ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University football team fell 42-35 to the Concordia University Wisconsin Falcons in a Saturday afternoon conference showdown. Concordia Wisconsin took control early, scoring on their first two drives to take an early 14-0 lead. However, the Regents were able to battle right back into the game, riding a big 20-point second quarter to make it a 21-20 CUW lead at the half. In the second half, each team continued to trade touchdowns, until the Falcons eventually took the 42-35 lead with 5 minutes to play. Rockford looked to drive down the field for the game-tying drive, but the Falcons defense was able to make a stop and allow CUW to run the clock out and eventually take the game 42-35. Statistically, CUW took a 585-457 advantage in yards of total offense, including 329-82 on the ground, but the Regents were in control of the aerial attack, taking a 375-256 advantage through the air.
- After forcing the Regents to punt on their opening drive, the Falcons marched down the field with a 13-play, 88-yard drive, which ended in a 4-yard rushing touchdown by Pierre Summers III.
- CUW was able to add another touchdown to that lead after an interception gave them a great starting field position. The touchdown was scored on a 53-yard pass from Justin Clark and after the extra point, the Falcons led 14-0 in the first quarter.
- Rockford was finally able to get on the board, taking 9 plays to cover 90 yards, capped off by a 2-yard catch and throw by Jaelen Ray to Jack Carey for six. Unfortunately, the extra point attempt was blocked by the Falcons, so the Regents trailed 14-6.
- After the RU defense forced a turnover on downs, the offense sprung back out there, scoring on just the second play of the drive. Jaelen Ray found Kyree Jackson for a big 69-yard touchdown strike to bring Rockford within one after the extra point at 14-13.
- Both defenses were able to force punts over the next few drives until the Regents marched down the field and eventually got a 3-yard rushing touchdown by William Key to give his team the 20-14 lead, but the Falcons followed that up with an 18-yard touchdown pass to take a 21-20 lead into the half.
- The Falcons and Regents traded touchdowns on their opening drives in the second half with an 11-yard receiving touchdown for the Falcons and a 16-yard rushing touchdown for Jack Carey and the Regents, bringing the game to a 28-27 score.
- The Falcons were able to grab the lead late in the third quarter on a 60-yard rushing touchdown by Caleb Espinoza to give CUW the 35-27 lead after the extra point.
- Rockford was able to tie the game up after a 10-play, 75-yard drive ending in a 21-yard touchdown to Blake Winters from Jaelen Ray put the Regents down just 2. The Regents elected to go for 2 and Jaelen Ray was able to rush for the conversion for Rockford to tie the game up at 35-35.
- After both defenses forced a punt, CUW was able to steal the lead right back with a 41-yard rushing touchdown from Caleb Espinoza to give the Falcons the 42-35 lead with just 5 minutes left in the game.
- The Regents looked to drive down the field for the potential game-winning/tying drive and were marching down the field until the drive was stalled out at the CUW 37-yard line after being forced to go for it on 4th down, and Rockford was unable to convert and turned the ball over on downs.
- The Falcons were able to run out the remainder of the clock and walk away with the 42-35 win.
- Jaelen Ray finished 33-of-49 for 375 yards, 3 touchdowns and an interception.
- Kyree Jackson delivered a season-high 8 catches for a season-high 145 yards and a touchdown.
- Jack Carey rushed 16 times for 65 yards and a touchdown. He also caught 7 passes for 48 yards and hauled in a receiving touchdown.
- Blake Winters had season-high 8 receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown.
- Joey Alvarez led the RU defense with 17 tackles and also picked up 1 pass breakup.
- Nasir Lamarre provided 11 tackles and one tackle for loss.
