RIVER FOREST, Ill. -- The Rockford University football team fell to Concordia University Chicago, 46-20, in the NACC opener on Saturday.
Concordia Chicago scored four touchdowns in the first half to take a 25-0 lead into halftime before scoring twice on its first two possessions of the third quarter. The Regents scored their first touchdown of the game in the third quarter and scored all 20 of their points in the second half. Concordia Chicago outgained Rockford, 477-279.
Both defenses held strong through the majority of the first quarter before Kevon Lawson and the Cougars opened up the passing game, with Lawson throwing touchdown passes of 54 and 47 yards. Concordia Chicago led 12-0 after the first quarter after failing to convert both PAT attempts.
Concordia Chicago's offense continued its strong play in the second quarter with a 10-play, 91-yard drive that took 6:10, its longest drive of the game, to take a 19-0 lead after converting the extra point. The Cougars scored once more following the two-minute warning on a drive that took 1:12, but were unable to convert the PAT attempt for the third time.
The Cougars extended their lead in the third quarter with a touchdown pass from Colton Bosch and a 12-yard rushing touchdown from Joron Brown to take a 39-0 lead. Rockford then scored its first touchdown of the day when Vasavilbaso found
Kenny Moten-Barden for a 23-yard touchdown to make it 39-7.
In the fourth quarter the Regents scored again when Vasavilbaso threw his second touchdown pass of the day, finding
Napoleon Williams for a 31-yard touchdown. Concordia Chicago scored once more on a two-play drive that ended with a 63-yard touchdown run from Phoenyx Clark to extend its lead to 46-13. Rockford's special teams scored the game's final touchdown when
Joey Alvarez blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone.
Vasavilbaso completed 25 of 35 passes for 196 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Malik Gordon led the Regents on the ground with 80 yards on 24 carries.
Alvarez led the Regents with 12 tackles, while
Matthew Hill and
Nashun Brown each recorded six tackles. Brown also forced one fumble.
The Regents will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 26, when they face Aurora University. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
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