BELOIT, Wis. - The Rockford University football team blasted Beloit College 43-17 on Saturday afternoon to win the Battle of the Rock River and gain possession of the traveling trophy. The Regents scored the first 15 points of the game and never looked back. Rockford outgained Beloit by nearly 200 yards, amassing 455 yards of total offense, compared to just 257 yards for the Bucs. The biggest difference in the game was Rockford's ability to control the trenches. The Regents ran the ball 38 times for 199 yards (5.2 yards/carry), while simultaneously holding Beloit to just 24 yards rushing on 34 attempts (0.8 yards/carry). Rockford led by as many as 26 points on multiple occasions before ultimate cruising to its second win against Beloit in the last three years.
- Rockford opened its season with a 4-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to take a 8-0 lead. The big play on the drive was a 69-yard completion from Jaelen Ray to Da'Quan McIntosh, which set up the Regents with a first and goal at the 1-yard line. One play later, Ray ran it in for the first touchdown of the season. Maddux Rigsby then ran in the two-point conversion to make it 8-0.
- The Regents' next score was set up by their defense. Reigning NACC Freshman of the Year Joey Alvarez forced and recovered a fumble to give the RU offense a short field at the Buc 25-yard line.
- It took Rockford just four plays to find the end zone and extend its lead. On fourth and 13 from the 28, Jaelen Ray found Da'Quan McIntosh for a 28-yard touchdown strike. Kaden Finnestad added the point after to make it a 15-0 game.
- Beloit was able to knock through a 29-yard field goal to cut the RU lead down to 15-3 at the end of the first quarter.
- Rockford then proceeded to score the next two touchdowns and essentially put the game out of reach. Jaelen Ray hit Da'Quan McIntosh for a 19-yard touchdown to cap off a 14-play, 79-yard drive, and then Ray scored his second rushing touchdown of the game, this one from five yards out, to seize a commanding 29-3 advantage.
- The Bucs were however able to score a late touchdown to make it a 29-10 score heading into halftime.
- Following a scoreless third quarter, Rockford found the end zone for a fifth time at the 13:20 mark in the fourth. Jaelen Ray tossed his third passing touchdown of the afternoon, this one to Cheldon Barnes, to push the Regents' lead back up to 26 at 36-10.
- Beloit answered late in the fourth with its second touchdown of the day before Rockford ended the game with a 9-yard Jack Carey touchdown run to seal the 43-17 victory.
- Jaelen Ray finished 24-of-36 for 256 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also ran the ball 5 times for 15 yards and 2 more scores.
- Jack Carey ran the ball 24 times for 102 yards and a score. Carey also caught 2 passes for 15 yards.
- Da'Quan McIntosh caught 6 passes for a game-high 131 yards and 2 touchdowns.
- Curtis Hosea had a game-high 8 receptions for 67 yards.
- Joey Alvarez was an unstoppable force on the defensive side of the ball. Alvarez tied the school record with 19 tackles, including 15 solo tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. He also intercepted a pass, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.
- Will Havens added 7 tackles, including 2 tackles for loss and a sack.
- Nasir Lamarre finished with 5 tackles and 2 sacks.
