possessions, including a fumble that was returned 22 yards for a touchdown. Wisconsin Lutheran scored the final 28 points of the game to secure a 52-20 victory.
- Jaelen Ray finished 25-40 for 272 yards and 2 passing touchdowns. Ray also added a 1-yard rushing touchdown.
- Da'Quan McIntosh caught a game-high 7 passes for 80 yards.
- Curtis Hosea finished with 4 receptions for a game-high 84 yards and a touchdown.
- Jamarcus Toliver tallied a game-high 8 tackles, including 5 solo tackles.
- Joey Alvarez added 7 tackles.
