The Aurora University Spartan football team defeated the Concordia University Wisconsin Falcons in
dramatic fashion this afternoon in a Northern Athletics Conference matchup on AU's Vago field, 21-14.
The Spartans looked like they would be in for an easy afternoon with their first drive of the contest. AU struck first with a touchdown coming with 10:45 remaining in the first quarter. The score came at the end of a quick four play, 82 yard drive in 1:38. The drive culminated with a great pass (26 yards) from junior quarterback Jimmy Bevell to junior wide receiver Evan Hackbarth. The extra point attempt was no good as the snap was mishandled and senior kicker Ryan Subick didn't have a chance to put the ball through the up-rights.
The Falcons looked to answer the Spartans score with their own successful drive, two possessions later, moving the ball deep into AU's territory. On third and goal from the 10 yard line, Falcons quarterback Patrick Czerwiek threw a jump ball pass to the corner of the end zone but Spartan senior defensive back Mike Langhurst made an acrobatic, one handed interception giving the Spartans
the ball back with 3:27 left in the first quarter. The interception was Langhurst's seventh on the year.
On each teams following possessions, the Spartans and Falcons each committed a turnover. AU sophomore running back Steve Rivera fumbled at midfield giving the ball to Concordia and then the Falcons threw an interception, giving the Spartans their second interception of the afternoon.
This time AU senior defensive back Anthony Dillabough prevented another potential scoring opportunity picking off the pass with 2:10 remaining in the first quarter at the AU 23 yard line on a diving play.
However, the Spartans would be unable to capitalize on the second Falcon turnover and were forced to punt into a stiff afternoon wind, giving the ball back to the Falcons deep in AU territory at the 37 yard line.
Concordia took advantage of the good field position, piecing together a seven play drive that was
concluded by Falcon junior running back Jonathan Johnson's three yard touchdown run. This gave the Falcons a 7-6 lead with 10 minutes left in the second quarter.
After the teams traded possessions and punts, the Spartans had one more chance to score right before halftime. The AU offense drove to the Falcons four yard line with under a minute to play. But the Falcon defense stood strong, sacking Bevell on consecutive plays before AU called timeout with one second remaining and fourth and goal to go from the 22 yard line.
But the final play was not to be as the snap got past Bevell and as the the first half horn sounded, Bevell jumped on the loose football. Entering intermission, Concordia led the Spartans 7-6.
On the half, the Spartans gained 132 yards and 10 first downs compared to the Falcons 113 yards and eight first downs.
The second half began much like how the first half took place with both teams concluding
drives with punts. AU punted twice with the Falcons punting once. On the Falcons second drive of the half, the Spartan defense took advantage of another Falcon turnover.
As was the case for both teams on the day, an errant snap to Czerwiek on a third and one at the CUW 26 yard line was pounced on by Spartan junior linebacker Adam Siwicki at the CUW nine yard line giving the Spartan offense a prime scoring opportunity.
The AU offense, namely senior quarterback Spenser Adams took advantage. Adams second carry, a two yard scamper with 3: 30 remaining in the third quarter gave the Spartans a 13-7 lead after the extra point was good by Subick.
The Spartans hung on to this 13-7 lead until 2:32 remained on the clock in the fourth quarter. After the Spartan score in the third quarter, the two teams combined for eight consecutive three and outs.
Concordia took the possession of the ninth drive since the AU go-ahead score with 6:45 to play in the fourth quarter. The Falcons put together a 14-play 74 yard drive that ended with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Czerwiek to junior wide receiver Vincent Greefkes, giving CUW the lead 14-13.
With the Spartans trailing and little time remaining, they would need a big play. That play would come from one of their senior leaders. Adams, who also returns kicks, followed great blocking on the ensuing kickoff and rumbled 44 yards to the AU 45 yard line. Falcon kicker Dan Winsey saved what looked to be a touchdown return with a nice open field tackle.
From there, Bevell would complete big passes under a great deal of pressure to multiple receivers, driving the Spartans down to the Falcon ten yard line. With only 26 seconds remaining, Bevell found senior running back Jeff Fellers in the flat, Fellers made one defender miss and used a nice block to score from 10-yards out. With a converted two point conversion to senior wide receiver David Gray, the Spartans took a 21-14 lead.
The big play of the drive came on fourth down and 12 from the CUW 40 yard line. Bevell found Hackbarth for 15 yards to keep the drive alive.
After a Spartan kickoff, the defense for AU needed to simply keep the Falcons out of the end zone in the 23 seconds that remained. Concordia tried desperately to find a hole in the Spartan defense, but Aurora held tough and prevented the Falcons from reaching the end zone.
On the day, both the Falcons and the Spartans totaled exactly 239 yards of total offense. The Spartans were able to outperform the Falcons despite fewer first downs (18 to 15 respectively) as well as possessing the ball for nearly six less minutes.
Bevell threw for 238 yards going 14-of-33. Hackbarth had 94 yards on five catches, one for a touchdown. Subick attempted nine punts for a total of 289 yards with a long of 46 and downing four inside the 20, including one inside the five yard line. Jeff Krause and Siwicki lead the Spartan defense with 10 tackles each. Derek Dinino added nine tackles while Kevin Glock had eight for the Spartans.
